Fly Fishing Reels: How to Set Up a Reel

Martin Joergensen talks to beginners about how to add backing and a fly line to a fly reel. May seem like simple stuff, but it’s easy to remember how daunting it once was. One thing he doesn’t mention that we consider extremely important is being sure there is no twist in the fly line when it is wound onto the reel the first time; twist can be prevented by keeping the fly line holder (usually a plastic spool) vertical and rolling the line onto the reel arbor the same way it comes off the spool. Never wind a line on by pulling it off of the spool sideways. On GlobalFlyfisher.com.