I just switched over a reel with a smaller fly line. I left the backing that was on the reel and now that the new fly line is on the reel it looks like it could use more backing. Can I just take to fly line off and tie more backing on? Is it okay that the backing is in 2 pieces? What type of knot do you recommend to tie the 2 pieces of backing together?
[url=http://dryfly.argodesignstudio.com:41c5c]http://dryfly.argodesignstudio.com[/url:41c5c]
I’ve done it in the past.
The only knot I could tie that would hold was a square knot with stopper knots on the tag ends.
I think many knots will work for this, but i just did this to some backing and used a double fisherman’s knot - A surgeon’s knot may also work fine.
if there is even the slightest chance you can catch a fish that would take you into the backing, i would pony up the $10 or $12
and get new backing
I have spliced my backing before, but, I take all the line and backing off and put new on the reel then with a barrel or blood knot I attach the pre-existing backing to it. That still puts plenty of backing with the line.
she who dies with the most toy’s wins.
double uni knot
Double uni-knot.
“Double Uni-knot” (also called “The Duncan”), I also use the “Double Uni-knot/Duncan” on my knotted tapered leaders.
~Parnelli
“It is knot what you know, it is what you do knot know, that is important!” 
Ditto…double uni
Backing can be spliced much like making a braided loop. See here. [url=http://www.westfly.com/feature/0512/feature_869.htm:16bed]http://www.westfly.com/feature/0512/feature_869.htm[/url:16bed]
Well, that ought to shut that off…but you can’t argue with it…of course a high % of fisherman don’t expect to see the backing.
"Backing can be spliced much like making a braided loop. See here. [url=http://www.westfly.com/feature/0512/feature_869.htm:6e905]http://www.westfly.com/feature/0512/feature_869.htm[/url:6e905]
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That is the best method, IMHO. I use this on all my rigging and all of my reels have 30 yards of yellow followed by white backing. That way if I see yellow I better do something drastic. Never saw instructions on the net before. westfly has some cool things if you look around for them.
Jayatwork
Now that is cool, love those knotless connections. Thanks
Fly Goddess
she who dies with the most toy’s wins.
“IF” it is only to fill the reel, ok, but I never would have any knot in my backing if I expected a fish to take it out. Never!
On all my saltwater spools I have around 25 feet of mono added on top of my 20 or 30 pound backing.
This gives the backing a little stretch and help prevent break-offs
When the full line is in the water it creates a lot of drag. Much more than your reel drag is set to.
Having a little stretch in the backing gives me a little added insurance
[This message has been edited by dudley (edited 08 March 2006).]
I don’t splice my backing… but when I put a new flyline on the reel I remove any backing from the reel, spool the flyline on, then reel the backing on until it fills the spool. Then take it all off again and tie the backing onto the empty spool, reel it on, then add the flyline.
This gives you the exact amount of backing you need without any guess work.
I don’t see my backing much while fishing but I’d hate to lose the season’s best fish if a splice knot in my backing got hung up in the guides and the tippet popped…
Good luck!
rjj
OMG!!! If I ever had a trout take my line anywhere NEAR the backing, I’d probably have a heart attack, and it wouldn’t matter how many knots were in the backing!! I’d be dead, but I’d’ve gone happy!!!
Trouts don’t live in ugly places
If I had it to do over again I would have bought a bulk spool of backing years ago. Besides the cost savings having it available it would avoid situations like this.
Now I always check in Cabela’s bargain cave they usually have a 100 yd spool of 20# or two at a good price.
In the good old days before there was a reel for every size line and most were built to handle a DT8 The simple thing to do was to fill the spool with store string to a point you could put 100yds of backing over the top add the line and be set. some folks would glue cork to the spool and use that as a filler. both worked well. But back then… Thats close enough was ok with most fisherman and you were never looked down on for close enough. MY HOW TIME HAVE CHANGED.