Ice fishing

How many of you use a braid backing for your panfish rods I currently use 8lb suffix ice braid and 6lb fluro thinking of switching to 3lb suffix ice magic with the 8lb braid as my backing

I don’t use backing, but if I did. It would probably be a 4 or 6 pound mono.

I use backing on ALL my reels, summer and winter.

Not trying to be that guy but why? Seems like a waste of braid to me. A spool of ice magic is like 3 bucks. If your goal is to increase the diameter of the arbor, tape works better and is much cheaper than braid. I just spool my reels and call it a day. The fish don’t notice or care. I agree with Dusty though, if I did back it would just be mono. I don’t see any reason to back for panfish though. Ice magic is already pretty cheap, just spool the reel.

I do use 3lb ice magic though on all my panfish setups and have always been satisfied with it. 6lb is way to heavy for panfish for me.

I used to use a braid backing but made the switch to straight Ice Magic last year. The main reason was I didn’t want the bulk from the knot connecting the line on the tiny ice reel spool, and since the Ice Magic is so inexpensive, it wasn’t an issue to just fill the reel. No issues with this setup.
Dan

I don’t usually use backing on my ice rods, but I do use braid mainline. 5-15 lb works for most everything. Flouro leader too.

Mono is cheap and ice reels have a tiny capacity, I just fill with mono myself.

You could use braid backer if you want (it will last years) and just change the top shot of mono every year or every other year (say 25 yards).

Both ways work and probably cost the same coin 5-8 years down the road.

If you use braid, make sure to have a way to grip the spool. Either a short piece of mono or some tape on the spool.

Mono backing, always. There really is no benefit in going without backing.

Super small diameter braids are going to hold hundreds of useless feet of braid. You only really NEED 40-50’, tops.

I’d much rather risk a pike taking me to the backing than the line spinning on the spool.

How deep you fishing with your setup? That makes a difference.

When you say backing do you mean line to fill up the spool?

Or are you saying you use a braid main line with a mono leader?

Lots of guys use a braid main line with mono or fluoro leader.

Using braid just to fill a spool would be expensive and give no benefit over a cheap mono or tape backing.

I went with small diameter braid on my panfish rods and flouro leader last year. I got sick of the Curly Q memory from the mono as it makes it difficult to detect small bites.
That braid should last 5 plus years if not 10. Only replace the leader if it gets too short. Works for me.