Fly Reel purchased!

After reading multiple posts on fly reels, I finally made a purchase. As mentioned in another post Cabela’s had their Prestige Plus reels on sale for $35 and I just happened to be in the store this weekend and picked one up. I threw it on the only open rod I had, St.Croix Legend 24″ UL. It really seems like a nice little setup.

Now the question of what to back it with. This will be panfish only with 2lb Vanish as main line. Any suggestions on backing? I’ve got tons of heavier line for open water, will 6# or 8# work for backing?

I’ll try and get a pic up of the new setup tomorrow.

Thanks,

Dave

Back it with heavy dacron, it will take way too much line to back with mono. You will only need 20-40 yards of 2lb spliced to that.

Thanks Dan. I might just have some of that around from filling tip-up spools.

Fly line backing, then 8 or 10 # mono backing to fill in the gaps, then 2# main line you’re gonna fish with. Now your line won’t sink into the spool especially at the edge.

No need to put 9 Thousand feet of backing on to fish with the last ten feet for Sunnies.It just adds too much weight and is a waste of line. Take a foam pool noodle and cut a cross section of it the same width as the spool, place it over the spool shaft and then add 30-50 ft of the line that you use. Works great 4 me

Like the noodle idea, do you tape it so it doesn’t spin, or is that not even an issue?

Take a small piece of electrical tape to the end of the line when starting to spool it up.

Greg,

That is a great idea!!!! I just happen to have those in the garage. That makes perfect sense and it doesn’t get much cheaper than that!

Swimming noodle is about the funniest thing I’ve heard for a backing. I can’t imagine the McGruber job that’s gonna take. I guess everyone has a rhyme to their reason. A method to their madness.

So compressing the noodle down or using a lathe to shape it? What about high density foam tubes?

Picture please. Otherwise I’ll keep laughing too much.

Another question? Do you just have to feed the line back and forth with your fingers for even coverage? No line guide with fly reels to do the job?

You feed the line to spread on the fly reel spool. You should create a saddle on the spool if possible with the line backing. Then you will have a very easy time keeping the main fishing line centered on the spool.

Otherwise if using no backing of any sort. It’s very easy to just spread the main line on the spool. As long as you account for the spacing on the spool’s edge when using 2# that might slip into that spacing.

Take a razor knife and slice the noodle from the center hole to the outside and install over spool. I removed the line 4 a better picture.

that looks pretty tight!

What diameter noodle to what diameter fly reel you got?

3&1/2″ fly reel – 2&3/4″ pool noodle.

Greg,

Does the noodle stay pretty tight against the spool? Meaning is there any line spin like when you don’t back braid on open water reels. I’m going to try this tonight, I’ll try and document my process.

Greg R,

Nice find and match up.

I wrap a few rounds around then apply a small strip of electrical tape to the spool. Works well for me and keeps the weight of the reel down.

Quote:

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I wrap a few rounds around then apply a small strip of electrical tape to the spool. Works well for me and keeps the weight of the reel down.

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And it might float if you drop it down the hole. LOL