How to Determine the Amount of Fly Line Backing

If the packaging that comes with your reel does not specify or recommend the amount of backing to put on your reel, or you have simply lost those specifications, determining the amount of backing is no more complicated than a quick glance. Determining the proper amount of backing is important because backing not only adds extra line in case you should hook into a big fish, but also occupies reel space allowing you to reel in more line with each revolution.

Things You'll Need

  • Reel
  • 20 or 30 pound micron backing
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Instructions

  1. Determining the Correct Amount of Backing

    • 1

      Determined what weight fly line you'll be using. Use 20 pound backing in conjunction with line weights up seven, and 30 pound backing on line weights seven and up.

    • 2

      Look at your reel. The wider its arbor, or width, the more line it will accommodate. For example, an Orvis 5/6 Battenkill Disc Drag Reel will accept 100 yards of 20 pound backing when used with a 5 weight line where as an Orvis Battenkill Large Arbor Trout Reel will take 150 yards of backing under the same conditions. As a general guideline, line weights 3 through 5 will accommodate 30 to 150 yards of 20 pound micron backing, and line weights 6 through 12 may accommodate 100 to 400 yards of 20 or 30 pound micron backing.

    • 3

      Remove the coiled fly line from both the package and the plastic spool on which it is wrapped, but don't uncoil the fly line itself. Place a portion of the fly line coil on top of the reel spool so that the line stacks up on the spool. Note how much space it takes up by determining the bare spool space directly above line. This is roughly the amount of backing that you'll want to use.

    • 4

      Use arbor knot to attach the backing to the spool. Wind on decided amount of backing. Connect your fly line to the backing with a nail knot.

    • 5

      Wind on your fly line. If you've attached too much backing, the entire length of your fly line might not be able to fit inside the reel. If this is the case, remove the fly line and subtract the necessary amount of backing. If you have too little backing, it probably won't matter unless those few millimeters of unused reel space bothers you.