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I think Kingme has the best advice starting with three spools, or at least two and save a 10 color for whenever if you don't have the reels. I tried to start one spool at a time two years ago and ended up with a number of spools with small leftovers because I didn't plan it out well enough. Can always add more weight to them as well, be it with pump handles, torpedoes, snap weights, etc.

If you have smaller reels, use braid as your backer to keep your capacity up.

Joez this is exactly why I made the suggestion, I've got quite a few partial spools myself.

Start Paddling, I've actually tried it a couple different ways. I've put it between the leader and deep leadcore and it gets lures down and would keep paddles from riding up into higher lines. For the tournament I put it between the leadcore and the backing of the 3 color +50' and put it inside the 10 color to make sure the 10 color would ride over it for any reason. I've also done it 50/50 with leadcore but that was by myself and with 3 lines so I can't say how easy it would tangle if other lines were added.

ms701 it really depends on your fishing preference on what you will need but if you plan to run the full gauntlet fishing top to bottom, 10 to 100 fow, January to December, then I'd suggest the 3 spool method. The 4 colors you suggested are more than enough to cover everything for a 2 man spread, add riggers and/or dipsys. The down side being you will end up with a partial spool of either 3 or 5 colors left.

Kingme, thanks for the tip.  Any ideas on how deep you’re running on each?  Or is deeper the only goal?

Just trying to get as deep as I can with what I have to work with. An OR8 with a 3oz trolling weight on a 10 color or 300 copper I already have is a lot cheaper than a whole new 400 copper setup I'd only use 1 or 2 weekends a season.

OK,  here is a stupid question. If running a 3 color and I let it out and get to the backer, will it still sink the more line I let out. If I let out 10yards of backer will it go down another 5ft? Is there no way to calculate that, or do I let out the lead core and that is it? If that makes any sense. 

 Definitely not a stupid question. But short answer no. Once the leadcore is completely submerged, it can only sink so far at a given trolling speed. I don't know how accurate this is, but it's the ballpark chart I've referenced since I started adding leadcore back in 2020.
 

Joez that's pretty close. I think it's 5 ft per color at 2.0 on the spool chart for 27lb. 2 5 I always estimate 3-4 ft per color.

There is another leadcore made by suffix that is not dracon wrapped but braid wrapped and that achieves deeper per color. Just don't mix the 2 on the same side. This yr we've been running 1 side regular lc and the other suffix to achieve even different depths.

I really appreciate this thread. I am a small 17.5 Lowe. I only run a 6 rod spread and just purchased (2) lead core rod and reels. I picked up a 200 yard spool of Suffix standard LC and 50 lb braid backing. I made a 10 color and a 5 color. I was going to make the 5 color a 7 but I didn't want the odd extra amount. I have 5 colors left but I think the wife is mad enough right now. Have to pick up another rod and reel by next spring for a 3 color coho rig. It will be my first time running boards, I picked up the Church TX-44's. Any advice on keeping them from slipping on the braid backer, I would appreciate it. 

E-THREE your tx44 should have a metal back pin, loop the line in that first and give it a twist, 5-8 times. Then put the front of the line (towards the rod) in the pinch pad. The twist should prevent slippage. If it's a plastic pin you will eventually need to upgrade to the metal pin as the braid will cut through it.

I will look for these board upgrades. It is a plastic pin. I didn't know there were upgrades. I was disappointed in the flimsy plastic parts. Thank you for the tips. Tight Lines!