Mastering the Connection: A Comprehensive Guide to Tying Backing to Fly Line

The seemingly simple act of connecting your fly line to your backing is a crucial step in preparing for any fly fishing adventure. This connection is the unsung hero that provides the extra line you need when battling a trophy fish, preventing your entire fly line from being stripped off the reel. A poorly tied knot here can be catastrophic, leading to lost fish and wasted time. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know about connecting backing to fly line, ensuring a strong and reliable connection every time.

Why is Backing Important?

Before we delve into the knot-tying process, let’s understand why backing is so vital:

• Extra Line Capacity: Fly reels don’t hold a ton of fly line. When you hook into a large, powerful fish that decides to run, you need extra line. This is where backing comes in. It fills up the rest of the spool, providing the necessary length to play the fish without running out of line.
• Shock Absorption: Backing, often made of braided dacron or gel-spun polyethylene, has a slight stretch that acts as a shock absorber, reducing the chances of your tippet or leader breaking during a sudden, powerful run.
• Preventing Broken Line: Without backing, you’d be playing large fish directly on your fly line, which is usually thinner and more delicate. Backing provides the muscle needed to handle powerful fish, reducing the strain on your fly line.

Choosing the Right Backing

Selecting the appropriate backing is the first step. Here are a few factors to consider:

• Material:
  • Dacron: This is the most common type of backing, known for its strength, durability, and affordability. It’s a great all-around choice for most fly fishing situations.
  • Gel-Spun Polyethylene (Braided Spectra/Power Pro): This backing is incredibly strong and offers a smaller diameter for the same strength as dacron. This means you can fit more backing on your reel. It has very little stretch, though, and can be harder to grip when tightening knots. This is commonly used for species that require a large amount of line or large fish that may have aggressive runs.
• Strength: The strength of your backing is determined by its breaking strength, expressed in pounds (lbs). A general guideline is to choose backing with a breaking strength similar to, or slightly higher than, your fly line’s breaking strength. For most freshwater situations, 20-30 lb test dacron is suitable. For large saltwater fish and/or large freshwater fish, you may want to use 30-50 lb test dacron or 30-65 lb test gel-spun polyethylene.
• Color: Backing comes in various colors. The color doesn’t usually affect its performance, so choose a color that appeals to you or makes it easier to track your line on the water if you happen to reach the backing.

Tools You’ll Need

Before we start tying, let’s gather the necessary tools:

• Your Fly Reel: With your spool removed from the frame.
• Backing: The type and amount suitable for your fishing needs.
• Fly Line: The fly line you will be using.
• Scissors or Clippers: To cut the backing and line.
• Optional: Fly Line Knotting tool: This can make the process easier to grip the backing.
• Optional: Lighter: To lightly fuse the ends of gel-spun backing

The Essential Knot: The Arbor Knot and the Nail Knot

There are two main knots we need to learn: the Arbor Knot and the Nail Knot (or a knotless connection using a tool). The Arbor Knot connects the backing to the fly reel spool and the Nail Knot connects the backing to your fly line. Let’s start with the Arbor Knot.

Step-by-Step Guide: The Arbor Knot

The Arbor knot is used to attach your backing to the reel spool.

1. Prepare the Backing: Pull about 8 to 12 inches of backing from your spool.
2. Tie an Overhand Knot: Create a simple overhand knot in the end of your backing, leaving a small loop.
3. Thread the Loop: Pass the tag end of the backing through the loop you just created.
4. Around the Spool: Wrap the tag end of the backing around the spool arbor (the center part of the spool) one time.
5. Tighten the Loop: Carefully pull on the standing part of the backing (the part connected to the main spool) while holding the loop in place. This will snug the loop down on the backing.
6. Tighten the Knot: Pull firmly on the tag end of the backing to secure the knot and pull the loop onto the spool arbor.
7. Trim the Excess: Trim the tag end close to the knot, leaving a very small tag end.

Step-by-Step Guide: The Nail Knot

The Nail Knot is traditionally used to attach your backing to the fly line.

