How to Change Fly Lines & Label Reels for Tarpon Season | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 420

Tom Rowland walks through the complete process of changing fly lines on reels and labeling them properly for tarpon season in the Florida Keys. In this How 2 Tuesday episode, Tom demonstrates his specific method for marking fly lines with Sharpie using Lefty Kreh's trick, explains why the stickers that come on fly lines almost always fail, and reveals his label maker technique for creating identification tags that actually stay on your reels. You'll see exactly how to avoid putting weight forward lines on backwards, how to create the proper loop-to-loop connection with Bimini twists, and why knowing which line is on which reel becomes critical when you're running eight identical Abel reels with different line weights.

Why Factory Stickers Fail and What to Do Instead

Every fly line comes with a small sticker on the spool that identifies the weight and which end attaches to backing. Tom shows several old reels where these factory stickers have either fallen off completely or the writing has faded to nothing while the adhesive remains. When you're managing multiple identical reels with different line weights, losing that identification creates real problems. Tom's solution involves two steps: Lefty Kreh's Sharpie marking system on the line itself, and a label maker technique that produces stickers far more durable than factory labels. He demonstrates removing old adhesive with Remington gun oil before applying the new label in a position where you can see it when the rod is in the boat. The complete sticker replacement process starts at 10:50.

The Sharpie Marking System for Identifying Line Weight

Tom marks the backing end of the line before spooling it onto the reel, using a specific code that never washes off. Long marks about an inch in length represent five weight increments. Short marks about a quarter inch represent single weight increments. For the 12-weight Cortland Precision Premium line he's installing, he makes two long marks plus two short marks. He repeats this marking on the leader end after the line is spooled. The brilliance of this system is that even years later, even if every sticker has failed, you can immediately identify what weight line is on the reel. Tom credits this technique to Lefty Kreh and emphasizes it works "really, really, really well." Watch Tom mark both ends of the line starting at 5:40.

Avoiding the Backwards Line Installation Mistake

Weight forward fly lines only cast properly in one direction. Put them on backwards and you'll know immediately because the casting performance will be terrible. The factory puts a small sticker on the reel end that says "this end attached to backing," but as Tom demonstrates, these stickers frequently come off or become illegible. His Sharpie marking system eliminates this problem entirely because both ends of the line are marked before and after installation. Tom also shows his preferred loop-to-loop connection method: going through the loop once and around the reel to create what he calls a "handshake." He tests the connection by pulling hard to make sure it's properly seated. The handshake connection technique is demonstrated at 7:30.

Managing Multiple Identical Reels with Different Line Weights

Tom runs eight Abel Four-N reels that look identical. Some have 10-weight lines, some have 11-weight, some have 12-weight. He mentions having multiple 12-weight setups alone. Without proper identification, grabbing the wrong setup in a hurry becomes a real possibility. A year from installation, you might have no idea which line is on which reel if you've relied only on factory stickers. Tom's system of Sharpie marks plus label maker tags ensures you can always identify your setup at a glance. He positions the label maker sticker on top of the reel where it's visible when the rod is in the boat, not on the back where you'd have to remove it to check. Tom explains his eight-reel organization system at 14:40.

Final Thoughts from Tom

This is one of those How 2 Tuesday episodes that solves a problem every fly angler deals with but most haven't found a good solution for. I've been using this Sharpie system for years, and it's never let me down. Those factory stickers? They fail every single time. I showed you several examples of reels where the sticker came off or the writing disappeared, and if you fish as much as I do, you know exactly what I'm talking about.

The label maker trick is something I figured out after getting frustrated with losing track of which line was on which reel. When you're running eight Abel Four-Ns and some have 10-weight, some have 11-weight, and some have 12-weight lines, you need a system that works. A year from now when tarpon season rolls around again, you'll be glad you took the time to mark everything properly. There's nothing worse than realizing you've been casting with the wrong line weight because you couldn't tell which setup you grabbed.

If you've got tips on doing this even better, I'd love to hear them. But this is the system that's worked for me and keeps all my setups organized. Watch the whole thing and get your reels ready for tarpon season the right way.