Just a thought: I have switched to 30lb backing on most of my freshwater reels. Not beacause 20lb isn't sufficent but because I can use about 30% less and still fill the spool, which is still more than I need. I can often fill two to three trout bass and panfish reels with a 150 yd spool of 30lb backing.

How long does backing last? I have saltwater reels that have had quality dacron on them for more than 10 years and the backing is still just fine. I have switched out backing on a couple of reels when tests showed the stuff had weakened. This bad backing was not Cortland, Sci. Anglers. Mason, or Gudebrod product.