One of my goals this year is to catch a paddlefish on a fly rod. Since they can get close to 100 lbs, I’m obviously going to need very big backing (and a lot of it). I can’t find backing stronger than 30 lbs though… Does anyone know where I can find bigger (like 50 lb) backing?
You can get gel-spun in 50lb; got to be careful winding it on - too much pressure can ruin the spool; also the stuff can cut careless fingers like a razor. There’s also something called Suffix Performance Braid you might want to look at; Cabelas carries it in 330 yd spools:
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0036973120806a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=0830202&cm_ite=0036973120806a
Regards,
Scott
ps - paddlefishing sounds very cool; want to see pics if you get one
http://www.gbgindustries.com/StrandedCable.htm
… can help.
So what type of zooplankton fly do you plan to use…:?
lol… great minds, nam… great minds. 
Good luck Poke - that should be a handful.
One on a 10/0 hook…
A Texas Caddis usually gets their attention (lol).
Regards,
Scott
Your backing only needs to be stonger than the rest of your set up. Most flylines have a tensile strength of less than 40 lbs. So having 100lb backing isn’t going to offer much more real protection than 50 lb. The flyline will give way first, or the leader if weaker than the fly line. There are a few flylines designed for billfish and tuna that test around 70lbs so if you use one of these you might want heavier backing.
Even then you would be hard pressed to apply even 25lbs of pull with a fly rod.even with a 16wt rod. Try it. Rig up a rod, attach the leader to a scale, and see how hard you can pull.
That said, you can get dacron lines up to at least 200lb test. Look for dacron trolling line. You can get spectra braided lines to at least 250lbs.
Thanks tailingloop. My biggest fear is getting into a big fish, having it take me well into the backing, and then the backing snaps, taking my entire fly line with in…
But think of the story you could tell if that happened. Just hooking one would probably put you in pretty select company.
PowerPro
I used the 65lb. stuff for Tuna (500 yards)…If you can find a flyline that has a breaking strength of more than 40, that might be useful (although perhaps not necessary since your leader probably won’t be more 30-50lbs anyway). The bluewater line I used for Tuna has something like 90-100lb breaking strength. The terminal end will have the weakest connections by far anyway.
One of the things that’s great about PowerPro (I think it’s actually gel-spun) is that you can fit a whole lot more than standard dacron backing.
Anglers catch 150+ lb tarpom with 30lb backing. I have caught 120+ lb shark with 50lb backing. Most backing failures occur because of a poor connection to the fly line. Backing failures also occur because the backing is weakened, having been abraided by being dragged over rocks or coral or other hard stucture. A thicker and thus heavier backing will be more abraision resistent.
Poke 'Em,
Do you get goldeyes down that part of the river? That’s a fish that looks like it would be a blast to catch; a lot like the shad we get back here every spring.
Regards,
Scott
Seriously, what kind of fly are you going to use? I thought spoonbills could only be caught by snagging. You’ve piqued my curiosity.
We do. I haven’t had a chance to fish for them yet though. I just moved here last fall, and didn’t get a chance to fish before the river froze. They’re on my list for this year though.
Bingo. A 10/0 zooplankton fly.
Why not just use the braided dacron line the conventional snaggers use when they go after paddlefish. I’ve seen it up to 130lb. Also, realistically speaking, your backing only has to be a little bit stronger than your leader so the leader breaks first. Also, better pack a lunch, a big one will keep you going long enough you may need to stop and eat something 
I think that you should worry more about running out of backing…not that the backing will break. With a smaller backing you will be able to have more of it on the reel. Like stated above, go with a backing that is just a little heavier than your fly line.
Your tippet/leader will break long before your backing does. Your line should be safe too.
I’m with you on this. I actually thought that most fly lines had a break strength around 30 pounds so anything stronger than 30 pound dacron for backing and all you are doing is taking up precious space on the spool. If you are after really big fish the deal is not heavier weight backing but more of it. I saw a video (not a lot of saltwater in Wisconsin) of a tarpon fisherman who had 1200 yards of backing on the reel. Big reel, gel spun. Like has been said before, I pass on gel spun. Might as well fish with a chainsaw running next to the reel, that stuff will bite you. If you get it wrapped around a finger on a big fish you are in the big pile if you know what I mean. Salmon I fish with 30 pound dacron. Most stuff 20 lbs and I even have a few spooled up with 12 pound to save on precious reel space on the 3 and 4 wts.
Rick