Anyone use braid for backing on baitcasting reels (ala Aaron Martens)?

He said it would give you 10-15 yards of distance - I think because it is lighter??? and inertial force is less --- not really sure. That dude always seems to be screwing with something and sometimes finding solutions where there is no problem . . . . but I still like to hear what he says.

According to physics, it makes sense (easier to spin a merry-go-round really fast with five skinny light kids on it vs spinning a merry go round fast with 5 big, full sized kids on it)

I’d be concerned about
1. Slippage
2. Getting spooled on braid backing could be a shock to your reel

I use it on all of my reels now. I started doing it with a couple reels about 2 months ago to see how it went. well, its been AMAZING. I get longer casts, my reels perform better, and theres no slip. Plus I don't waste near the amount of line I used to by filling it with mono or fluoro. DO IT! you wont be mad that you did I promise.

If you decide to use braid as backing, put a piece of electrical tape on your spool before you spool up. That way the braid won't slip during a hook set.

I may have misunderstood; I use braid mainline to fluoro or copoly leaders on all my reels. But, I back the braid mainline with about 10ft of 12lb big game mono.

Having braid mainline definitely increases casting distance

Just have to careful casting into the wind with braid

So what Aaron is doing is (on deep spools) backing the spool with braid and then putting 75-100 yards of premium fluoro or mono. This would be for things where you were not using a braid with a fluoro or mono leader. Topwater, etc. If you are already using braid for everything, it wouldn't matter. (Although you could use cheap braid for backing so you only replace the top stuff).

I have only done one reel and I haven't tested it yet but on that one I simply started with about 6 feet of mono (was already on there)

All 22 of my reels are all braid with electrical tape, never had a slip.

As has been mentioned, be sure to put a piece of electrical tape where the 2 lines meet and you’ll never have a problem. Do this on every reel I use unless it’s straight braid.

I will reverse my braid twice a year on my rods and tie on fluoro or mono leaders where I need them.

I use braid backing for all my reels that I use fluoro on to help with cost mainly. Most of my reel spools have holes drilled through them for tying braid too, eliminates slippage. However, the few that do not have holes in them, I put about 20 yds of big game mono, then tie braid for the rest of the backing. I put mono backing on reels that primarily have braid as the main line; for me that's mainly frogs and A-rigs, sometimes a flipping rod.

Just so everyone knows, I am not really talking about fishing with braid and getting it to not slip on the spool. I realize you can tape it or put a little mono backing on. I am talking about when you want to fish with Tatsu or Shooter or some other line that costs $0.25 to $0.30 a yard and you only want to spool 50 to 70 yds on to save money. The suggestion was to back the premium line with braid or dacron instead of a cheaper fluoro or mono because your spool will start spinning quicker and freer and you can gain easy distance on casting . . . that is the theory anyway.

It seems somebody on the thread confirmed that it worked for them. I think I will try it in the next few weeks.

Yes sir, it works wonders. You will like it!

I have always a clinch knot on all my braid reels (tie it upside down with line twist back toward the reel) and I have never had an issue with slippage. The clinch actually tightens toward the reel when pulled. I have never had to use electrical tape.

I've tried it but always had slippage issues. I Back with 25 yards of mono and top with braid

I have used it and didn't have any problems, but I didn't notice any significant boost in casting distance.