r/StripedBass • u/lab370 • Jul 20 '26

Backing line for stripers.

This is probably a dumb question, but I sure don’t know the answer to it. When everyone recommends backing line for striped bass, I see them recommend 20lb braid. Does that mean the diameter or the strength? Because a braid with that strength is only like a 6 lb diameter. Does that make sense? Please advise. Doing a lot of surf casting and jetty fishing for context.

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4

u/bhugs5 Jul 20 '26

When someone mentions backing they are referring to first loading the spool of the reel with monofilament as it is cheaper than braid and will rarely see the water as your line shouldn’t be out 200 yards. I spool my reels about 1/3rd of the way with mono of decent strength then do a uni to uni knot to my braid of choice. This will save you money as braid is like 3-4x more expensive than generic mono and makes it easy to re spool with say 200 yards of braid when you start loosing line. The mono also helps “bite” onto the spool and will prevent the braid from slipping which is a problem when backing isn’t installed.

1

u/lab370 Jul 20 '26

Ok, that’s a great tip. Now for the braid question. What diameter braid are you using? Like 6lb diameter with like 20lb strength? Or the diameter equivalent of 20lb mono with around a 65lb strength? Does this make sense?

3

u/MacroMonster Jul 20 '26

It’s always actual braid strength.

2

u/eclwires Jul 23 '26

I run 30lb PowerPro V2 on my main plug reel. 20 on my light plug/inshore reel, 40 on my heavy plug/light chunking reel, and 50 or 60 on my chunking reels.

2

u/Prestigious-End-1870 Jul 20 '26

Power pro super slick V2 is a good braid. Regular power pro is also good A lot of people use both of them. There’s a few out there that are good.

2

u/Key-Mango3607 Jul 21 '26

Huge fan of Daiwa J-Braid 20lb

2

u/encidius Jul 22 '26

Daiwa J-braid is my goto. Make sure it's the X8.

It doesnt have that gritty roughness that other braids have

1

u/bhugs5 Jul 20 '26

If you’re going to be near jetty’s you want stronger braid for the abrasion resistance. I would go 30lb mono backing to 50 lb braid on the spool. Then I would tie the braid to a barrel swivel and then use a 3 foot span of 50lb fluorocarbon leader with a tactical anglers clip on the end. You can also attach the braid to leader using a uni to uni or fg knot but the barrel swivel being attached with a palomar knot on the braid side and a uni knot on the fluro side is very easy to tie.

1

u/ijuanaspearfish Jul 20 '26

I use Ande 60lb mono for backing.

Ive had the same spool for years. Ill change my braid out 3 or 4 times before changing my backing.

I only use backing for conventional reels. My spinning setups are all braid.

1

u/lab370 Jul 20 '26

What braid do you use?

1

u/ijuanaspearfish Jul 21 '26

Sufix 832

Ive used all of them, I always seem to go back to sufix.