High capacity fly line backing puts 60% more line on your reel.

Some game fish, like salmon, steelhead, bonefish, tarpon, and many other saltwater species, will take a fly and run for up to 200 yards before you can slow them down. Since a fly line is only about 100 feet long, there has to be some kind of insurance beyond the fly line so you stay connected. Fly line backing is a thin, strong line that is attached to the fly reel at one end and the fly line at the other. For most trout fly fishing, 50 yards is plenty. When fly fishing for saltwater speed demons like bonefish or permit, the fish of a lifetime might take 200 yards of fly line so you need to be prepared.

To help you determine what backing is appropriate for your reel we have described the attributes of all Orvis backing below. If you buy an Orvis reel and line together Orvis can load your reel with the appropriate amount of backing and riggings for Free if you choose Dacron. $10 for Gel Spun, High Capacity Gel Spun and $24 for 50lb. Gel Spun.

Still not sure which backing is right for you? Chat online with one of our Fishing Specialist for instant advice.

High Capacity Gel Spun Backing

The backing you want for big game fishing.

• Maximum strength with minimum diameter  
• 60% more capacity than Dacron
• 35-lb.-test Gel-Spun gives 60% more capacity than 20-lb. Dacron
• More capacity means higher yardage on the reel, slower spool rpms on runs, and faster pickups
• Braided gel-spun polyethylene is 10 times stronger than steel in equal diameters
• Virtually no stretch
• Extremely abrasion-resistant
• Very low coefficient of friction won’t damage your fly rod guides
• Retains 100% of its strength while in the water
• Unaffected by UV, gas, oil, salt or detergents
• Comes in 35-lb. and 50-lb. test.

Hi-Viz Gel Spun

The Maximum capacity for the biggest and strongest of big game fish.

• More capacity means higher yardage on the reel, slower spool rpms on runs, and faster pickups
• Braided gel-spun polyethylene is 10 times stronger than steel in equal diameters
• Virtually no stretch
• Extremely abrasion-resistant
• Very low coefficient of friction won’t damage your fly rod guides
• Retains 100% of its strength while in the water
• Unaffected by UV, gas, oil, salt or detergents
• Comes in 30-lb and 45-lb. test.

Dacron

The choice for freshwater and light saltwater angling

• Braided white Dacron®, precision processed with uniform strength
• 12-lb. test perfect for light lines and smaller reels from 1-3-weight
• 20 lb. test for trout, bass, and most freshwater fishing
• 30-lb. test ideal for salmon and light saltwater

Gel Spun Tracking Backing

Tracks how deep a big fish has you into your backing.

• Different colors in the backing measure how much backing is out and how much to loan on your reel
• Dyneema® material has all the merits of gel-spun—thin diameter for maximum capacity
• Resists UV, gas, and other corrosives
• Low coefficient of friction
• 312 yards of fly line backing.