[The Thrasher]

Given all the reel estate (pun intended) taken up by some of the Spey casting lines like the Mastery XLT, I'm wondering if anyone else has considered switching to gelspun backing to get more yardage.

I know it's slippery, and knots need to be well tied and double checked, but has anyone practical experience using (that is, seeing it go through the guides) gelspun? What pound test? Tips?

 

[Rick J]

I got the Ross BG 8 for an XLT 9/10 and it barely fit so rather than 30# Micron I went with 50# gelspun and got close to 200 yards. Seems to work ok. Though I have not used gelspun before, I have used Micronite which is somewhat similar and have had no problems with it.

If you can't get the yards you need with micron, I would go for it

 

[MJC]

Gelspun

Thrasher, Use the search feature at the top of the page using the term gelspun and you will find several posts on this subject

 

[King Salmon]

I know it's slippery, and knots need to be well tied and double checked, but has anyone practical experience using (that is, seeing it go through the guides) gelspun? What pound test? Tips?

You have left out one of its most important properties: When you have a tight drag and a good fish is ripping line off your reel ultra thin backing can cut you like a razor blade.

I learned about this with a nice salmon on. He was well into my 30 pound Stren Kevlar backing and I was cranking it it in frantically as he ran toward me. Suddenly he turned downstream and I let loose of the handle so as not to get hit by the spool's handle but I forgot move my right index finger that I was using to level the backing as I reeled in. My finger was barely resting against the backing and in an instant it cut me almost to the bone. Just like a razor or paper cut.

If you use gelspun or Kevlar backing be very carefull with it!

 

[Bob Pauli]

Knots for GSP

Several of the knots commonly used with "standard" backing are not suitable for GSP.

Highly recommended book: Geoff Wilson's guide to Superbraid knots, published by Amato Books.