Buying a new reel

RiverBoy

RiverBoy

Well-Known Member
Well I must have ran out of my insane pills, as I am picking up an Islander next week. My question is, what kind of backing do you guys run, and should i go with a mono top shot, or fluoro? I've never used fluro before. Someone told me you need a special knot for fluoro.
 
which model of islander are you getting? guys run backing on mr2's to take up a bunch of the room in my opinion, I seen guy run backing on mr3's too. If you're in the salt chuck and you like spending money on line then go flouro. I run straight 30lb test mono on mine and use floro for my leaders. When my mr2's arrive in the spring with my cousin I'll spool them with backing to the 30lb main line to floro leader. I just can't see the point of paying so much for flouro to be a main line. Plus I'm a bit finicky about my leaders so I'm always re tying them on the go between fish which happens to be a while on some days LOL
 
Arjento said:
which model of islander are you getting? guys run backing on mr2's to take up a bunch of the room in my opinion, I seen guy run backing on mr3's too. If you're in the salt chuck and you like spending money on line then go flouro. I run straight 30lb test mono on mine and use floro for my leaders. When my mr2's arrive in the spring with my cousin I'll spool them with backing to the 30lb main line to floro leader. I just can't see the point of paying so much for flouro to be a main line. Plus I'm a bit finicky about my leaders so I'm always re tying them on the go between fish which happens to be a while on some days LOL
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I'm getting a MR3. Are you using fly line backing, or braid? I don't think a top shot of fluoro would be that expensive, would it? Say 100 feet or so? I dunno. Stepping from the shimano world into the Islander world. Just wanna get it right.
 
here is my setup depending how you play your fish though

150yds 30lb flyline backing
topped off with 60lb power pro braid or equivalent
then tied to a top shot of 25lb mono of 20' for putting in the clip
as the braid wont stay in there
playing the fish on braid provides a lot more feedback as there is zero stretch
and pays to have a softer/longer rod
 
Sorry to bump this. I went to River sportsman today and the kid behind the counter said they normally start with Dragonfly fly line backing in 30 lb test for about 150 yards, then they add 150 yards of mono!?!? Seems like a lot of mono based on what I have found in the archives. What are you guys running?
 
i run similar to this, as all season long every few days of fishing i take a few feet off to keep the line fresh at the flasher...
 
RiverBoy said:
Sorry to bump this. I went to River sportsman today and the kid behind the counter said they normally start with Dragonfly fly line backing in 30 lb test for about 150 yards, then they add 150 yards of mono!?!? Seems like a lot of mono based on what I have found in the archives. What are you guys running?
Click to expand...

You are going to want that yardage if you hook into a big fish.

Also, it is never a bad idea to use a different color of backing and mainline, as this gives you a visual queue as to when you are down to your final 150 yards (the backing).

I use fluorocarbon for leaders, but my fishing partner seems to have just as much success with mono, so that is a matter of preference.
 
I run less backing and more 25 Maxima Mono. By having more mono on the reel a mid season cut off means there is still plenty on there to keep fishing and no need to re spool.
 
RiverBoy said:
Sorry to bump this. I went to River sportsman today and the kid behind the counter said they normally start with Dragonfly fly line backing in 30 lb test for about 150 yards, then they add 150 yards of mono!?!? Seems like a lot of mono based on what I have found in the archives. What are you guys running?
Click to expand...

My understanding was that a braid was put on first to cushion against the self tightening effect of mono lines. This tightening could crack the arbor on some reels.
 
After reading all the warning posts about arbors cracking due to tightening mono I went on Amazon and got a huge spool of 100lb Dacron (about 1000 meters for $21 shipped!). I put on about .5-.75 inches worth of it on my reels and then topped them off with 25 lb mono. Probably a couple hundred yards worth. I hope this will be sufficient for my reels for quite some time. I'm more concerned about it since I have graphite mooching reels.

That being said, I've also started stripping off about 100-150 yards of line at the end of my fishing day while my boat's under power and reeling back the line with minimal tension. This way I can relive some of that tension which has built up on the spool.
 
A simple reasonably priced Shimano Moocher Plus reel will give you years of problem free fishing, they are pretty much indestructible. No backing required just put any line you like on and go fishing. Reels are kind of like watches, a timex keeps time just as well as a rolex lol! If a persons into the show and shine go Islander if ones into a good solid reel with out breaking the bank Shimano moocher plus.
 
uclueletcharters said:
A simple reasonably priced Shimano Moocher Plus reel will give you years of problem free fishing, they are pretty much indestructible. No backing required just put any line you like on and go fishing. Reels are kind of like watches, a timex keeps time just as well as a rolex lol! If a persons into the show and shine go Islander if ones into a good solid reel with out breaking the bank Shimano moocher plus.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct. When I played hockey I thought nothing of buying a $200 stick because I like the feel of it. Injury dictates that I can no longer play. Now I only play sports that I can hold a beer doing. ( golf, fishing) But seriously, golf and fishing are my passion, and I want the best in my hand when I play. Hence the Islander. I play with Pings clubs for the same reason. Thanks for the input guys. I value it!
 
Excuse my ignorance, but why even use backing?

I run straight 25# Mono on my Moocher Gt4000's, if I could afford islanders, I don't see a reason I would change the straight Mono...

More capacity is better, isn't it? If you spool 20-30# from the beginning, you can snip off 30-40 feet every month or so fishing and still have Tyee's run on you for minutes without having to worry about a knot. I mean surely if you're buying Islanders, it's not a price issue...

Why Run Backing?
 
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