Re: Do you cut back your line?
I've cut back the butt end of a couple of lines. It allows you to use heavier lines without having the expense of a new larger capacity reel.
The problem with this is the higher the line weight, the more likely it is that you'll be able to throw more line.
Cut back 20' and you may be limiting yourself. Cut back only 10' and you may not be getting all the extra space you wanted
I've also cut back the tip end to make a saltwater taper out of a freshwater line. Something you might not want to do to a $60 line, but it worked great on a 9wt peach line I had traded for.
I've also made shooting tapers out of inexpensive full length lines
Re: Do you cut back your line?
Jim,
I agree with Racine, switch to gel spun and you will greatly increase the capacity of your reel?s backing and you keep the full line as it was manufactured and intended for us to use.
One thing to think about, how old is your Dacron backing? Maybe it is time for a change anyways, so buy some get spun and replace it.
Larry :D
Re: Do you cut back your line?
I've been using gel-spun for many years now as backing, and may have a few tricks up my sleeve that may be helpful. One, to keep the gel-spun from slipping on the spool, spool up about 20 or so yards of Dacron under it, very tightly. Next, use a line that keeps a round cross-section, such as SpiderWire Fusion. The Fusion is not as small-diameter as some, but is still quite a bit smaller than any similar standard line. Some of the more modern braids are being advertised as being round and not flat, but I haven't tried them yat. The gel-spun hasn't proven any harder on guides than anything else, and is probably easier on them, being slicker. Just my 2 cents worth.
Re: Do you cut back your line?
I have never even been close to being spooled by a fish. I don't do a lot of salt fishing, but I fish salmon and steelhead. Never had a moment when I though "Man I wish I have another 50 feet of backing." I rarely even get into my backing. If a fish runs downstream and I can't keep up or can't continue because of current or bank conditions, it usually breaks the tippet on a rock or blowdown before I get more than half way into the backing. If it doesn't break off after the initial run I let off some pressure and the fish usually swims back upsteam to where I can fight it more successfully.
So for me, I wouldn't cut my line for the sole purpose to put more backing on. I'd rather be able to reach a fish if I have too than worry about not having enough backing for a fish I may not even catch. I have, however, cut the front taper to customize a line for a specific purpose. I will agree that if you are really worried about having more backing, a smaller diameter backing would be the way to go.
Re: Do you cut back your line?
Lot of good replies....think I'll just go with the 50yds of backing and see what happens. If needed, I'll cut back 20' on an older line and check that out; then, I'll consider a larger reel.
You can see the dilemma folks, I have 5 reels of different pursuasions with spare spools and 2 more closeouts coming, with spare spools. None are the big waterwheels they suggest for salt!
Thanks, Jim
Re: Do you cut back your line?
The only time that I've cut back a line was to remove the rear 15' of a full sink line. Used that to make some sink tips. There are some guys that I know that cut back some of the front taper to "help turn over larger flies", but I think that they're using leaders that are too stiff.
Kevin
Re: Do you cut back your line?
I hack up fly lines all the time but not to put more backing on a reel. My work with lines is building custom spey lines. If I had a situation where I needed more backing I would buy a bigger reel before I cut a line. Although I could see cutting some off the back end of a WF line to gain some capacity; I still think I would buy a bigger reel.
Re: Do you cut back your line?
I like small diameter reels so I have cut the back of of some WF lines to help them fit.
I still can not cast the "whole line".