Here is how you setup a Fly Reel

[@Jackspagnoli]

I know a lot of people who would complain about the fact you showed us how to create our own loops and all the little niche things you mention, but i want to say I appreciate it. Your not slacking and i can tell you care about the information, your dilligent, and well informed. Thanks for this 🎉

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Thanks for the kind words! We try our best and it's nice to be appreciated.

[@dannybaud4579]

I’ve watched your camera reviews for years , now that I’ve added fly fishing to my hobbies I was happy to find this Chanel.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Awesome, thank you! I appreciate you watching this channel now too!

[@finlayene]

I was like " isn't this the same guy that had the best camera reviews on youtube? am I tripping??" and it turns out it's you!!!

[@nickcabrera3982]

As a jetty and pier angler who mainly uses hand reels and simple tackle… all of this seems like witchcraft. Anytime I’ve been in a fly fishing shop I’m amazed. Great video!

[@somebodyelse50]

Lucky for me to have found this channel

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

We're lucky to have you!

[@christiandoherty7937]

Chris, you've basically become my dad with how much you've taught me about fly fishing in the past week.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Awesome, but no child support for you!

[@christiandoherty7937]

@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary That's alright, I'm 27... For real though, these videos are super informative. You're incredibly well spoken and a good teacher! Keep em coming!

[@mr.b520]

GREAT VIDEO TEAM!!!! These guys really know their stuff!!! SOME HUGELY helpful tips in here for folks just learning (and likely some for the experienced fly fisherman too). Keep up the excellent work Troops!!! A solid 12 out of ten!!!

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Appreciate it! Thanks for the kind words of encouragement.

[@LifeAkimbo]

Wait.. I thought it was a doppelgänger of that guy from PetaPixel but it IS that guy! You showed me camera gear and now I am picking up fly fishing so more instruction..

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

I'm happy to help you out in two different fields!

[@AntiMaxer]

ive done everything from fresh water bass, trout, sunfish, crappies, flatheads, blue, and channel cats, too fishing deep sea 100 miles off shore for tuna bluefish flounder flukes cownose stingrays sharks and skates, surf fishing the beach with kayaks and or kites and for some reason i find fly fishing to just require me to go get a college degree to figure this out haha! video was super helpful but theres so much more i need to learn! subbed!

[@jackpalmer6253]

@2:40 First time I've seen a Canadian Jam Knot used on a fishing reel. I use it to last gear to my canoe. Great content. Thanks

[@scot1425]

Just discovered your channel. Excellent video. Liked and subscribed. Cheers from Bonny Scotland.

[@davidgray3321]

Interesting to see this, it’s always good to see the professionals at work, one thing that did surprise me is that in England all the fly lines seem to have net manufactured loops, particularly at the far end (the leader end) of the fly line, but often at both ends.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Our flylines absolutely do too. However, once in a while, we see loopless lines. Especially on the more affordable lines. Always good to know how to replace them when needed anyways. Thanks for watching!

[@thomasgrady1898]

Right up there as1of the best channels on you tube for information about anything! Ausome work young man! Wish your shop was near where I live...

[@lastcoyote2355]

Great video for beginner . Sadly… no one anymore want to take the time to learn fishing knots . Rush , rush , rush . Consider that attaching backing to the fly line . Really how many times are you going to change lines …. Can you say spare spool ? I’d suggest learning a nail or needle know . Then going fly line to leader ….. Cut the .. blankety , blankety , blank off . Again a nail or needle knot . I realize that learning fly fishing from the very basics is too time consuming . So just say I have no idea what I’m talking about . …. Have a great time and tight lines I’m off to the river for some evening fishing .✌🏿

[@mikejessmax]

Well said... cut those loops off

[@zlm2032]

I love watching your videos. The instruction is very good. Keep up the good work!

[@kamarte]

Thank you Chris, great content!

[@niccollsvideo]

Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful.

[@timothypeterson845]

Soothing voice. I’m about to take a nap.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Hey as long as you are getting something out of it, we're happy!

[@grapesoda3921]

Awesome explanation

[@michaelnix8263]

Great teaching!!!

[@chili1593]

Really appreciate your videos.

[@smokeylovesfire1589]

Awesome! Now I know what to do.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Glad you found it helpful! I wish you success!

[@3runjosh]

thank you! just bought my 2nd fly rod (6'6 #2 graphite) and it wasn't set up. Now it is thanks to this video. What is the difference between tying the nail knot twice with 7 rotations each instead of once with more rotations?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Doing a single nail knot with extra turns will generally hold no matter what. We like to tie two shorter ones just to alleviate our worries but they are both gonna hold.

[@allanjgray1]

Thank's for this one.

