How Do I Spool a Fly Rod?

Casting a fly rod takes a different approach from bait or spin fishing. When spin or bait casting, the lure provides the weight that carries a thin, light line, but with fly fishing the weight of a thick, heavy line propels the fly. Because of fly line's thickness, a fly reel cannot hold a large amount of line --- a disadvantage when fighting big fish. To compensate, a thinner line called "backing" is spooled onto the fly reel before winding the fly line.

Things You'll Need

  • Fly rod
  • Fly reel
  • Braided fly line backing
  • Fly line
  • Scissors
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select a braided fly line backing suited to the application. For most bodies of freshwater a 20-lb. test backing is sufficient; for salt water 30-lb. test, or higher, backing is warranted.

    • 2

      Stand the backing up on one end of the spool. Thread the end of the backing down through the bottom rod guide, and then through the guide slot on the line pickup carriage on the reel.

    • 3

      Tie the end of the backing through the hole in the middle of the reel spindle. Tie the backing off with three half-hitch knots.

    • 4

      Wrap the end of the backing around any one of the individual spindles --- if your reel has a multi-part spindle, consisting of several narrow rods --- leaving a 2-inch tag end. Tie the backing off with a half-hitch. Wrap the tag end of the backing back around the spindle in the opposite direction, three times. Tie the backing off with three half-hitches.

    • 5

      Turn the crank handle on the fly reel until 50 to 100 yards of backing, depending on the size of the reel spool, is wound onto the real.

    • 6

      Position the spool of fly line down on end. Tie the end of the backing to the end of the fly line with a double square knot; the left end of the fly line over the right end of the backing and then the right end of the fly line over the left end of the backing. Pull the line tight and repeat. Cut the tag ends of the lines down to 1/4 inch with scissors.

    • 7

      Turn the crank handle on the fly reel until the spool is filled with line to 1/8 inch from the edge of the spool.