1. Prepare the Line and Backing: Lay the end of your fly line and the end of your backing parallel to each other. Overlap them by about 6 to 8 inches.
2. Use Nail or Tube (optional): If you have a nail, straw, or similar object, lay it alongside the fly line and the backing. If not, you will be using your fingers. You can also use a special Nail Knot tying tool.
3. Wrapping the Backing: Hold the backing and fly line securely in place. Take the backing and begin to wrap it around the fly line, nail, and backing about 6-10 times working towards the tag end of the line. Keep each wrap tight and neat. If not using a nail, try to keep the wraps in a coil and tight with your finger.
4. Thread the Backing: Slide the object (nail, tube, or tool) out, holding the wraps securely. Thread the tag end of the backing through the loop you created by sliding the nail out.
5. Lubricate and Tighten: Moisten the knot with water or saliva, and slowly pull the tag end of the backing. You want to slowly snug the knot together and make sure that the line doesn’t get pulled out of the knot. You want to keep the wraps uniform and not overlapping.
6. Test the Knot: Gently pull on the fly line and the backing to ensure the knot is secure.
7. Trim the Excess: Trim the tag end of the backing and the fly line close to the knot, leaving a small tag end.

Alternative Method: Knotless Connectors

If you struggle with tying the Nail Knot, consider using a knotless connector. These are small, pre-made plastic or metal sleeves that slide over the fly line and backing, providing a simple and effective connection. Knotless connectors can make attaching backing quicker and easier. It is a good choice for those who have difficulties with tying knots. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for proper installation.

Tips for a Strong Connection

• Moisten Your Knots: Always lubricate your knots before tightening them. This helps the knot set properly and reduces friction, preventing weakening of the line.
• Tighten Slowly and Evenly: Don’t rush the tightening process. Pull the knot slowly and evenly to ensure the wraps are secure and snug.
• Test Your Knots: After tightening each knot, give it a gentle tug to test its strength. If a knot seems weak, retie it.
• Trim Tag Ends Neatly: Leaving long tag ends can catch on guides or other parts of your gear. Trim them close to the knot to avoid any issues.
• Consider the Knot Strength: While the Nail Knot is traditionally used, some may find it challenging to tie and achieve consistent strength. The use of a knotless connector may yield a stronger and more reliable connection for some.
• Regularly Inspect: It’s a good idea to inspect your backing-to-fly line connection regularly, especially after landing large fish. A worn or damaged connection needs to be replaced immediately.
• Use a Knot Tying Tool: A tool can help with the nail knot process. Some people may find the tool helpful while others may not.

Spooling Your Backing

After you’ve connected the backing to the spool, you need to spool it onto the reel properly. Here’s how:

1. Tension: Use a line spooler tool, or have someone hold the spool of backing for you, applying slight tension to the line. This is crucial for creating a tight and even spool.
2. Fill the Spool: Slowly and carefully wind the backing onto the reel, making sure the line is smooth and even. Continue until the spool is about 3/4 full, leaving enough space for your fly line. A good rule of thumb is to leave about 1/8th of an inch to allow space to put your fly line.
3. Check the Spool: Ensure there are no overlaps or bulges of backing. A properly spooled reel will help prevent tangles and other issues while fishing.

Connecting Fly Line to Backing

Now that we have the backing spooled and ready, we can attach our fly line to the backing. We are going to use the Nail Knot method for attaching the fly line to backing, but the knotless connection method can also be used here as well.

1. Prepare the Line and Backing: Lay the end of your fly line and the end of your backing parallel to each other. Overlap them by about 6 to 8 inches.
2. Use Nail or Tube (optional): If you have a nail, straw, or similar object, lay it alongside the fly line and the backing. If not, you will be using your fingers. You can also use a special Nail Knot tying tool.
3. Wrapping the Backing: Hold the backing and fly line securely in place. Take the backing and begin to wrap it around the fly line, nail, and backing about 6-10 times working towards the tag end of the fly line. Keep each wrap tight and neat. If not using a nail, try to keep the wraps in a coil and tight with your finger.
4. Thread the Backing: Slide the object (nail, tube, or tool) out, holding the wraps securely. Thread the tag end of the backing through the loop you created by sliding the nail out.
5. Lubricate and Tighten: Moisten the knot with water or saliva, and slowly pull the tag end of the backing. You want to slowly snug the knot together and make sure that the line doesn’t get pulled out of the knot. You want to keep the wraps uniform and not overlapping.
6. Test the Knot: Gently pull on the fly line and the backing to ensure the knot is secure.
7. Trim the Excess: Trim the tag end of the backing and the fly line close to the knot, leaving a small tag end.

Spool the Fly Line: Spool your fly line onto the reel. After the fly line is on, you will want to attach the leader/tippet and you will be ready to go.

Conclusion

Connecting your backing to your fly line might seem daunting at first, but with practice and attention to detail, you can master this essential skill. A strong and reliable connection is crucial for a successful fly fishing experience. Take the time to learn these knots and techniques, and you’ll be well-prepared to tackle any fish that comes your way. Now, get out there, practice your knots, and enjoy the thrill of the catch!