Just out of interest. I am sat here winding backing on to a new reel and I realised I have never used it 'in anger' as it were . This is probably because I'm something of a beginner and only really fish fairly small 'stockies' with fairly small fish.

So just out of interest how often have you had your out of the reel.

once at witton castle durham landed a 7lb trout it just took off but i had casted quiet a distance and had alot of the line out

Im like you twd I've seen my backing out twice this year when I switched reels
I didn't even know it was white

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Topcat on gameangler .eu
Home of the toxic flys the unofficial agitators

Excluding saltwater fly fishing where it seems more the norm than the rare exception, only twice in 17 years...

Both were in New Zealand. On both occasions it was a wild rainbow trout, one in the Eglinton River and one in a small lake in mountains near Christchurch. I remember both occasions well

Been fly fishing for over 30 years, backing always stops on the reel. Even after a long cast I like to have 2 yards or so of fly line left on the reel. Also I don't allow the fish to run so much line of. Never had to, don't catch too many big fish, just the odd large one.

I see my backing nearly every time i cast well just about. thats when i can cast im f0cked at the moment and its bill,s falt lol

phil

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stop buying bottled water we have,nt got enuff to fish in now so stop it get the water companies to do there job and clean the water every where!!!!

In the UK perhaps once. A few times big trout in New Zealand did it to me and once in Montana - a fish I never landed!
Fly fishing in salt water is a different story, and most fish will take you on to the backing - some will even strip 400+ yards of backing......

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Casting At Shadows - Christmas Island Fly Fishing DVD

Last year on Lough Sheelin during the Mayfly 5lb trout

Just the once in my float tube. Never paddled after a fish before or since

Normally you would not see your backing if your drag is set correctly,unless it's a good size fish and it jumps on you after a good distance cast as said in the post above.I was fishing a 4# rod and very light tippet on the lake for evening brownies and was taken by a big rainbow.As i was trying to set the camera up it took all of my line and more than half of my backing,before i could take control.A great scrap.So it's always best to have as much as you reel will allow with your fly line just in case that big boy is waiting to take you water skiing.ATB Steve.