Dumb fly line question... which side is the front?

[Waterborne]

I ordered some WF fly line and the little sticker that indicates the backing end fell off during shipment. Is there an easy way to tell which end is the backing end? I can only spot one end off the spool, so I guess that would be the end that the sticker was on. And, I could assume that the factory would spool the line front end first so the backing end would be at the outside of the spool.

[RichardCullip]

The free end of the fly line on the outside of the factory spool is the back end of the fly line. Attach that end to the backing and reel the rest of the fly line onto your reel.

[Wildman]

I just asked Stanbery the same question this week except I could see both ends and it was weight forward line.

[hpskiff]

If you need to double check, the backing end of the flyline should stay thin for quite a few feet (20'+) while the front end will get thicker within the first few inches or within a couple feet depending on the taper. This of course does not apply to double taper line which should be the same on both ends, but probably would not have the sticker you mentioned anyway.

This is also a good time to mark the weight of the line on both ends. I use a sharpie and a roman numeral-ish dash system. ___ _ = 6, ___ = 5, _ _ _ _ = 4, etc.

[Papasequoia]

Don't forget that it is almost as important to find the top of the line as well. Depending on which way the spool is facing as you load the line onto the reel you could be putting it right side up, or upside down. This can affect how well your line uncoils when you are casting - especially on the backcast.

[1mocast]

This is also a good time to mark the weight of the line on both ends. I use a sharpie and a roman numeral-ish dash system. ___ _ = 6, ___ = 5, _ _ _ _ = 4, etc.

Great Idea Mitch!
I also use a sharpie to mark the 30 foot front taper. Just to eyeball how much line I have in the air...

If you need to double check, the backing end of the flyline should stay thin for quite a few feet (20'+) while the front end will get thicker within the first few inches or within a couple feet depending on the taper. This of course does not apply to double taper line which should be the same on both ends, but probably would not have the sticker you mentioned anyway.

This does work but in the smaller weights, it is very subtle change.

[fflutterffly]

Go to bing or google and type in fly lines. You'll learn alot. make sure you have the right knots. You an also make hash marks about 10" from the leader end of the line that indicates the wt of the line. 5 wt. 5 dots ..... No forgetting which line is which weight.

[DubL HauL]

Don't forget that it is almost as important to find the top of the line as well. Depending on which way the spool is facing as you load the line onto the reel you could be putting it right side up, or upside down. This can affect how well your line uncoils when you are casting - especially on the backcast.

thanks dude I never thought about that but I'm gonna try it next time.

Andy

[ldr]

Don't forget that it is almost as important to find the top of the line as well. Depending on which way the spool is facing as you load the line onto the reel you could be putting it right side up, or upside down. This can affect how well your line uncoils when you are casting - especially on the backcast.

But if you roll it on sideways, you will be able to make an amazing curve cast...at least in one direction.

[beachbum]

If you need to double check, the backing end of the flyline should stay thin for quite a few feet (20'+) while the front end will get thicker within the first few inches or within a couple feet depending on the taper. This of course does not apply to double taper line which should be the same on both ends, but probably would not have the sticker you mentioned anyway.

This is also a good time to mark the weight of the line on both ends. I use a sharpie and a roman numeral-ish dash system. ___ _ = 6, ___ = 5, _ _ _ _ = 4, etc.

The marking idea is excellent. I have lines all over the place, and have no idea what half of them are.

[Papasequoia]

Oh, I just realized that I hadn't included the best way to find the top of the fly line. This foolproof method was taught to me years and years ago by an old, grey-haired curmudgeon of a fly fisher. What you do is lay the new spool on the ground and unwrap about three feet or so. It's best to do this early in the morning and it is important to do it in an area that gets full sun. So slowly that it is hard to see it with the naked eye, the part of the line that is the top will gradually rotate towards the sun. This should take about an hour or so. When you have found that side of the line that has rotated towards the sun, that is the top half. You can now safely load it onto the reel with this side facing up. One word of caution though! Remember that as the sun moves along through the sky, so will the line, following it slowly and imperceptibly. So, if you do this at midday, the top of the line will be facing up, if it is late afternoon, it will be the part facing west, towards the sun. I hope that some of you reading this have found it helpful!

[mike.s]

Oh, I just realized that I hadn't included the best way to find the top of the fly line. This foolproof method was taught to me years and years ago by an old, grey-haired curmudgeon of a fly fisher. What you do is lay the new spool on the ground and unwrap about three feet or so. It's best to do this early in the morning and it is important to do it in an area that gets full sun. So slowly that it is hard to see it with the naked eye, the part of the line that is the top will gradually rotate towards the sun. This should take about an hour or so. When you have found that side of the line that has rotated towards the sun, that is the top half. You can now safely load it onto the reel with this side facing up. One word of caution though! Remember that as the sun moves along through the sky, so will the line, following it slowly and imperceptibly. So, if you do this at midday, the top of the line will be facing up, if it is late afternoon, it will be the part facing west, towards the sun. I hope that some of you reading this have found it helpful!

[unskunkable]

Oh, I just realized that I hadn't included the best way to find the top of the fly line. This foolproof method was taught to me years and years ago by an old, grey-haired curmudgeon of a fly fisher. What you do is lay the new spool on the ground and unwrap about three feet or so. It's best to do this early in the morning and it is important to do it in an area that gets full sun. So slowly that it is hard to see it with the naked eye, the part of the line that is the top will gradually rotate towards the sun. This should take about an hour or so. When you have found that side of the line that has rotated towards the sun, that is the top half. You can now safely load it onto the reel with this side facing up. One word of caution though! Remember that as the sun moves along through the sky, so will the line, following it slowly and imperceptibly. So, if you do this at midday, the top of the line will be facing up, if it is late afternoon, it will be the part facing west, towards the sun. I hope that some of you reading this have found it helpful!

Does the color of the backing also affect how the line lays? I've noticed as well that if the reel is a right hand wind and I reel left handed that the line has a tendency to go on upside down and the drag of the line in the water also seems to be affected.

[fly addict]

Next time just buy a double taper and forget about it!

Mark