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Gel spun polyethylene (the various super braids) does not have the issues with stretching like monofilament. Some anglers are using it to maximize the capacity of their salt water fly reels. But gel spun's amazing thinness can cause issues too. It is reputed to cause nasty cuts if you pull on it. One of the Tuf Line braids (XP?) combines nylon braid and gel spun to make a line with a little larger diameter than straight super braid, but the same reduced stretch. That would probably be preferable on a fly reel if you really need to increase capacity.

The old standby is 20 lb braided Dacron. Almost every old reel I purchase is spooled with it. I prefer 30 lb Dacron because it is softer to handle and has less tendency to dig into the previous layers of line. It's easier to splice loops in 30 lb also. I think Bulldog likes a braided nylon icefishing line. It also has a larger diameter so it is softer and easy to handle. You get less of these backing materials on the reel, but how often do you really need 100+ yards of backing when you are fishing freshwater?


Tom

Gene,

I made some spool arbors out of cork rod building rings. With a little custom sanding, the approach should work for almost any fly reel. I posted pictures a while back.

By the way, my trick of using superglue to firm up the click gear on the old Pflueger Trump didn't stand up to the test of time.


Tom

P,

I wish I could claim it as an original idea, but it just ain't so. I was realizing how much backing I would need to fill 4 Pflueger Trump reels when I looked at an eBay auction for a Pflueger baitcaster. Along with the reel, the seller was offering the cork equivalent of the plastic "do dad" you mentioned. At first glance, I thought the thing in the auction WAS cork rod building rings. I tried it and it worked.

Les,

I posted about weighing fly lines awhile back, but my process is a pain. I'm going to try out the Umpqua scale as soon as I can ahold of one. I think that will be a "close enough" way to measure lines. To be honest, on one level exact knowledge of the line weight isn't as important as liking the way that particular line casts on that particular rod. But on the other hand, I get annoyed when some guy casting a 5 weight line with a 6 weight rod brags about his "awesome 4 weight outfit". Most all of my old fly lines fit the line weight standards exactly. Very few of my new lines are even close. Phooey.


Tom