It's probably stupid....but I have to try it.....

I look at the line as I am pulling it off the fly reel out to the left....and I just wonder if it would pull easier coming off the bottom of the reel feeding out....instead of the top. All I would have to do is re-wind the backing and line on backwards.....then the line would be a straight line from the reel to the tip when...uh..tight or playing a fish on the reel. ( I haven't gotten a fish on the reel yet so no experience here...plead ignorance)..closer to the rod I guess I wanna say. A more straight plane from the bottoom of the reel to the tip of the rod. Line would almost be parrallel to the rod all the way. All I would have to do is learn to wind the reel backwards to take IN line. I'll have to try it myself to actually see how it works...and I will. I know the idea is going to get shot down pretty hard...but I will get some other thoughts on it. I offer it up here for ideas and so you pros can take a shot at me and my igorance.

Gem

Is the line supposed to come off the top of the reel?
I've always run mine off the bottom... I've never had any trouble with it.

Oh yeah, I'm right handed and I wind with my left hand, too.

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There's almost nothin' wrong with the first lie, it's the weight of all the others holdin' it up that gets ya'! - Tim

[This message has been edited by MOturkE (edited 28 September 2005).]

POJ:

I think what you are describing is the correct way for the line to enter the reel. It should wind from the bottom.

e

Jim,
Check this picture out, this is how you should be loaded.
[url=http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/014470.html:45fb4]http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/Forum1/HTML/014470.html[/url:45fb4]


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There's almost nothin' wrong with the first lie, it's the weight of all the others holdin' it up that gets ya'! - Tim

If you wish to find out how it feels and works without learning to wind the line backwards,Id suggest you take an old direct drive bait casting reel, wind the line on. Then mount it as you would any other fly reel. The line of course will have to come off the back of the reel away from the level wind. (if it has one) You will be able to wind in the normal forward direction.

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Captn. Paul Darby

Reel should be spooled same as TP: Pulls off bottom.

Rich

[This message has been edited by flymaker2 (edited 28 September 2005).]

POJ, most of the fish you'll catch around these parts are brought in by hand sttipping anyway, meaning you don't use the reel to "work" them. Therefore, how the line comes off the reel - from the top or from the bottom - isn't what it's all about anyway.

But, having said that, all of my reels are set up so the line comes off the bottom and in order to wind the line in using my left hand, I wind in a counter clockwise direction. Next time you're out on the water look around at the other fly fishers, I'll bet they nearly all have it set up so the line comes off the bottom of the reel.

(And Flymaker, if I put the next roll of TP on so it spools off the bottom of the roll, the LOTH would snatch me bald headed for "not having any class". As source evidence of "proper", she sez "Look at how they fold the point on the paper in the motel!!".)

Now we're gonna have a duel purpose thread going here, "which way to spool a fly reel" and "what's proper for the TP".

'Course there'll be some who remember that we were taught to rip the pages outta the Monkey Wards catalog from the back to the front, that way the lady folk could continue to look at the clothing section longer while we menfolk had to use up the tool section first.

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There's snow on the roof but the fire still burns in the oven.

I would have to assume Plain Old Jim is an amazing dexterous fisherman because I couldn't wind my left handed reels clockwise if my life depended on it.

Jim have you ever used regular reels? They all wind anti or counter clockwise if set up for left hand wind and clockwise if set up for right hand wind.

I am always amazed by people who can fish and wind their reels one way while using spinning tackle or fly tackle and then do the hand switching thing when using a casting reel or an old right hand wind Hardy St George. I wind all of my fishing reels left handed. I guess I'm just a klutz

By the way, I've been told the TP position is a gender thing; men do it off the bottom and women do it off the top.

Antron Midge let me use his bamboo rod once, and I didn't figure out the reel was on there backwards 'til I had a fish on! That was an awkward experience.

I'm going to recommend that you try this by just taking your reel off, flipping it around, and winding in backwards with your other hand. This will also make this experiment possible with a one-way disc drag reel.

The advice that follows probably applies to other subjects as well: See what the people in authority do and emulate it. Don't re invent the wheel. The top dogs have probably seen all these variants, and if they still do it one way, then thats probably the best way. -Migs

Hey Migs,

Nay Nay I say. Don't discourage thinking
outside the box. I say challenge the
accepted practices and see if you can find
a better way. Nothing ventured, nothing
gained! Warm regards, Jim

I have to agree with Jim Hatch.
If you find a way that works for
YOU, go for it.