[@aquadoc4080]

Thanks for the great info!

[@danielmurtin2911]

I feel like I am in a parallel universe. And it feels like a good kind of trippy.

[@rigonz7804]

Great video. Best one I found lol

[@harryblair597]

brilliant chris cheers

[@HowManyLegsItHas]

Thank you!

[@outdoorsythings2573]

Any tips n tricks for setting up for pike? My set up is , a 8wt rod/reel , my backing, sinking fly line, then plain old 15lb mono ( good brand name ) then a nice salt water 8 inch metal shall we call it tippet/ leader with a wooly bugger ( dark green ) been useing this set up for about 3 years ( only been fly fishing for 4 years) i only fish for pike, mostly slow slow river pockets and lakes, ether from shore or kayak. Some times i use a 6wt rod n reel , same set up. Any advice would be helpful as im planning on being on water almost every day starting may 8th, i mostly fish the bow river and dalmead lake. Yes im in alberta.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Sounds like a pretty good setup! I like to use wire leaders as well with a quick clip so i can rapidly change flies. I have also been skipping the wire lately and using 50lb Fluoro instead. It's been holding up very well! I wouldn't be afraid to go with bigger flies if I were you, at least on the 8 weight. 4 to 6 inch long flies can work very well and trigger the bigger fish. Otherwise you sound pretty dialed in!

[@dawg_gee_man]

What weight backing is he using? Edit: NM it's 20lb dacron

[@kevinhollis1143]

Another question mono normally suffers deterioration from UV (sunlight) so by using a UV glue isn't that going to weaken the mono??

[@panjeptube]

Thanks Chris, when adding fly line, what rule-of-thumb helps to determine when to stop?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Hmm, James are you referring to how much backing to put on so your fly line doesn't overfill the reel? We generally like to go maybe 10 percent less backing than what the manufacturer suggests so as to leave a little extra room for the flyline. We don't want it so full that the leader and rigging gets mashed against the cage of the reel everytime you reel in. Unfortunately there's no rule of thumb beyond that short of just trying to eyeball it and using the TLAR technique.

[@kec2528]

You can also just temporarily tape the fly line to the reel and then tape the backing to the fly line, wind it all in and see how much backing you then need. Unwind it all and then so the reverse. A little more work but more accurate and less chance of messing up and having to start over.

[@nicolastidei2003]

Muy bueno!! Gracias

[@Thyholypotato-cu8du]

I think it would be easier to use a perfection knot instead

[@samsoniteman24]

Hey brother I just got into fly fishing so it’s good to undo the reel when you get it and retie it properly?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Absolutely a good idea. That way you not only learn how to do everything but also factory setups can sometimes be a little suspect. Better to know yourself that everything it’s attached well. I wouldn’t worry about checking the backing knot to the reel itself though.

[@LukeAndrewFlint]

I’m setting up a salmon reel. Is there a knot that will hold the backing instead of the arbour knot?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

We still like to use the arbour knot and it can help to go around the reel two or three times with the tag end before tying the arbour knot down. If you get all the way to your reel spool and all the backing is out it wont matter too much which knot you have but if by some miracle the line doesn’t break, a double or triple wrapped arbour wont slip as you reel back in. Now if you instead are talking about the knot from backing to fly line that’s a different story, and personally I like to do a 24 turn Bimini twist.

[@LukeAndrewFlint]

@ thanks! TryI g to be extra safe for salmon fishing.

[@nilsmathij6531]

can you use regular braid fishing line as backing?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

You absolutely can. We only tend to do this for saltwater and steelhead applications where we need the extra strength but we often spool our reels with GSP or heavy braid. You get strength and capacity. For trout it is unnecessary.

[@4492573]

What position was fly line spool when you were reeling it on the reel. ? Was the fly line coming off the top or the bottom of the mother spool ? Tks

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

I might be missing the nature of your question, but it shouldn't really matter what direction it comes off the original spool that the fly line arrives on. What does matter is that the spool doesn't flip over constantly while reeling it on, because the less twists and coils the better. In the shop we will put a pencil through the center of the spool and one of the employees will hold it for you. Or if I'm at home alone I like to put the flyline spool into a bowl, or pot so that it can freely spin but not flip over on itself.

[@Rbaca222]

Do you know how to switch the zero to right hand retrieve? I just got one and I can’t find any videos on it.

[@sugriv3405]

9:20 sir I also don't have that kinda sticker which indicates this end line is up to the reel. Is there any idea to find out the reeling side of the fly line.. Please need help 🙏

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Absolutely. Generally speaking most modern fly lines have different coloured sections to indicate what part is the head, and what part is the running line. In this case its easy because the end that goes to the fish will be coloured and only about 30 to forty feet in length and the running line which goes to the reel will be much longer at roughly 60 or 70 feet long. Now if the entire fly line is the same colour then the head section to the fish will be noticeably thicker then the running line to the reel. So attach the consistently skinny end to the reel and have the shorter and thicker end going to the fish.

