How to Knot the Backing to the Fly Fishing Reel

Several fly fishing line knots are used throughout the assembly of a fly rod and reel. An important step in the assembly of the fly fishing rod is tying an arbor knot to attach the backing to the reel. The weakest point of a fishing line is at a knot. If tied correctly the knot will retain 90 percent of the strength of the line. If tied incorrectly, a large bass or salmon will escape.    

Things You’ll Need

• Fly fishing rod


• Fly fishing reel


• Scissors or knife


• Monofilament line

1. Grasp the fly fishing rod with your left hand and wrap the monofilament fishing line around the spool center, known as the arbor, with your right hand. Use opposite hands, if you are a left handed fly fisherman. 


2. Rest the fly fishing rod across your lap or place on other flat surface, to free your hands to hold the fishing line.


3. Grasp the fishing line below the arbor and tie an overhand knot around the line that is fixed and under tension, known as the standing line.


4. Pull both ends of the fishing line to tighten the knot well.    


5. Tie another overhand knot on the tag or loose end of the fishing line a few inches from the first overhand knot.


6. Pull both ends of the fishing line to tighten the second overhand knot.   


7. Wet the line and both overhand knots slightly with water and pull tight to secure the knots.


8. Hold the spool in one hand and pull on the standing line with the other hand, sliding the first knot against the arbor, as the second knot will stop this from slipping.


9. Snip off the excess tag end of the fishing line with scissors or knife.