6 Responses to “do you have to use a backing when setting up a fly fishing reel or can you just use the fly line?”

1. By Sagefisher on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   A short answer to your question is…..Yes.

   The backing is very important for three reasons:

   1. When you wind your fly line onto your reel, the backing fills the very small circle right around the center of your reel. That allows your fly line to be in a larger circle so the coil memory won’t be as bad compared to just winding your line onto your reel.

   2. The fact that your line forms a larger diameter means that there is more line placed onto the reel for every turn of the handle as compared to having your line in a tight circle on the reel.

   3. You never know when you are going to hook up on either a really large fish or if you are on a river, hook up on a snag or tree. Your line is only around 85 to 100 feet in length. If you have 45 feet out, then you only have 45 feet or so of back up line. That can be taken out really fast. So, you put on a 20 pound Dacron backing and then you have an additional 300 feet or so of play before you run out of line.

   Trust me, you want the backing.

   Larry

2. By FishSteelhead on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   Haven’t fly fished in years, but what sage conveyed, pretty well sums it up ;)… Quickie story:Was fishing the Klamath River (N. Calif.) and watched a gentleman hang a 20′ (AT LEAST 20) "Steelie" (Steelhead) and that hen took off and stripped out all of his fly line and because he had no backin’, it was adios’! I Don’t know who shed more tears, him or myself ;( !!X*%@%**!

3. By stilhdr1963 on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   Backing on your fly reel serves two important purposes. I helps fill the reel to help reduce any memory coils in it and also most fly lines are only about 100′ or so, so it gives you extra line for dealing with a larger fish that will take out line. If your casting out 50-90′ of line on a cast, then you have plenty left. If you fish larger fish species, this is absolutely necessary.

4. By Injun on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   good answers!

5. By Eric on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   Sagefisher has the best anwser.

6. By Missy on Jul 24, 2010 | Reply

   I don’t know much about fly fishing but I sure would like to know everyone’s answers so I can learn. - ma

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