Fly line backing is basically used to extend the total length of line on the fly line when landing fast or strong game trout species or other game fish like bonefish, tarpon or bass. I’ve even been down to the backing on a number of occasions in fast-flowing trout streams. Especially if they start to take off!
Backing connects to the fly line so if you cast all your 30 feet of line, you’ve still got plenty of line to fight the fish.
Fly line backing is especially important when saltwater fly fishing to create a vital link that keeps anglers connected to the powerful fish. Some known to take up to 100 feet of fly line when caught. It also comes in handy for bass, fly fishing for salmon or trout species and other hard fighting fish.
| Image | Product | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Top PickRio Fly Fishing Backing Dacron |
| Check Today's Price |
 | High abrasion resistanceScientific Anglers Dacron Fly Line Backing |
| Check Today's Price |
 | Low coefficientM MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Fly Line Backing |
| Check Today's Price |
Best Fly Line Backing
Rio Fly Fishing Backing Dacron
Check Trident Fly Fishing Price
- 100 yd – 5000 yd spools
- 3 color options
- Easy to knot
- High strength and low stretch
Scientific Anglers Dacron Fly Line Backing
Check Trident Fly Fishing Price
- High visibility
- High abrasion resistance
- Low coefficient of friction
- Extremely thin
M MAXIMUMCATCH Maxcatch Fly Line Backing
- Variety of Color Choices
- Bigger Loading Quantity
- Low Friction and
- Abrasion Resistance
- Longer Casting Distance
Benefits of Using Backing
Apart from extending the length of the fly line, the backing provides bedding for the fly line when gets wrapped on a large arbour reel or spool. This additional diameter prevents the fly line from getting wrapped too tightly in circles around the arbour and increases the rate of retrieving the line when reeling in.
The bigger diameter also prevents the fly line from developing memory coils that usually affect the casting performance and develop unwanted tangles and knots. To achieve this, you need to spool the backing systematically to avoid creating overlapping wraps that tangle unexpectedly. Read on to find out how to put the line on a reel.
As more fishermen choose lighter tackle and long tippets for slow water targets they need every advantage to be successful!
What Type of Backing should You Use?
The standard type of backing is Dacron. It performs exceptionally well, is durable and stretches between 10 and 15 per cent to balance shock and fish-fighting abilities. This backing is ideal for anglers looking for a cost-effective material to extend the length of the fly line.
Experts recommend using this type of backing when you are not worried about overloading the reel, and targeted fish is not running more than 300 feet. That’s pretty much most fish you’ll catch on a fly rod.
The other type of backing is the gel-spun polyethene, which stretches shorter than Dacron. It is also called the Ultra-high molecular weight polyethene and is manufactured to produce long molecular chains that give the backing additional strength.
This high breaking strength compensates for its incredibly small diameter (30 lb has 0.14’’ of diameter). Gel-spun polyethene backing is used by anglers whose line capacity is limited when catching fish running more than 300 feet. Backing made from this material is pretty thin, which allows fishers to load long lengths of line on the reel. Gel-spun is more expensive but is worth it.
How Much Backing on Fly Reel?
The lengths vary based on the type of fish you intend to catch, and how much backing the fly reel can hold. Avoid loading the reel with too much line as it causes the fly line to touch the reel frame. You may need to perform a few trials to get the right amount.
Be sure to leave 1/4 inch of clearance once the backing and fly line is loaded on the spool. This will ensure none of the lines slips off and you don’t get any tangles when you’re in the moment. Here’s a brief overview of the required lengths of backing when fishing different fish species:
- Panfish and small trout: 25-50 yards of a 12-pound backing
- Normal trout: 50-100 yards of 20-pound backing, e.g., the Scientific Anglers Backing Fly Line
- Salmon: 250 yards of a 30-pound backing
- The steelhead and the big trout: more than 150 yards of a 20-lb backing
- The large carp and the bonefish: 250 yards of 30-pound backing. The gel-spun poly is ideal in this case
- Tarpon and other large fish species: more than 300 yards of 30-pound backing
Backing to Reel Knot
As you may have guessed there are two ends of the backing that need attaching. You need to first make the backing to fly line knot to connect the fly line to backing (also referred to as the backing-to-reel knot). Keep in mind that the backing is the first line wound around the fly reel, followed by the fly line, then the leader and the tippet attached last.