fly fishing tackle

Question
I stumbled upon the AllExperts site trying to find out how to put fly fishing gear together.  I bought a kit for my youngest son (a Marine, on his way home from Iraq in January).  He told me he's going to take up fly fishing as a hobby when he returns.  Anyway, I've got an empty reel, some length of yellow plastic line (with a tag that says "this end to reel"), a 100-yd spool of white "fly line backing" (a thin braided thread), and 7-1/2 feet of freshwater tapered leader.  I'm sure these are supposed to go together in some specific order, but I'm somewhat clueless.  I haven't found anything on the Internet that gives me the clear instructions I need.  Can you help?  Thank you.

Answer
Michael; While I am not primarily a flyfisherman I have done some of this type fishing.  And yes there is a certain way these things go together.  Probably the best way to do it is to mount the reel on the rod.  The reel goes down on the bottom of the rod.  Usually there is a notch on the back of the real seat and a screw ring in front. Most likely there is a ring in the reel for the line to pass through.  If so this goes to the front.  If there is none put the handle that cranks the reel on the right side if right handed and left side if left handed.  Even the one with the ring may have a way to reverse the handle for a left or right handed person.  Next take the  spool of white "fly line backing" and tie an overhand knot in the end and snip of the tag end as close to the knot as possible.  Now feed the line through the guide closest to the reel end of the rod (guides go to bottom of rod also).
Hang the spool on a nail or other hanger.  Now if there is a ring run the end of the line through the end and under the center of the reel spool then back up over from behind and out through the ring.  Tie another overhand knot around the line making a  slip knot loop over the reel spool.  Pull the knot down tight to the spool so it does not slip.  Now start winding the line onto the spool while holding the line between your thumb and index finger to keep tension while reeling.  When you come to the end of the white line do not reel it past the first guide.  Now take the white line as you did before and tie an overhand knot and pull it tight.  Cut off the tag end and tie another overhand knot making a slip knot as before.  Next thread the Yellow plastic line through the loop and pull very tight.  If your yellow (Fly) line has some letters on it's packaging such as WF6 this means the line is  smaller at each end and thicker or heavier toward the front end. Pull the line out and lay it on a nice patch of grass. Look carefully at it and you should see that both ends taper off but one end taper is much shorter than the other.  This is what is called a "weight foreward line" so the longer end or taper is tied to the backing. If both tapers are the same length with the heavy part right in the middle it is called a double taper. With a double taper it doesn't matter what end is tied to the backing.  In fact after some use the line may be reversed to even out the wear. Same goes with level line.  If it says "level" or DT then it does not make a difference.  Make the knot tieing the white line to the yellow as small and tight as possible with no loose ends. I won't try to explain the difference between these lines.  If your son wants more information have him contact me when he gets home.
Now using thumb and forefinger again keep tension on the Yellow line as you reel it onto the spool.  When it is almost on stop reeling and take the end and feed it forward through all the guides and tip top.  Next take the leader and you can feel that it is bigger at one end than the other.  Tie an overhand in the big end and make another slip knot loop. Now push about 1/4 inch of the Fly line through the loop and pull tight. Trim off ends as close as possible. Tie something to the small end using as little of the leader as possible to keep it from going back through the tip top.  Crank the reel handle gently to tighten the line and there you have it.  All your son needs to do is to tie on his favorite fly and go fishing.

I haven't done this for a long time.  Now that I think of it Maybe I will get me a new fly outfit. I knocked my last one overboard in 25 feet of water and although I tried dredging it out there is so much trash down there I kept breaking off my sinkers and treble hooks without finding the rod.  We had a big flood since then so the rod and reel are likely far downstream by now.

I hope this has been of some help to you.  There are more fancy ways of tieing lines together but these are simple and they work.  I have never had one slip off while fighting a fish or casting.

If I can be of further help please contact me on All Experts and tell your son that I am proud of him for being willing to stand up for his country despite what the Liberal traitors may be saying about him and his fellow service men.  I was in the Navy during the Korean War but was never under fire.  I certainly respect those who have.

I am
Jack L. Gaither
Lake Seminole, Georgia