Tackle Tip: Splicing Two Backing Lines

If you find you need to replace a portion of your Backing Line due to wear, you're better off replacing the entire Backing Line, but there may come a time when you need to join two Backing Lines, such as when you step-down in fly line weight and need to fill all of that extra space on your spool.
You'll need a Splicing Needle to do this. A Splicing Needle has a small hook and a locking arm on its working end. It's a simple, little device, and it works. [Give the images below time to load.]

1: Lay the locking arm flush with the needle's stem, and insert the hook into the Backing approximately 4 inches from the end of the line. Backing Lines are really a braid, so they're hollow.
Work about 1 inch or so of the Backing onto the Splicing Needle, poke the needle out, and grab the second line (Line B in the diagram) with the hook. Lock the arm over the second line and pull through about 4 inches of line.

2: Repeat the process from the other side by inserting the Splicing Needle
into Line B.

3: Pick up the tag end of Line A, and then pull Line A into Line B.

4: Trim the tag ends of Line A & B.

5: Hold the splice in the middle and smooth it out by pulling gently in opposite directions.

This is one of the strongest splices around, but if you want some extra insurance, coat the splice with a light mixture of Aquaseal and its thinner, Cotol-240. We do not recommend using a super glue which hardens to create a stiff spot in the Backing.