How To Spool a Baitcaster With Line and Backing

You usually know how much line you want on your reel so the real question is how much backing do you need below that line. I show you how to get it exact. A few steps will accomplish this. First spool on the amount of line you want to use on your reel. Second tie your backing to that line and reel it on until your spool is full. Now tie the tail end of the backing to something in your yard and walk until all the line is completely unwound. Undue the fishing line from your reel and walk back to where the backing is tied. Now tie the backing to your spool and start reeling. When you have it all reeled up the backing will be on the inside and the main fishing line on the outside. Now go enjoy your fishing.

[@danielkillgrove1449]

Just like loading a new fly reel.

[@MuskratOutdoors]

Very nice looking pole and reel. Are you Left handed? It looks shady...does your place get much sun? We loose ours about 3pm and it gets cold fast! What is the backing? Maybe you said and I missed it?

[@idahomountainbuilt]

Left vs right handed is confusing to some. I am right handed so the proper technique is cast with your right arm and control the spool with your right hand and reel with your left hand. Many don’t do this, they cast with their right then switch the pole to their left hand in order to reel with their right hand. This is not correct.

[@idahomountainbuilt]

We don’t loose the sun here until pretty late in the afternoon, i was late getting this done.

[@idahomountainbuilt]

The backing i used was some 30 pound test braided line that I’ve had for quite some time. It’s tougher than nails and pretty small diameter.

[@laxwyo1]

never added backing to any reel. I put electrical tape around my spool and then spool up my line.

[@idahomountainbuilt]

That’ll probably work, i use backing because there’s been time in big fast water with big fish I’ve been glad I’ve had backing

[@daveengstrom9250]

That seems like a lot of fooling around for something that does not need to be exact.

[@idahomountainbuilt]

Not so much as exact as enough line. We have big water that requires long casts followed up with long drifts. Sometimes we fish high above the river. Not enough and such restricts your success. And getting it right for me is very satisfying