Fly Reels?

[Tony Mariotti]

I am very curious how all of you ice nuts rig your rods with fly reels. I have been playing a lot with the new Clam Ice Spooler reel, and I seem to find as many opinions on how to "rig" the line on the reel, as I do about how to fish the lures from the reel! What are you using for backing (if any), what do you recommend it be used for, etc. I've never used a fly reel for panfish, even though I have seen the benefits from others I fish with. I rigged up an Ice Spooler reel tonight on a 48" Jason Mitchell "Meat Stick" and I can't wait to test it out....It is rigged perfect, and my jigs worked well in the bathtub, however I wonder what you all do for backing the line up or keeping it from slipping (if this is a concern.) Shallow water gills look out!

[Eric_Kruger]

I run dacron tip up line for backing, you can get it in almost any color and for cheap in the winter....Never had an issue with slipping but I fill the spool up to about an 1/8th in from the lip, then spool on a pony spool of 4lb vanish. I do tie directly to the backing with a uni to uni and have had pike run off half the dacron on me.....Im a nut for Ice fishing with flu reels.....i normally take 12-15 combos onto the ice setup like that for a day of gill fishin.

[Charlie Mason]

I take whatever leftover line I have laying around, fill the spool till about 3/4 of an inch from the top of the spool, then take some electric tape and run it around, over the top of the line. Sometimes you have to cut the black tape into strips down the middle. Then tie on my 30 yds or so 2 to 4 lb test depending on the set-up.

[Matt Breuer]

I also use a dacron on my fly reel setups, can get nifty with some killer color combos... Basically run my reels just like EK.

[Lawrence Luoma]

I back all mine with the line size above. So my 2lb setups have 4lb backing. I've tried everything else like fly line or dacron but it seems that the line will freeze or catch with those types of lines. Therefore, all I need to switch out is about 50 yards of 2lb when I need to reline which I do weekly.

[muc33]

I run mostly Okuma 2/3's but am very interested in the new reels from Clam and 13 Fishing. I have just backed with big Mono, then added my 2lb Vanish at about 75 yards. I often retie so the Floro gets changed out quite a bit. I am very interested to try the above suggestions of alternate backing. Charlie's idea seems slick. And wouldn't have thought of Tip Up line. I will try them.

[JuanArellano]

I just have thorne bros put fly line on mine for backing...

[Dylan8351]

Fly reels are a multi seasonal tool for me now. I have several fly rods that I use in the summer and figured I would just swap them out for winter use as well. I was using regular fly backing to start but quickly found moisture issues. I have been using Tuff-Line Premium Braided Dacron fishing line as my backing. For summer use, it works just as well as regular fly backing as far as I'm concerned so I do not need to switch it out and can avoid that cost. It has a thin diameter and pulls off smooth when you hook into a big fish. I also use it on my tip ups. Cheap product for its purpose!

[jigginjim]

I tried a fly reel last winter, not really impressed with it. I did not like the drag, too loose for bigger fish. I may try it again this winter, maybe if I spend more time working with. I may even try it from My boat over the side to catch panfish this fall.

[Jim Uran]

Tony, I'm in the same boat as you... I've used one before, but never really got into them, I picked up a black betty, and ordered a couple Spooler combos from Clam.. Those look pretty cool, I played with them in GM the other day, look like solid rigs.

I can't wait to get out on the ice and toy around with them!