- 1). Attach fly line backing to your fly reel with an Arbor knot. Tie the Arbor knot by feeding 6 to 8 inches of line around the spool of the reel. Tie an overhand knot with the free end of the line so that it passes around the main line. Form a second overhand knot below the first knot using only the free end of the line. Pull the backing line down tight to lock the knots against each other against the reel spool.
- 2). Apply tension to the backing line in front of the spool. Wind 20 to 30 yards of backing onto the spool. Cut the backing from the filler spool with scissors.
- 3). Attach the main line to the backing line with an Albright knot. Form a loop in the main fly line about 3 inches from the end. Pass the end of the backing through the loop and pull down along the doubled line of the loop. Hold the backing line and doubled main line with your thumb and index finger. Wrap the backing around all three lines five to six times, working toward the loop. Feed the end of the backing line through the loop the same way it came through and pull tight. Trim excess from the lines with scissors.
- 4). Apply tension to the fly line and wind the entire length of the fly line onto the spool. Do not cut the fly line, as it may be designed with a taper or other feature that may be damaged. If there is too much line for the spool to hold, remove the fly line, reduce the amount of backing, reattach the lines and spool the fly line back onto the reel. Repeat as needed to get the fly line to fit on the spool.
- 5). Attach a leader to the end of the fly line with a nail knot. Overlap the main line and leader for several inches. Place a nail between the lines so that the head of the nail is even with the end of the main line. Hold the lines and nail in place with your thumb and index finger. Wrap the leader around the main line, leader and nail five to six times. Feed the end of the leader between the lines alongside the nail. Pull the leader through, remove the nail and tighten the knot down around the main line. Trim excess line from the knot with scissors.
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