backing question

I know less than squat about backing, and now I have to put backing on
two reels -- 5wt trout tackle, nothing fancy. What's the best backing to
use, and why? And where can I buy it online?

(This backing will probably never find its way off the spool, but you
never know.)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

daytripper wrote:

For a 5 wt rig, 20# Micron would work just fine. Orvis might still carry it. I
especially favor Micron backing because different colors can be spliced
without using any knots,

How do you do that splice?

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On Sat, 13 May 2006 19:20:34 -0600, rw
wrote:

I know less than squat about backing, and now I have to put backing on
two reels -- 5wt trout tackle, nothing fancy. What's the best backing to
use, and why? And where can I buy it online?

(This backing will probably never find its way off the spool, but you
never know.)

For a 5 wt rig, 20# Micron would work just fine. Orvis might still carry it. I
especially favor Micron backing because different colors can be spliced
without using any knots, so I usually make the first 50 yards (from the arbor
knot) bright yellow and the rest white.

/daytripper

On Sat, 13 May 2006 19:56:34 -0600, rw
wrote:

daytripper wrote:

For a 5 wt rig, 20# Micron would work just fine. Orvis might still carry it. I
especially favor Micron backing because different colors can be spliced
without using any knots,

How do you do that splice?

Micron has a "hollow" core that acts like a chinese finger. You can take
advantage of that to hide and hold onto the ends of the spliced pair.
Cortland sells a small splicing tool that no doubt comes with directions. I
use about two feet of E guitar string, doubled over. Either way, what you're
trying to do is pull the ends of the lines into their running counterparts.

Amazingly, I can't seem to Google up a write-up, so here's a quicky: Lay the
lines next to each other running in opposite directions, overlapped by about
12 inches. Use a felt-tip pen to make a mark on each line at the middle of the
overlap - at the 6 inch point. This is the point that 6 inches of the end of
one line will disappear into the running core of the other, and vice versa.

Then you stick the tool into the core roughly 6 inches "up" from the pen mark,
slide the tip of the tool down the core and then emerge at the pen mark -
making sure not to pull the other end of the tool completely into the core
(you want to maintain that point as the eventual exit). Stick the end of the
other line into the end of the tool and then pull the tool back out the way it
came, pulling the end of the other line with it into the core. Remove the tool
completely from the core, leaving the end of the line behind, fully within the
core.

Repeat the above in the other direction and you're done. Both ends will be
hidden inside the running lines, and there's no knot to hang up in your
guides. I use this on all my reels, although the only time it really ever gets
tested is on my annual bonefish trips...

/daytripper

"rw" wrote in message
m...
I know less than squat about backing, and now I have to put backing on two
reels -- 5wt trout tackle, nothing fancy. What's the best backing to use,
and why? And where can I buy it online?

(This backing will probably never find its way off the spool, but you
never know.)

http://www.cortlandline.com/catalog/micron.html

Most any fly shop will ship it to you. For that matter, tell me how much
you want and I'll pick up and mail it to you.

20# backing comes in different colors and in different diameters. I have
not compared them all, but I have found the Scientific Anglers dacron
backing is the thinest of those that I ahve compared. (Gel Spun is thinner
but more expensive) If you want to max out the backing on your line, use SA.
I try to max out the backing on my reels for that big one that I am going to
hook one day! When it comes, I am not going to loose the fish just becasue
I was a bit chinchy on the backing!


"rw" wrote in message
m...
I know less than squat about backing, and now I have to put backing on two
reels -- 5wt trout tackle, nothing fancy. What's the best backing to use,
and why? And where can I buy it online?

(This backing will probably never find its way off the spool, but you
never know.)

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.