Modern backing is very compact, and on a large arbor reel like this one, there is no reason to overdo the amount. This little 5-6 weight reel now contains more than 100 yards of backing, which should enable you to cope with even the fiercest of fish that you are likely to want to catch on a 5 weight line.
… I have a small favor to ask.
Support the Global FlyFisher through several different channels, including PayPal.
The Global FlyFisher has been online since the mid-90's and has been free to access for everybody since day one – and will stay free for as long as I run it.
But that doesn't mean that it's free to run.
It costs money to drive a large site like this.
See more details about what you can do to help in this blog post.