Musky reel

[Nick Kuhn]

I use a modified Uni-Uni. A little easier to tie, but still very strong.

[HugoBox]

Stupid question on line - I believe the 7000's specs say they hold about 300 yards of 17 LB mono. A 300 yard spool of whatever superline you use is about the same diameter so do you just tie the superline to the little stud on the spool or do you use mono backing. I'm a cheap-**s so I'd prefer to put the backing on but was wondering what the rest of you do. What diameter do you use for backing - in the past I've used whatever heavy mono I had laying around but I'm being a little more careful and paying closer attention to details this year.

Also, I've had decent luck with PowerPro but I know everyone has their own opinions. What are your choices - Brand, color, Lb test?

[Esox_Magnum]

I havent used a 7000 but on my other reels I just tie on whatever mono I have laying around. I normaly pick up a $2 spool of 20# or something at FFO for this reason. I finish the reels off with 80 Power Pro in Moss Green, may try Invisi Braid on 1 or 2 this year if and when I get around to buying some.

[Nick Kuhn]

I think it would be stupid use entirely the expensive line. I use a 15 lb mono simply because it fills the reel a little quicker, but if you go larger in diameter it gets tougher and tougher to tie a good knot. I've never been down anywhere near my mono backing though so I can't really say what kind of impact it has overall.

[Mugsterdad]

The mono keeps the line from spinning on the reel. That is the main reason to use it.

[Nick Kuhn]

Let me rephrase that, other than preventing the line from spinning on the reel I don't know what impact it has.

[HugoBox]

The 700's have a little stud on the spool so line won't spin but I don't want to put $30 worth of line on that I won't ever see or use.

[hanson]

On a Garcia 7000, I would definitely use a mono backing.

Reasons:

- Save money. Hundreds of yards of superline doesn't make sense when you only use the first 50 yards anyway.

- On most reels, the mono "grips" the spool and prevents line slippage. A 7000 has a little 'stud' on the spool that you can tie the backing directly to. No slippage to worry about at all.

- Full Spool. You obviously want the spool full to take advantage of the gear ratio. A 7000 with a half full spool really slows down.

[Rebel9921]

Erik... trust me... put on mono that the superbraid's diameter is similar to... Myself, I put on 20-25# mono for backing... spool it up enough then I basically tie on and spool on 100yds of Superbraid... I could split the 300yd spool into 3 reels...

[b1gf1sh1]

hey hugo. backing for sure. i don't use power pro, i use stren super braid in 65#. i just get the 125 yards normally and put on just enough 14 lb test mono to let the 125 yards fill the spool up. thats on my 400 TE. alot of guys seem to like heavier mono backing and that's great, i just like a fine tightly spooled backing. i have less problems it seems with my line digging in when the backing is thinner. mabe i'm nuts but i don't have those problems now and i did with 20# and 30#. only been to the backing in a few lazy momments letting the line get short and had no lost fish so why change. just loosened the drag a little and no problem. power pro doesn't dig in that easy whitch is a plus but i'm a river rat and IMHO power pro is made for lakes. as long as you fish deep water. if your not used to putting it on yourself most stores will put it on for nothing if you buy the line there. their machines get the line on nicer than we can. if i can, i let them do it usually. lines really cheap if they have it on the spools in back too. pennies on a dime. stren super braid is tough, long lasting, holds up to being dragged through sand and rocks on sandbars/humps/underwater islands. only drawbacks i've found are it's pretty noisey on the cast and reteieve(might be a plus on retrieve with the vibration, who knows.) but i can live with that. the other problem is it is a pretty slick line so you have to be pretty dilligent on tying a proper knot or it'll slip loose. worse than fireline. i tie a trilene knot but wrap it four times in the eye/ring not two. never had an issue that way. but it'll come down to what you are confident in, in the end. one more little tip. mabe you know it. when your line is getting beat up and you have plenty left, reel it on another reel then on another reel. tie it on original reel, reel it on and you have pretty much brand new line if you can't cast it to the bad part of course.. good luck.

[DTro]

Click me to learn the uni knot

[cjac]

Thanks dtro......you saved me from looking for the diagram. Gotta love the muskie and cat guys helping each other out!

[DTro]

Well they are the only two real species in the state.

[Ralph Wiggum]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

Well they are the only two real species in the state.

What's that you're holding in your avatar, then?

[DTro]

Just a little something I do in my spare time.

Is it getting to be that time though isn't it?

You just might have motivated me Ryan.

[MUSKY18]

Rebel hit it right. When you spool your reel with mono backing, you want to make sure that the diameter of the superbraid and mono are the same. I use TUF line, and when I spool my backing, 20lb Trilene is the same diameter as the 100# TUF line. Makes it much easier to tie the uni knot and holds much better. I will usually put about 100yds of backing and top off the spool with the superbraid (on a 7000). No big worry, if you have a fish peel line all the way down to the uni knot, you better get a bigger net!!

[b1gf1sh1]

yep makes sense to me. diameter for diameter. 65# about 14 dia. 30# about 10 dia. thats my setups. thanks for the 101. knew it was working even if i did'nt know why. lol

[Ralph Wiggum]

 Originally Posted By: dtro

You just might have motivated me Ryan.

That's better