spooling braid

[RalphL]

Iwant to try braid on one of my DR reels. Seem to remember some caution as to how its spooled on the reel, tension, backing etc. Is it a concern, non issue what should I be aware of??

 

[autorick]

You need a mono backing on the reel or the braid will free spin, also i think braid slips badly in the DR releases.

 

[Big Green Machine]

Braid works well on certain down riggers but not all. I would suggest checking with the manufacturer. I still use wire on my Scotties but a lot of folks I know have gone to braid. Scotty does not recommend using any mono or nylon products other reels even as backing. They stretch and contract and that can damage the reel. I think you are OK just spooling the braid straight on. After all, braid is used as backing for sensitive fly reels all the time. You will also need to play around with your release clips as they sometimes will slide too much on braid. You can use release clip stops or a piece of surgical tubing to hold the clip in place on the downrigger line.

 

[bob r]

I use 15 lb. power pro braid on abu garcia c3 and c4 reels for downrigger fishing for koke and trout, different releases work better with braid then others, we use the cannon releases that have a dial on them,( I have also used the cannon small clip type, that may hold better than the dial type but is larger and thus has more drag leading to more blowback), just set the line further back in the release and tighten down as much as is neccesary, usually smaller fish will not trip the release. I switched to braid on my downrigger but I don't think that's what you meant, but braid on a smaller manual downrigger has worked for us, just check carefully for nicks in the braid every so often,(or imm. if you hang up the line or weight) or that ball will just break off suddenly as that nick frays out.This goes for line on fishing reel as well, no good to lose a fish and the lure due to a previous nick fraying out. We won't go back to mono on out downrigger rods but be aware that for big fish you really have to use that drag as the non-stretch of braid is not forgiving when a big fish does something crazy close to the boat.Backing is a good idea as it takes a lot of braid to fill a reel compared to mono, but tensioning the backing AND braid when you spool it is imperitive as braid can dig in to a loosely spooled reel. Good luck,Bob R

 

[RalphL]

on the level wind reel, not on the dr spool. My oops,shoulda been clearer

 

[Full_Monte]

I don't think you need to do anything special, other than putting a little tension on the line as you wind it on the spool. The line is very thin for the same pound test as mono line and is more likely to dig itself into the spool when tension is placed on the line. This can make the spool "stick" when you want to let out line.