Fly Line Backing/Gell spun

[DAWNPATROL]

A friend told me that he recently filled his spool with "Gell spun" backing, and got almost twice what he use to have with standerd backing. I assumed that he was talking about Cortlands "Micronite" but I'm not sure if I understood him properly. I later looked through an Orvis catalog and saw it offerd as a backing that they can fill your spool with when you buy a reel,but I did'nt see it in the catalog for purchase. Does anyone know where to get this stuff and /or any details? MURF

[cjn]

Go to any tackle shop and back up your reel with power-pro braided line.

[Bob Parsons]

When was the last time you were spooled?

If never why spend the money?

Or are we just being very optomistic?

[Quicksilver]

The item sounds like "spectra" or one of the clones. I got mine at Cabelas. I think the price was $20 for 150 yds. One of the good features about the product is it's so thin a fish can rip off 75 yds of it off the spool and you still have a fairly large circumference on your spool- so you don't have to crank like a madman to put line back on the reel. One drawback is that you really need to watch out for your fingers. Not only is this stuff thin but it also has an abasive texture. It comes in many lb. test strengths. I believe for flyline backing #50 or #80 is recomended.

[DAWNPATROL]

Thanks for the suggestions, I've have'nt been spooled yet but I have come close a couple of times in N.C. on Alberts between 12-16 lbs at Beaufort rip, Cape Lookout. But I'm setting up a 13wt rig to use for football tuna's and thought the extra backing might come in handy. As for larger/stronger species I'm a believer that the new Large arbor reels do not have the capacity needed and that a standerd arbor loaded with it's max capacity acts as a large arbor and gives me a little extra insurance. Maybe I'm being optomistic but if I'm hooked into a 45lb football, I think I'll take the insurance. I'd like to be able to load at least 450 yds and know that I'll have a fighting chance. MURF

[ppatricelli]

Don't forget the insurance factor of having at breaking point factor of 50# from your tippet to your backing. How often are we using 15-20# leaders and only 20-30# backing? One bad knot or abrasion and goodby fly line! After one season chasing FA's in NC I filled all my hairy chested reels with 80# spectra backing taken off my sturgeon reels. Setting up on fish behind the shrimp boats when still between the drag-net cables gets one thinking!
When using the much thinner 30-50# super braids one MUST be very careful if using 15-20# tippets because one loop of that stuff around your finger and with 20#'s of pull it will cut through to the bone or better. With 50# test leaders on sturgeon this stuff shaves off or cuts right through the foregrip when the rod is really bent. Quite dangerous stuff.
Peter Patricelli

[Austin]

DAWNPATROL

HEY HOW GOES IT? WELL GELSPUN IS SOLD BY ORVIS IN 35LB AND 50LB AND YOU CAN GET IT AT THE BEARS DEN IN TAUNTON, MA. GIVE THEM A CALL AT 508 880 6226 AND THEY WILL HELP YOU WITH ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE. I HAVE THE STUFF ON MY TIOGA #12 AND I HAVE ABOUT 450 YARDS OF 50LB. NOW THE 35LB IS ALMOST THE SAME DIAMETER AS 20LB DACRON BACKING SO YOU GET ALOT MORE BACKING ON YOUR SALTWATER REELS THAT NORMALLY TAKE 30LB MICRON. SO ANYWAY CALL THE BEARS DEN AND ASK FOR EITHER SCOTT OR JON THEY WILL HELP YOU WITH WHAT EVER YOU NEED.

HAVE A GOOD ONE.

[Ray]

Caution with Gelspun backing!!!!

It will cut you to the bone. This much smaller diameter line has been known to cut anglers like a razor. Mostly occuring when trying to "palm" a reel.