text: fly fishing setup? i just got a fly rod and was wondering if the backing line goes on the reel before the floating line of after and how much of it? and also do i tie them together or use a no-knot eyelets? best way to figure it out is to reel the flyline onto the reel first then attach the backing to the flyline with a knot that will slip throught the guides easily. fill the reel to capacity with the backing then cut it. strip it all off the reel then attach the backing to the reel and wind it all in. the reel will be full with the right amount of backing.