Fly Line
The next line is the fly line. Connect the fly line to the backing line. As most flylines today come with welded loops, a double surgeon knot is needed to connect these ‘Loop over Loop’. For lines without welded loops, the recommended knot is the Albright knot but you can use any knot that you prefer as long as it gets the job done. The fly line is very important. It is the weight of the fly line that carries the fly to the angler’s intended fishing zone. The fly line is also the thickest line inside a fly reel. The fly line should take up to about 80% of your spool.
Leader Line
After spooling up on fly line, the next line to add is the leader line. There are leader lines in the market that actually taper down to a thinner end. For learning purposes my recommendation to you will be to not use a leader of such (I will explain why later). Just use a normal monofilament fishing line for the leader.
Note that some fly lines in the market comes with a built in loop. If you happen to be using one of these lines then all you need to do now is to secure your leader line to the fly line by tying a loop to loop knot, If your fly line does not come with a loop, then just use the usual knot that you use to connect your lines. The amount of leader lines to use should be about 7 feet.
To Tippet Or Not To Tippet?
The next line to add is your tippet line. Should you or should you not add on a tippet? There is something you need to know about tippets and when to use them. This here is also why if you have purchased a leader that tapers down to a thinner end, you should not use it when learning to cast.
What you need to understand is that when fly fishing, what you want to do is to present your fly to the fish in as natural a form as possible. A leader that tapers down to a thin section helps hide the leader so that the fish only sees the fly and not the leader. But as you fish, you will be cutting off parts of the thinner section of the leader (due to line damage) and you will inevitably reach the section of the leader that is thick.
This is where the tippet line comes in. A tippet line is a thinner line that you attach to your leader line with the objective of diong what the tapered down, thinner section of your leader line before it got trimmed away is to do. So, this is the reason why I recommended you not to use a leader that tapers down when learning to cast flies and this will save you some money. Also using a tippet is not necessary at this point in time.
But then again I know that some of you may be purist and will want to do everything according to form. So, this here is really up to you as you are basically learning to cast a fly and not really out trying to catch a fish on fly. Again, personally I feel that you do not need to add on a tippet but if you want to, go ahead and do so. About a foot or two will do.