Video: How to Set up a Fly Reel

[Zach Matthews]

Hey guys –

I made some new videos last night.  Check out the full blog entry for my comments and explanations:

http://www.itinerantangler.com/podcasts/2011/01/video_how_to_set_up_a_fly_reel.html

I have never seen anyone else set up an arbor knot like I do, and I think my way may be better, so even if you’re doing this every day, you might learn something new.

I’ll embed the Youtube complete video here; it is 15 minutes long and you’ll need to bump the quality up to 720p for it to look nice.  Vimeo’s my preferred host but they limit how many videos I can upload at once so it’ll be a while before I get it all migrated.

[media width=625 height=406]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFm9mbd2e6s[/media]

Zach

[shane cavitt]

Zach, I first saw the link to this on the Orvisnews.com RSS feed and have already watched the entire video. Thank you for a job well done. I have actually never set up my own reel and have always let the shop do it for me when I purchased a new line or reel. (Actually, on the very first reel I ever bought I watched the shop guy set it up and I asked questions as he went. He just told me not to worry about it as I would probably never do it myself and someone at a shop would do it for me.) Now having watched your video I have the confidence that I can do this myself. It is not something mystical and magical. I think the reason most folks don’t do it themselves is because they have never been shown how. Your tutorial is excellent and the first time I have seen anything like it that shows the whole process in one place. You have just added to my fly fishing foundational knowledge and I somehow feel empowered. Thanks again.

[Zach Matthews]

Hey Shane –

Great man, I am glad you feel that way.

[Kelly Glissmeyer]

Zach, great stuff.

[Zach Matthews]

Kelly do you also do your arbor knot that way?

[Kelly Glissmeyer]

Zach, I do it identical.

[dave nyberg]

Zach,
Thanks for this tutorial.  I always used a nail knot tool.  Now, I think I have a “new” way of attaching backing to line and line to leader.  
Dave

[Colin M.]

I always use a nail knot tool as well, but i agree 100 percent that the perfection loop is vital, and we rarely use it, which is why time after time i think to myself, man i wish i remembered how to tie this knot.

[jonathan corley]

Zach,

Thanks for putting up the video on setting up a fly reel.

[Peter E.]

Great stuff Zach, I really wish that this video had been around when I started fly-fishing. I wouldn’t let the folks at the shop set mine up and it took me forever to see how all of it was supposed to go together.

A video like this would have made my life much simpler. The trick with the nail knot was very cool!

Oh and my family has done their arbor knot the same way as long as I can remember, from baitcaster to fly reel.

Thanks for the video,
Peter E.

[mick mccorcle]

Well, Zach, our cat approves of your video.

[Zach Matthews]

Ha!

[marco fly cast]

Hi Zach!
Can I link this video in my blog?

Regards, Marco.

[Zach Matthews]

Sure Marco, go for it.

[marco fly cast]

Sure Marco, go for it.  How are things in Brazil?

Zach

hi Zach!
I’m working a lot. We have a good peacock bass season in Amazonia.  

Do you remember this guy? Manaceas

A hard day:

If you want come fishing again, call me!

Regards, Marco.

[Zach Matthews]

Good stuff Marco!

[Steve Dally]

Father taught me that arbor knot when I was a tacker for spinning reels.
Don’t see it much in the fly world, I tend to use the uni- ala Whitlock. But funnily enough I was doing 3 reels on Sunday heading out for customers and this came back to as perhaps a faster method.

nice one.

Now I seem to be spending more time on biminis due tothe back loop on a lot of new lines _ the loop is overkill but that’s fly fishing.
😀

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