What I’ve done in the past is fill up the backing and periodically check the fit with the coiled up new fly line by just holding the bundle in place on the spool. Not that it probably matters too much to be underspooled, but yes I’d say not enough backing.
StepDaddySteve on
Correct. Needs more backing.
cmonster556 on
Too little is, for freshwater reels, much better than too much. I like there to be about a quarter inch gap between fly line and frame to account for less than perfect wraps in the wild.
On a 3 wt odds are you’ll never see that backing on the water anyway.
The only effect you would really see is having to crank a few more times to reel in, and tighter coils in cold weather.
ejsell on
Reverse spool it first. Fly line then the backing that way you know exactly how much to put on.
brooknut on
Better too little than too much. I would add more when you change out your fly line for a new one.
SpreadEmu127332 on
Yeah but it doesn’t matter.
Tactical_Axolotl on
That reel looks tiny, which makes me think you’re not fishing for something powerful, which makes me say that that is enough. If you were chasing carp, salmon, steelhead, or saltwater, I would say it’s missing a lot of
BlackFish42c on
I’ve always been told 3-5 weight 25-50 yards of backing. 6-8 weight 50-80 anything over 9 weight 80-100 yards of backing.
cllvt on
I would agree with “good enough” and better too little than too much. I personally don’t like a real full spool, too easy to get uneven distribution and then a jammed reel.
To me that looks perfect
StaticTrout1 on
Depends on the size of the fish you’re chasing.
kbh92 on
My 3wt is the same on my little click reel and I’ve just been too lazy to fix it. Doesn’t hurt anything having too little imo just looks weird.
WY228 on
IMO yes, I’d add more. When I ordered my Battenkill the shop spooled it up exactly like that. Problem with that little of backing is the arbor was so small the line was getting tons of memory from being wound so tight. Re-spooled it with a lot more backing enlarging the arbor and it resolved the issue.
People always talk about no need for much backing for small fish, which is true, but more backing has other benefits than just for fighting fish.
12 Comments
What I’ve done in the past is fill up the backing and periodically check the fit with the coiled up new fly line by just holding the bundle in place on the spool. Not that it probably matters too much to be underspooled, but yes I’d say not enough backing.
Correct. Needs more backing.
Too little is, for freshwater reels, much better than too much. I like there to be about a quarter inch gap between fly line and frame to account for less than perfect wraps in the wild.
On a 3 wt odds are you’ll never see that backing on the water anyway.
The only effect you would really see is having to crank a few more times to reel in, and tighter coils in cold weather.
Reverse spool it first. Fly line then the backing that way you know exactly how much to put on.
Better too little than too much. I would add more when you change out your fly line for a new one.
Yeah but it doesn’t matter.
That reel looks tiny, which makes me think you’re not fishing for something powerful, which makes me say that that is enough. If you were chasing carp, salmon, steelhead, or saltwater, I would say it’s missing a lot of
I’ve always been told 3-5 weight 25-50 yards of backing. 6-8 weight 50-80 anything over 9 weight 80-100 yards of backing.
I would agree with “good enough” and better too little than too much. I personally don’t like a real full spool, too easy to get uneven distribution and then a jammed reel.
To me that looks perfect
Depends on the size of the fish you’re chasing.
My 3wt is the same on my little click reel and I’ve just been too lazy to fix it. Doesn’t hurt anything having too little imo just looks weird.
IMO yes, I’d add more. When I ordered my Battenkill the shop spooled it up exactly like that. Problem with that little of backing is the arbor was so small the line was getting tons of memory from being wound so tight. Re-spooled it with a lot more backing enlarging the arbor and it resolved the issue.
People always talk about no need for much backing for small fish, which is true, but more backing has other benefits than just for fighting fish.