I know this is an odd question to ask. I remember many years ago, TT had an article to make a shallow spool from a standard casting spool. I can't find that article now,.

 

Is there a way to do this or is it even possible without adding too much additional weight to the spool?

The best way I know of, is to use braid as the majority of the backing since it is lighter. Once you have it spooled up let out as much line as you would ever use and put a piece of tape on the line and reel the rest back up.

Could always try making an arbor from a wine cork.  

 

My normal deep-spool braid approach is to back with 20-lb mono, which only takes about 20 yds.  

This is lighter than braid because of poor stacking efficiency with big diameter mono - there's more air in the backing arbor.  

6 minutes ago, bulldog1935 said:

Could always try making an arbor from a wine cork.  

 

My normal deep-spool braid approach is to back with 20-lb mono, which only takes about 20 yds.  

This is how it was done years ago, I'm pretty sure Shakespeare and Pflueger had an optional cork arbor with some of their knuckle busters.  Some manufacturers, and by some I mean ABU, had a 2-piece snap in plastic arbor for their 4000 and 5000 sizes as well as the Cardinal 3.  They were called the Economizer, marketing jargon for not having to use as much line.

Thanks guys, I'll try the 20lb mono backing then electrical tape to make a spool shallower.

 

I have a Shimano Calcutta 51B and a Curado 51E that I'd like to cast lighter lures from 1/8oz and up. I don't want to fill those deeper spools with all 4lb line, either braid or copoly.

7 hours ago, redmeansdistortion said:

Some manufacturers, and by some I mean ABU, had a 2-piece snap in plastic arbor for their 4000 and 5000 sizes

 

I have one leftover from a reel I sold a while back.

 

 

On 3/1/2023 at 7:18 AM, bulldog1935 said:

My normal deep-spool braid approach is to back with 20-lb mono, which only takes about 20 yds.  

This is lighter than braid because of poor stacking efficiency with big diameter mono - there's more air in the backing arbor.  

 

I'm off to the patent office to patent hollow mono...  

I have several Shimano reels with plastic fillers that snap in. 

On 3/1/2023 at 11:10 AM, ghost said:

Thanks guys, I'll try the 20lb mono backing then electrical tape to make a spool shallower.

 

I have a Shimano Calcutta 51B and a Curado 51E that I'd like to cast lighter lures from 1/8oz and up. I don't want to fill those deeper spools with all 4lb line, either braid or copoly.

Both of these reels should be able to cast light lures provided small diameter line is used. The big key above all else is the rod. I would use a BFS rod that has a lure weight starting at a 1/16oz.

On 3/1/2023 at 1:44 AM, ghost said:

I know this is an odd question to ask. I remember many years ago, TT had an article to make a shallow spool from a standard casting spool. I can't find that article now,.

 

Is there a way to do this or is it even possible without adding too much additional weight to the spool?

Purchase an aftermarket shallow spool, done. Brian.

I suspect our OP already mastered the obvious.  

Aftermarket spools aren't made for every reel, but it's possible to fish threadline braid on a deep spool reel by keeping the built-up arbor light enough, especially with a spool bearing swap.  

 

Simple solution: backing.

Basically free!