I truly don't understand the physics of fly line backlashes

[Evan B]

Been spending about the last thirty minutes trying to get this line off a reel. Only thing this line has been used for is casting to and not catching coho on the Columbia River. Hasn't seen anything strong that'd dig it into itself. No super fast runs from a pissed off fish that would backlash it.

Yet this thing is tied up in a massive mess indicative of a backlash. Looped around itself, the line you're pulling out seeming to disappear underneath a pile of loops and backing wraps.

Been performing surgery making an attempt to get this done but I'm about to set the thing on fire and order a new reel

 

[Peyton00]

Good luck!

 

[Matt B]

I see the little gremlins that come at night or when we are away on trips to f*ck with our gear are at your house too.

 

[SurfnFish]

heavy duty backing like that tends to easily overrun itself

 

[Hobbyranch]

View attachment 188762
Been spending about the last thirty minutes trying to get this line off a reel. Only thing this line has been used for is casting to and not catching coho on the Columbia River. Hasn't seen anything strong that'd dig it into itself. No super fast runs from a pissed off fish that would backlash it.

Yet this thing is tied up in a massive mess indicative of a backlash. Looped around itself, the line you're pulling out seeming to disappear underneath a pile of loops and backing wraps.
View attachment 188763
Been performing surgery making an attempt to get this done but I'm about to set the thing on fire and order a new reel

Please let us know if you figure it out! We’ve all been there..

 

[dbaken]

Looks like quantum entanglement to me. Maybe take the spool off the reel?

 

[GAT]

Yup. The first sinking lines had a tendency to do that all on their own for no apparent reason. The newer models don't seem to have the same problem.

However, every now and then I end up with a birds nest in my reel and I have no idea how it got there. I don't think physics is involved. More likely black magic or a pissed off fishing god ...

 

[Evan B]

I kept cutting backing until things freed up. Had a pile of backing pieces at my feet. How and why I had to cut like 100ft of backing off when there was still 50ft of running line on the reel is beyond me.

I'm convinced there's a new and unstudied branch of quantum physics that exclusively explains the ability of all fishing line to bend the space time continuum and pass through solid objects.

 

[VMP]

I kept cutting backing until things freed up. ...

It is a puzzle as old as time, you can blame King Midas and thank Alexander for the inspiration, so are you ready to rule all of Asia now? I heard they also have caprs there...

 

[Yard Sale]

No fun! Last time I went fishing I rigged up, went to strip some line out, and it appeared I had a wrap . Undid it all(15 foot rods have a lot of guides!) and re-rigged. Started at the top of the run and worked out some line after each cast, only to find that I had an actual wrap this time. Apparently it was straight at first and when I re-rigged I had put an actual wrap in it. Back to the bushes to rig for a third time, but this time I had a beer before digging in.

Still better than my buddy who once, after a quick smoke, pulled his line out, rigged a poly leader and tippet to a nicely hitched muddler. Only problem was he forgot to run the line through the guides. He didn't miss a guide, he missed all of them!

 

[FinLuver]

I’ll go out on a limb here with a possible (although unscientific) explanation with some questions first.

What type of fly line - brand and style of fly line on what reel size?

Backing brand, style, #…?

Do you pull all the fly line out to clean it…past several pulls into the backing?

If yes…

Do your apply too much or too loose of tension and don’t seat the backing and first level of fly line when reeling back in?

How old is that birds nest of line?

Just some questions to get the brain matter activated to help solve the quantum physics of your dilemma.

Thinkin’ outside the reel…

 

[DimeBrite]

That is the worst backlash I've ever seen! Tear it all off and wind on fresh backing.

Before a big trip I always check every reel and spool for backing cross overs (pull off >50yards and neatly rewind). I've seen guys lose really nice fish when their reel locks up at the cross over.

 

[Evan B]

That is the worst backlash I've ever seen! Tear it all off and wind on fresh backing.

Before a big trip I always check every reel and spool for backing cross overs (pull off >50yards and neatly rewind). I've seen guys lose really nice fish when their reel locks up at the cross over.

Worst I had ever had as well. Fresh gelspun backing and a new 500gr sinking line has been installed.

 

[goinoregon]

we may have to go over ALL life choices over the past 2 weeks. This includes all interactions with family members, neighbors, pets, grocery store clerks, etc.

 

[Wetswinger]

Too much sloppy slack line when you reeled it in. Line needs tension to remain orderly..

 

[Buzzy]

Too much sloppy slack line when you reeled it in. Line needs tension to remain orderly..

I have a habit (probably a bad habit) of spinning the spool up with line hanging below the reel (no tension), usually I'm paying attention and it doesn't become an issue but more than once I've spent quite a bit of time lake or creekside fixing a "crossover backlash f-bomb mess".

 

[Sturubu]

Just think "Slinky". There is no explaining the magic that allows them to tangle almost instantaneously, rendering them useless. The image (bot the tangle and the trashing of what usually seems to be a pretty new toy) to this day gives me motivation to persevere with the untangling process.

 

[Rob Allen]

Never reel your fly line all the way onto the reel.. the line will get under itself and you'll chase that know all the way to the backing. There are other causes, but that's the one I see the most.

 

[Herkileez]

Looks like the line has done a series of whip finishes over it8self.
There also seems to be a lot of twists in the line, possibly contributing to the above. Just wondering if you're using a switch rod, or doing a lot of roll casts, which can tend to accumulate a twist every cast...One way to counter is to use a line swivel behind the head/flyline.
Another cause may be that your reel is free-spooling because your drag may be set too lightly.
..

 

[clarkman]

I’ll go out on a limb here with a possible (although unscientific) explanation with some questions first.

What type of fly line - brand and style of fly line on what reel size?

Backing brand, style, #…?

Do you pull all the fly line out to clean it…past several pulls into the backing?

unscientific? sounds like you've already got a spreadsheet going and may be able to tell us if Evan's issue is significant or not. Sounds pretty scientific to me....

I don't know that much though....I'm not a statistician.