LgMouthGambler

No matter what you do, 30# is soo thin its going to dig into "itself". Using "backing" is not going to prevent it. Thats why its better to just go with a 65 or 50lb braid. Its easier to deal with, and doesnt dig into itself as easily.

most spools have holes in them so you tie right to the spool. If not, use a simple clove hitch and done. Also, the reason for "backing" is so you dont have 300 yards of 6lb diameter braid, nothing to do with keeping braid from spinning, thats what you could use tape for. If you tie a proper knot you dont need it.

You dont need backing unless you are using a very thin diameter braid. If you use a 65# or 50# you dont need a filler. If you use 20 or 30# its gonna be a really thin braid, then you need to fill the spool a bit with a decent thickness mono to fill in so you dont spool 300 yards of braid. My advice would be to use 65# braid and spool it up. You didnt mention spinning or casting reel, but either way check your capacities of which diameter, and make your decision as to how your gonna need to spool it.

Braid has no memory. Spool away. It will last until you run out of line.

Good choice!

Im in South Florida in Broward. Ive been killing them with a Bass Pro horney toad. Just rig them with a 3/0 widegap, and run them on the surface by the weedlines in the afternoon between 4:30 till about 6:30-7. The bass are in that active prespawn feeding frenzie.

Mostly depends on the materials used, so no.

For some odd reason, the plastic frog has made a huge comeback this year in my arsenal. Started about 2 months ago, while doing my normal snakehead hunt, Ive had many strikes from bass to. It seams to be more so lately, my guess due to the feeding frenzy of the prespawn. Ive noticed the best time to hunt them is about 4:30 to 6:30 in the afternoon. I sit and watch these fattys inmy local canals hunting through the shoreline weeds looking for dinner. Ive rigged my newest troop (Shimanos new Citica G6, Berkley Lightning Shock MH, 65# Spiderwire). Simple frog rig using a 3/0 widegap, and Bass Pros plastic frog in green, red silver. Just cast the frog and run it along the surface by the weeds, and out they come, and they hit it hard. So if you live in S Fla, give it a try, you might catch a snakehead, maybe a bass, either way its a good fight.

Funny, I dont use tape to attach my braid straight to the spool. Most spools today have holes in them, you can tie straight to the spool. If no holes, you can use a clove hitch, once thats tight, the lines not going anywhere. Just food for thought.

Just a piece of tape and tie the braid around the spool and reel it on. 50# is a thick braid for needing backing though. Usually its for thinner dia braids. I use 65# on my baitcasters, and spool it straight on.

I second this app. Its amazing, it has videos too

Whatever brand you decide to use, make sure you thoroughly clean all the old oil and grease off all the components as to avoid a chemical reaction between the old and new lubricants. Once that has been done, its more of a smooth sail from there on. Dropping the bearings in eaches own Acitone cup over night will help to ensure a thorough cleaning of the bearings. Some scrubbing of gears and such, for the removal of grease, with a toothbrush helps for a good cleaning as well. If your not sure of yourself, you could hand it over to a professional (like DVT) to make sure its done properly.Good luck, fish on!

I use Berkley Lightning Shock Rods. Thy are inexpensive, and seem to work well for me. I just set up my plastic/swim frog combo ( Shimano Citica, Berkley MH 6'6, 65# Spiderwire). Ive had no problems with perfomance, or losing fish. 5 of my rigs have them. Check them out, they may work for you too.

Ive fished Stren mono since I was 10. I fish Spiderwire 65# on all my regular Bass kickin rigs due to heavy cover I fish in, but my baitcaster I keep in the car for emergency purposes is fitted with 10# Stren mono. I like their products. Floro is good too, fairly cheap also. 6# on my UL.

New Rig, last one at Bass Pro, day after Christmas. Soooooo smoooooth!

Ill have to try squirting the guides and my braid (too late on the fading, but I use the black Sharpie trick). Thanks for the tip.

Reel covers for sure. Always good to protect fom dirt while not using them . I fish a lot of shore too, and have no problem taking a couple seconds to cover and uncover. Sure some people may think its funny, but they may not take care of their equipment. As far as rod socks, I dont have them, but Im going to invest in some. Hook holders are built into my rods, so thats where they reside. Storage, standing up in a closet, we dont have say "offseason" in S Fl so they stay in assult mode all year.

So I spent my $270 of guilt free money yesterday at Bass Pro. New Citica ( last one on the shelf ), and also picked up the KVD L&L. Applied it last night, waiting till later to try my travel rig. Its got 10# mono. As for the Citica, still had plenty of 65# Spiderwire left. I dont I can make the change, especially since the wife bought me a spiderwire backbag for when I walk to canals. By the way, this bag holds soo much stuff, and is sold at Dicks Sporting goods. Single strap across the chest makes it very comfortable, along with a padded back.

You the man. Thanks for the info. I will pick some up today. Thanks

Always wondered about those reels, they look pretty cool. Sounds like most enjoy them, maybe a future contender for me.

$200 in BPS girft cards, lots of Zoom lizards, and a BPS Prolite rod/reel combo to keep in my car at all times for those "oh that canal looks like it may have some fish" moments while Im putting along.

L&L?

I use Spiderwire, but I use 65#. Most people on here recommend Power Pro, I know some people that use it and are very happy with it. I dont use leaders, I dont use filler line, thats just me. Knots, I always use the palomar, its quick and easy, and Ive had no failure yet. I fish in the Everglades, we have some preety tough cover down here, so good performance is everything. No problems with line, or knots so far, 4 years using the same braid.

Ok, so for Christmas she bought me a casting reel/rod combo. It is the BPS ProLite Special. Tje guides on the rod are stainless, so I will be using mono for it, 10#. This is going to be the setup that permenantly resides in my car for those emergency situations . Lets hope that this works out, Im giving mono one last shot, just for you guys, haha. Im still taking the $200 in BPS gift cards to buy my Shimano Citica. It will be braid equipped, but I have to use my leftover 65# Spiderwire that I have on the spool, budgets. Next spool may be different.

The thicker the line, the more minimal the dig. Its just something you have to accept with braid. Nothing is perfect, everything has a slight flaw. I use 65# due to its 12# diameter. Every cast you make after hooking a fish is gonna give you that sudden stop of the spool. We laugh and say "hookset". You dont have to use a filler line. If you want to its up to you, for me it just takes up spool capacity. Tha crossweb thing, I wouldnt worry to much about that. All reels are pretty good for braid.