How Much Backing On A Fly Reel?

Whether you are new to fishing or someone who has experience but feels unsure about how much backing to put on your fly reel. I am here to help you with your worries. For those of you who are new to fishing, hearing all this new terminology can be quite overwhelming. Don’t worry though, I am here to cast away your worries so you can fish confidently with a sturdy setup.

You might have been told before that you need to have the right amount of backing on your fly reel. This might have left you completely confused. It can seem difficult to know how much backing you would need for your fly reel. Especially since at first glance, there seems to be no set answer.

Fly reels come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Fly reel lines also have different diameters and weights which might make it seem even more confusing. So let’s have a look at how much backing you should put on a fly reel. 

What Is Backing?

Before we look at how much backing, I need to make sure you understand what backing is. 

Fly line backing is the terminology used in fly fishing to refer to the line that extends the total length of the line of your fly fishing reel. The reason you have a backing line is so that when you are fighting a fast and strong fish you don’t run out of line. Backing helps you keep control of bigger fish. 

So backing has a lot of benefits but it is great for making sure you have enough line to cast out for bigger fish and that you are able to control. 

What Is A Fly Reel? 

The last thing you need to know before we look into how much backing you should put on your fly reel is understanding what a fly reel is.

A fishing reel is a piece of equipment that is attached to the fishing rod to help with winding or casting the line. A fly reel is one of the simpler types of fishing reels. It is specifically designed to help with fly fishing. Fly reels come in many different shapes and sizes. In terms of the ways that fly reels differ from each other, it is through their type of drag, their construction of them, and their size. 

Fly reels are a drum that you wind the line and the backing onto using a handle. 

How Much Backing Do You Need On A Fly Reel? 

The amount of backing you need depends on the size of your fly reel. As a general rule, you should put as much backing as you can fit on your fly reel. What I mean by this is that you should put has much backing on your fly reel making sure that the fly line doesn’t touch the reel frame.

If you are unsure how much of a gap you should leave between the fly line and the reel frame, around ¼ of an inch gap is usually fine. If you are a beginner you might be wondering why you need to leave a gap. The answer is simple. If your line rubs against the frame it can cause damage to the line which could lead to the line snapping. 

If you are ever in doubt about how much backing you can put on your reel, have a look at the manufacturer’s website. Oftentimes the will be a bit of information that can guide you on how much backing to put on your fly reel. If your reel allows you to, it is best to have around 100 yards of backing on your reel. 

Let’s have a look at how much backing you typically need depending on the type of fish.

For normal-sized trout, you would usually need around 50 to 100 yards of 20lb backing. Larger trout need at least 150 yards of 20lbs backing. For fish like salmon, you would usually need around 250 yards of 30lb Dacron backing. Large ocean fish should have around 300+ yards of Dacron backing. With the bigger fish, it is better to have thicker backing so it is easier for you. 

How Do I Put Backing On My Fly Reel? 

Putting backing on your fly reel is actually quite simple. Below I will walk you through the steps so you are able to confidently put the backing on your reel. 

The first thing you want to do is make sure you have enough backing that meets your reels requirements, but also your fishing requirements. 

Once you have checked you have the right amount of backing you can now start to put your backing on. One way to put the backing on your reel is to use an arbor knot to connect the backing to the arbor (middle) of your reel. 

Now that you have connected your backing, it is time to wind in your backing. This needs to be done so the backing is tightly and consistently reeled in. 

Then you can use a surgeon’s knot to attach the backing to the loop in the fly line and start winding that in. 

If you are ever unsure or nervous about putting your backing on your reel you can go to a fly shop. Most fly shops will be able to help you put on your backing or will do it for you. 

Final Thoughts

Working out how much backing to put on your fly reel can be quite confusing. If I am going to be completely honest, there is a lot of trial and error when it comes to putting the backing on your fly reel. 

If you know what fish you will be fishing for then that can help you pick the appropriate fly reel and amount of backing. However, if you are unsure it is best to follow the rule of as much backing you can without having the fly line touching the frame. 

Hopefully, you feel more confident with working out how much backing on a fly reel. I hope I was able to cast away your fears. All that is left to say is happy fishing!