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**MW**

Oh geeeze! Something more to worry about . Fly fishing is so complicated . I just went with the way the flyshop guy set up the reel for me . Now I have to figure out is it right or is it wrong . Your question forced me to get out of bed , travel 25 miles thru 3 feet of snow in my bare feet . Beset by hungry wolf packs and ravinous Grizzly bear I carried on to finally arrive in the front room of my house . I got my rod and reel , with frozen trembling hands finally managed to put the reel on the rod , low and behold it reels from the bottom . Success ...Ta dah ! The three day trip fraught with countless dangers on all sides was worth all that I had gone thru . I am flushed with success , chest out , shoulders back , what a feeling ! Finally With all the things I do wrong in this wonderful sport , I got one right .
Ps . The fish don't seem to care .

I'm confused (as usual). Doesn't that change of taking in line over the top mean that you are working against the drag and the fish is able to pull out line with no drag at all? Sorry if this is stupid; it may just be my poor spacial skills. 8T

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You had better learn to be a happy camper. You only get one try at this campground and it's a real short camping season.

8T:

In essence what you would have to do to avoid the situation you describe is to set up the reel for normal right hand wind; and use it with the handle on the left with the line coming off the top and wind it in the opposite direction to what is done by most people; that being wind it clockwise.

The opposite would be true for those that choose to wind on the right side.

Confused yet?

I'd love to see me trying that with a fish on :0.

Women have TP coming off the top and men have it coming off the bottom? Are you sure?

Oh my gawd! I am gay and haven't known it for 53 years!

Dang,
I was when I was a kid.....my Dad was left handed, & I'm right handed. Made for confusing instruction when it came to fly casting. Well, when I have surgery on my right arm come January, I guess I will have to learn the left handed method for awhile !!!

I guess TP "top or bottom" preference may mirror other gender preferences too...?

Like MoTurke I have always wound with the left and favor my right hand..I say favor, Cause I use both equally well..and either feels natural,I forget about it till someone else might notice and ask me "were'nt you just casting with your other arm.?"...and I have to think about it a bit as to weather they are right or not...

and I've yet to ever see a reel spooled any way other than off the bottom....

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"I've often wondered why it is that so many anglers spend so much money on,and pay so much attention to.the details on the wrong end of the fly line.If they took as much care in selecting or tying their flies as they did in the selection of the reel and rod,They might be able to gain the real extra edge that makes it possible to fool a fish that has,in fact,seen it all before" A.K.Best

"Wish ya great fishing"

Bill

Bamboozle has the correct perception of the way the reel would be set up to take advantage of the drag and to keep the line closer to the handle (the objective) which DOES mean winding 'backwards'. I say try it! Re. "It should wind from the bottom." - who says? Give it a try, what have you got to lose? - about 1/2 hour of experimenting.

Jim, you are quite right regarding the straight plane of reference. Thanks, this is a new course of thought for me, and it has opened some new possibilities. OK, for one thing, you'll have to set up your reel for left hand retrieve for the drag to work. Other than that, I see no problems with it, and many advantages. Due to the decreased angle of retrieve, there will be less line wear, less wear on the reel, and overall better performance of all components. Great idea, IMHO!

Gnu Bee

Your post made me have a good chuckle - thanks for that. You forgot to mention - was it uphill both ways? http://www.flyanglersonline.com/bb/smile.gif

Brian

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[url=http://bowcrow.tripod.com:a8902]Bowcrow Fishing Adventures[/url:a8902]

Bowcrow...even tho the post was probably making fun of me (the fish don't care) I got quite a chuckle out of it myself. What a great way with words. Wish I could write like that. I know the fish don't care, but I do. It's the fun of it all. The other day I was fishing, wanted to go deeper with a wet fly, just twisted on a gold beadhead on the barb end. Got three strikes and lost the fly (Purple Luigi) on the last strike. That's the fun of it all I think.

You must have a great sense of humor Bowcrow....no wonder you enjoyed the post....uphill boaf ways?

Nice website too....

Gem