Is it alright to use no backing for braid, but instead weave it through the holes in the spool?

I got a buddy does, it never broke or hurt the spool, throwing 50 on a CH 50E... I wouldn't do that with mono, or copoly though....

Yes it keeps it from spinning like backing.  It is just more expensive that way.

Some good info on this earlier thread: Is Backing/tape Necessary With Braid If You Have A Wiffle Spool

I wouldn't tie to the spool - I'd tape the line to the spool. Lots of reasons given in the earlier thread. Generally, you won't ever get down to tape while bass fishing...but depending on where you fish, you might end up hooking up with something much bigger than a bass. You don't want to be spooled by a big fish and then be tied directly to the spool with something like 50lb braid. I never gave this much thought since I only bass fish until I went through a spell of hooking up with 40-50-pound class grass carp and one time watched one of those guys take about 90 yards of line off the reel...

Don't tie to the spool, the line can still slip and slide on the spool... It may seem like it won't, but it will.

I've been tying braid to the spool like that for a couple years never had a problem.

It's been talked about before. You can do it and you'll be just fine. I run backing on my reels so I don't use as much line but I do have one that's straight #65 braid tied to the spool and it's been that way for a few years. At the end of the season I walk out all the line and re spool from the opposite end so it's new braid for the next season.

I always weave my line through the wiffle spool, doesn't matter what kind of line I'm using.  I realize it isn't necessary but I do it and have never had a problem.  It will keep braid from slipping if you don't use a backer.

I always use a backing but a recent purchased confirmed my thoughts though.......

 

I recently purchased a Shimano Citica at DSG and the guy there put on some Power Pro 50lb on the reel for free.  I was having trouble with the casting distance and I thought the reel was messed up.  I took it back in and a guy that has been working the fishing department took one look at the reel and started to pull the line off.  When he got to the bottom of the spool, he said ''Look, no backing''.  He respoolled it with some backing and some more Power Pro.  Problem solved.....  With that said, does this hold true for all reels, my gut says no.

 

The only reason I ever put backing on to begin with, was to save a couple of bucks.