A couple of weeks ago I was given a fly rod and reel by a friend of my Dad, I have just been practising with it and found something strange, I think that the fly line is not put on correctly, as I understand, the line is tapered and is obviously thcker at one end, then gets thinner, which way round on the reel should it be?
The line on the reel starts at the thicker end where it would be attached to a leader and then gets thinner towerds the backing line, I am finding the line extremely difficult to cas, and it is making my arm ache very quickly (possibly the rod) when I went to a tuition day my arm did not ache all day and I was finding the line easy to cast (as a beginner) even in light wind.

sorry it's a bit long winded but I need help, cannot use the rod, the line always tangles round itself and the rod, it seems to fall a lot quicker than the rod and line I used on the tuition day.

Any help appreciated, James

The line sounds like its on the right way.Thin end to backing, thick end to leader..This sounds like a Weight forward fly line ,as opposed to a Double taper..but what you don't know is the line suitable to balance the rod.It does not sound like it, hence the tangles and sore arm.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Hi James

My advice would be to bin the line as you don't know what it is and what line weight. It may not even be right for the rod. Finally, it's obviously got memory coil having been on a reel too long. Buy a line off Pitsford Pirate on this Forum it will be good quality and reasonably priced.Make sure you match the line weight of the rod and that the reel has the correct capacity for the line plus backing.You make the choice of a weight forward line or double taper.

BK

How long is the "thick" bit? it could be a shooting head, try casting with just the thick bit out of the rod and "shoot" the thin line. Failing that, it might pay to invest in a new line.
All the best.
Mike

Thanks for the replies, I thought that the line weight didn't match the rod, I won't bother buying a new line yet, the rod weight is 6/7 but underneath where it says that it says 3 sec, any idea what that means? Though not essential

I am going to try and buy a new rod, reel (shakespeare odessey and greys G series) and line as I probably won't go fishing again this year.

Thanks for the help, James

How many sections is the rod?

3 sec should be 3 sections or 3 piece rod, i think . Why not buy a cheap mill end line from mullarkeys to mess around with. They're only about a fiver and will do to get you started and confident.

Kevin

Get a WF 7# floater mill end to play about with in the park over the milder winter days.then when the season opens you'll be proficient caster.

Jim

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The Fishermans Friend is the Flirty Fly,Fickle Food for Fleeting Fish.

Ah ok, thanks, the rod is 3 sections so that is the explanation

I will try to get a 7# line soon, and practice a bit more, would you still recommend a 5 or 6# floating line and a suitable rod (shakespeare odessey?) and reel, as I have been told that would be a good all-round setup to begin with.

Thanks James

James, what make is the rod you have?