Skip to Content

How To Set Up Your Fly Rod: A Complete Guide

SHTFPreparedness may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page.

Rigging up a fly rod is not as complicated as some folks make it out to be. A quick internet search will turn up many different ways to set up your fly rod.

Most of those will involve overly complicated knots to learn. Frankly, many of them just don’t work very well.

Fly Line

Whether you select floating, sinking, or intermediate fly line, do yourself a favor and buy one with welded loops on both ends.

And if you are trying to make sense of which of those fly line types you should buy, we suggest that you read this article which explains how to make that decision.

Until recently, fly line manufacturers made their lines with both ends simply cut off and ending in a straight section of line. This left the angler to decide which knots to use when making connections to both ends of the fly line.

If you wanted to set up your own rod then difficult Nail Knots and Albright Knots were foundational requirements. That has changed, thankfully.

Today many fly line companies make their lines with welded loops on both ends. This means the manufacturer ties loops into the core material of the fly line before the coating is applied.

The result is that a simple loop-to-loop connection can be made on both ends rather than learning complicated and difficult knots. Nail knots are still particularly good to know, but no longer necessary to get your rod ready for use.

FAQs

What is a loop-to-loop connection?

Loop-to-loop connections are very strong and simple. Two loops allow one line to pass through the other and produce two interlocking loops.

What is backing?

Backing is made from a material called Dacron and is a braided line. Most trout and bass anglers use 50-100 yards of 20 lb. backing. But anglers after larger game fish like striped bass will use 200 yards of 30 lb. backing.

What does the leader do?

The fly fishing leader is a length of clear monofilament or fluorocarbon fishing line that is attached to the end of the fly line. The leader begins quite thick at the connection with the fly line, and tapers down to a thinner diameter as it approaches the fly.

What is tippet?

Anglers attach a tippet to the small end of the leader to make a nearly invisible connection to the fly. In this case it is a very lightweight, and flexible section of straight line rather than tapered line. The tippet is designed to land in a “S” curve, unlike the leader which is designed to land fairly straight.

What does 3X, 4X, 5X mean?

These “X” ratings correspond to a very specific diameter. The breaking strength of the various tippet sizes varies depending on the manufacturer.

Putting Things Together

Before you tie your backing onto the arbor of your reel you should know that wetting all your fishing knots before tightening is very important.

A tightening knot generates enough heat to weaken the line significantly and can cause the line to break unexpectedly. Wetting the line lubricates the line to reduce friction and heat, but it also helps to cool the line as it tightens.

Most knots will reduce the breaking strength of a line to one degree or another, so you want to conserve as much of that strength as possible.

Connect Backing to The Reel

The backing connects to the arbor of the reel with the Arbor Knot. The Arbor Knot is just about the simplest knot to tie after a simple overhand knot. If you can tie your shoes then you’ll be all over the Arbor Knot.

You only need to tie two overhand knots. The first overhand knot holds the line to the arbor and the second acts as a stopper. The Arbor knot works best if it is tightened very slowly. Don’t forget to wet the line before tightening.

You will notice that the line slips in around the arbor as the knot tightens. Once the backing is connected you can simply wind the backing on by using the reel. You will only see this knot when you decide to change your backing.

Connect Fly Line to The Backing

The welded loop in your fly line will connect to a Surgeon’s Loop you will tie on the end of your backing. To accomplish this you will want to leave the fly line on the plastic spool that it comes on from the manufacturer.

You will also want to tie a large enough surgeons loop on the end of the backing that the entire plastic spool can pass through the loop in the backing. After you have a large Surgeon’s Loop tied in the backing, pass the large backing loop through the welded loop in the fly line.

Then pass the plastic spool through the loop in the backing. Finish by gently snugging down the loop-to-loop connection by pulling the two lines in opposite directions and spool-up the fly line by using the reel.

Connect Leader to The Fly Line

The connection between leader and line will be another loop-to-loop connection. Pass the welded loop on the fly line though the loop at the butt of the leader.

Then pass the tip section of the leader through the fly line’s welded loop. Many tapered leaders come with a loop tied in the butt end already. If that isn’t the case, you can tie a small Surgeons loop in the butt of the leader.

You will also be able to do a quick repair if the butt of the leader needs to be cut off. The Surgeons Loop can get you back in the game fast.

Connect Tippet to The Leader

A loop-to-loop connection tied this close to the fly might prove to be unattractive to some picky fish and prevent strikes.

This time we will be binding two lines directly together with a smaller knot rather than forming loops. The Surgeon’s Knot is very similar to the Surgeon’s Loop.

The Surgeons Knot is formed by making a loop and passing both lines through the loop twice. Don’t forget to wet the line and tighten the knot slowly.

Connect Fly to The Tippet

We suggest two different knots to tie the fly to your tippet depending on the size of the fly. If you are fishing a small fly, like a dry fly or nymph, we suggest the improved clinch knot.

The improved clinch knot is a small and strong knot that has proven itself through many years, and many large fish. The improved clinch knot adds one simple step that safeguards the knot from working loose.

For streamers and large flies we recommend the non-slip mono loop. It is an amazingly strong knot that retains almost 100% of the line strength. The loose fit of the loop also has a number of benefits that prevent breaking off and can also help entice strikes while retrieving the fly.