How to Set up Your Line for Fly Fishing

In fly fishing, fishermen try to catch fish using artificial flies as lure. Fly fishing involves using a weighted line which unfurls when the fisherman casts the line. The rod is longer and lighter than cast and spin fishing rods. The most common types of fish caught by fly fishing are trout and salmon, although other species can also be caught. Setting up a fly fishing rod correctly is imperative for a good fishing experience.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly fishing reel
  • Weight forward line
  • Spool of braided backing
  • Knotted leader
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine the reel type. There are three reel types: non-detachable spool, closed-cage detachable spool and open-cage detachable spool. With the open-cage detachable, simply detach the spool to get started with the backing. With a closed-cage detachable spool, envision how the line has to pass through the cage. Pass the backing through the cage the opposite way before starting to work on the backing. If a non-detachable spool is used, pass the line through the cage and all the way around the spool before starting on the backing.

    • 2

      Tie the backing onto the spool. Use an overhand knot to attach the backing onto the spool. Mount the spool onto the reel cage, making sure that the line passes through the cage the right way.

    • 3

      Spool the backing onto the reel. In general, 100 yards is the right amount of backing to use. When the line is spooled on the reel, it should not touch the walls of the cage. Wind the backing completely onto the reel, carefully covering it evenly.

    • 4

      Prepare the fly line. Locate the reel end of the weighted fly line. Most of the time, the reel end of the line is marked with a sticker. If there is no sticker, simply find the end that is thin. On the weighted line, the front end is also thin, but only for a short section of the line, then it gets thick. Look for the side that doesn't get thick after a short section.

    • 5

      Attach the backing to the fly line. Tie the fly line to the backing using a knot. Permanent knots are a good choice if not changing the line until replacing it. The Albright knot is a good permanent knot that works well.

    • 6

      Continue spooling the fly line onto the reel. Spool the fly line carefully, covering the entire reel evenly. Use fingers to guide the line for proper coverage. If the line touches the cage bars on the reel, back up and re-spool, being careful not to touch the cage.

    • 7

      Finish the job. Attach a leader line to the fly line. The leader is a 9 to 12 foot section of tapered line that is thickest towards the rod and thin towards the fly. The easiest way to attach a leader is to mount a braided loop onto the fly line. After attaching the leader to the fly line, attach a tippet to the leader. A tippet is a small piece of line the same thickness or thinner than the leader line. A surgeon's knot is the best knot for attaching the tippet. Finally, tie the fly onto the tippet.