Hi, new to this forum and using braided line. Have an Abu Record 50 on an Allstar rod. I would like to put on a braid line. Should I be using a backup line? Any comments or help is appreciated.

Yes , it is a good idea.

  You can if you want. If you're using the back-up line to keep the braid from slipping around the spool, you can substitute a wrap of electritians tape. If you're doing it to spread out the braid, to conseve line, okay, but it means you'll have to switch out your line more often. And you'll have a knot, which can fail, and is more likely to every cast. Since its buried in the spool its a "Out of Sight, Out of Mind" deal. I would recommend striiping off the braid and re-tying the connection knot around every three trips. This will save you heartbreak if you happen to hook a monster bass, or another type of fish, such as a muskie, which make nice runs. My advise would be to either:

A- Spool up with straight braid, but with a wrap of electrical tape around the spool

B- Spool up with around two casts of braid, the rest being mono, and retie your joining knot every 3-4 trips.

 Also, bear in mind the fact that a blood knot isn't the knot you want for joinin' mono to braid. It has a tendecy to slip. I think you'd want to use back to back unis.

Using backing to keep it from slipping is a good idea. It also saves line. A uni to uni knot works fine, but no need to ever pull it out and re-tie it. I've never had the line get anywhere close to the backing. Just make it so there's enough braid for a long cast, plus 20 yards or so.

I never let a fish 'run' out line or pull drag. To much heavy cover around here to do something silly like that. Crank the drag down and get them to the boat.

You are correct EastTexasBassin. The backing-to-braid connection only needs re-doing when reversing the braid after a couple of years or when replacing with new braid when retying has reduced the amount needed.

I use about 50 yards on my Trap/Spook rig. After several reties and when a cast makes the connection knot contact my thumb, I replace it. I use the replaced line on one of my spinning rigs for wacky rigging or I just wrap it on a spare line spool for later use when only about 30 yards or so of braid is needed for other presentations.

thanks for the help. i'll give it a try.

Try this 'Stren' knot (uni/improved clinch) to join braid to a backing line. It is smaller than an uni/uni knot and just as strong if not stronger.

Do not have enough posts to include the link , so Google or Bing is your friend 8-)

Doc

The J Knot is also a very good knot for joining braid to mono or flouro.