[@sugriv3405]

@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary thank you so much sir 🙏🙏

[@MatthewEvey]

There is only one way to know you are adding the proper amount of backing to the reel. Put the fly line on the reel first, then add the proper amount of backing (without any knots connecting anything). Then take off and store the backing and fly line separately. Then add the backing to the reel first and then attach the fly line to backing - PEREFECT amount of backing every time. Otherwise, you are GUESSING on the proper amount of backing.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

That's not a bad technique at all. Still with enough practice and experience we get pretty good at the shop using the TLAR system.

[@SeemsLikeSomething]

That sounds like an exhaustive amount of extra steps. Usually the reel specs are pretty clear about capacity. It’s better to underspool backing than over spool as to not scrape the framework of the reel or even get lockup. But basically, if your specs say it holds 100yds backing for standard line, you’re safe to put that amount.

[@MatthewEvey]

@@SeemsLikeSomething not if you're into perfection.

[@dougwebster8868]

Been doing it your way for a long time. The only way to get it right first time every time. I also just use very cheap braided Dacron.

[@6thmichcav262]

The technique works, and another way to do it is to use two equal-sized reels. Load line on the “wrong” reel as outlined above, then reel the backing and fly line onto the “right” reel.

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

did you say 75 yards of backing - surely 25 - 50 is more the sufficient? Great presentation however!

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Sure, you don’t need that much for most trout fishing however most reels are capable of more like 90 to 100 yards, and I feel it’s better to fill it up at least most of the way. It’s a balancing act because having too much is a huge no-no, mashing your knots and leaders against the reel. But too little loses some of its esthetic appeal, and to some extent reels “slower” due to the smaller diameter per turn.

[@ThomasShue]

Did this guy used to review camera gear?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Still do! You can watch me on PetaPixel

[@ThomasShue]

@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary yep, I used to be a photographer for like 25 years and still love it. You used to make nice new camera body reviews

[@rodsilva80]

you were supposed to review cameras

[@manofthecloth777]

How did our ancestors ever get by without black lights?

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

They had to use the sun, like... well... cavemen.

[@kevinhollis1143]

you said the backing can be draylon but is that the only one to use and why, why not braid - just wondering

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Good question and I'll answer your other comment here as well Kevin. Dacron backing is affordable and offers a breaking strength which is well suited to most kinds of fishing. Braids, Gelspun, these are typically available in much stronger breaking strengths in some cases upwards of 65 pounds or more. However they also tend to be thinner than Dacron for the same breaking strength. Where we typically go to braided backing is when we want good strength but also much more line capacity on a reel. Usually this is for salt water or salmon/steelheading applications. You see a trout reel never needs more than 100 yards of backing so Dacron is ideal. But bonefish, permit, and tarpon can really take line and you might want 250+ yards of capacity. This is where braided backing makes sense. Now of course you can absolutely load up a trout reel with braid but it's overkill for sure. As for nylon mono being sensitive to UV light that is true but over fairly long periods of exposure. UV Glues use UV light to harden but do not exude UV light and therefore do not damage the mono. The minimal amount of UV light required to set the glues also is equivalent to a few seconds of direct sunlight and wont damage your lines in any appreciable way. Basically what you don't want to do is leave mono out in the sun baking for hours and hours.

[@edmacmillan1]

so i watch this because it was to be easy to do. Then I need uv glue and a uv light just to tie a knot. mmm.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Don't worry Ed, the uv glue on the nail knot is just an extra step to help it run through the rod guides smoothly. In the real world its very unlikely that an uncoated knot will cause any issues or giveway. Nail knots, especially if you do two side by side should not give way ever.

[@alistairglen3537]

@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary Also, if you cut the end of the fly line at a slant, rather than straight across, you can carefully align the end of the flyline just beyond the nail knots to provide a more compact finish that is less likely to snag. A dab of superglue between the cut end and the main line will also tidy things up without the need for UV resin and a lamp.

[@edmacmillan1]

@@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary Thank you.

[@rodbelding9523]

Unpopular opinion: Fly fishing is just an unnecessarily complicated version of normal fishing. I can catch the exact same fish on spinning gear and I don't have to buy 5 different lines just for one reel lol.

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Very unpopular opinion! To each their own.

[@bernhardnizynski4403]

You've missed the whole point of Fly Fishing!

[@Shootingwithnerds]

This was not helpful

[@BowRiverTroutfittersCalgary]

Because someone already setup your reel???