FishingBanter - View Single Post - How much / what weight backing, for a wide-use 8 weight?

daytripper · December 2nd, 2005, 02:37 AM posted to rec.outdoors.fishing.fly

On 1 Dec 2005 10:01:40 -0800, wrote:

The Lamson looks nice, but it's also a good bit more expensive.
(Trying to keep the cost on the reel part of this down.)

Tell me this: assuming I do get the V, that should give me plenty of
room for backing. Should I then be thinking 30#, just in case,
because, why not? Or is it really going to be better to stick with
20#, and use the extra room for extra length?

Looks like one side of the question is under-represented to this point.
So I'll be the contrarian:
If you can get 300 yards of backing on the reel using 30#, go with 30#.

Given what you intend to fish for - or more to the point - over, I'd
definitely go with the 30# Micron for greater abrasion resistance.

Barracuda usually live in reefs. Reefs are brutal on flyfishing gear as it is.
30# backing might save you a pricey fly line. And flats fishing puts your line
near all kinds of shallow water hazards - it doesn't take coral for that to be
a problem, either.

cheers

/daytripper