1. Glossary - Terms A to G

Action

A term used to describe how a rod flexes and casts; commonly as expressed as fast, medium or slow.

Adult (insect)

An insect that's fully mature; reproductive stage.

Annelid

Term used for an aquatic worm which is a common food for trout and other fish.

Antron

A synthetic yarn material made of long sparkly fibers used for many aspects of fly tying including wrapped bodies, spent wings, and trailing shucks. Is also used for dubbing material.

Attractor

A fly pattern that isn't tied to imitate any one particular food form; typically brightly colored.

Backcast

that portion of any fly cast that extends behind the caster (as in false casting).

Backing

Thin, high-visibility DacronŽ line (usually braided) designed to be tied between the reel spool and the back end of the fly line. Act as additional line if a longer length than the flyline is required to play a fish.

Balanced

A term used to describe the proper combination of rod, reel fly line, leader and fly. A "balanced" outfit is the most effective fly-fishing system.

Bamboo

Bamboo - oldest rod building material still in use; the classical fly rod material

Barb

The nick on the point of a hook. It is intended to keep the hook from backing out of a fish's mouth after it has been hooked.

Barbless hook

A hook made without a barb, or a hook on which the barb has been crimped or flattened. This is the hook style of choice for catch-and-release fishing.

Barrel Knot

Same as blood knot (see blood knot).

Bass Bug

A name used to describe a large number of surface bass flies usually tied with hollow hair (such as deer hair).

Bass Bug Taper

A special weight forward floating fly line with a short front taper so that the generally wind-resistant bass bugs can turn over (see weight forward and turn over).

Bead Head

A Bead Head fly uses a metal bead to simulate the thorax on a nymph or wet fly and to add weight to the fly. Typically gold or silver is used, but any color can be used. Often a bright color such as red can stimulate a fish into biting.

Bimini Twist

A specific series of knots and twists in a leader which acts as a springy shock absorber in the line, usually used when fishing for large salt water fish.

Biot

The short thick barbs from the leading edge of the first flight feather typically from a goose or a duck. Used to simulate tails, legs, antennae and other parts. Can be found dyed in many different colors.

Blank (rod)

A rod without a handle, guides or reel seat.

Blood Knot

The most widely used knot for tying two pieces of monofilament with similar diameters together; the best knot for construction of a knotted tapered leader; also called the barrel knot.

Bobbin

A tool for holding a spool of thread while fly tying which allows the thread to be dispensed with a controlled tension.

Bootfoot waders

See Wading Shoes

Breaking Strength

The amount of effort required to break a single strand of unknotted monofilament or braided line, usually stated in pounds (example: 6 lb. test).

Bucktail

(1) The hair found on the tail of the Eastern whitetail deer, used in the tying of many types of flies; can be dyed any color, or used natural, (2) a type of minnow simulating fly, usually constructed of bucktail.

Bullet Head Tool

A tool with a plate with several holes which can be pushed over the eye of a hook to arrange material in a bullet pattern. The material is first tied in facing forwards beyond the eye symmetrically around the shank, and then pushed backwards by the tool to form the distinctive bullet shape.

Caddis

One of the three most important aquatic insects imitated by fly fishermen; found world wide in all freshwater habitats; adult resembles a moth when in flight; at rest the wings are folded in a tent shape down the back; the most important aquatic state of the caddis is the pupa, which is its emerging stage (also see larva, pupa and emerger).

Cast

The act of imparting energy to a fly rod in such a way that the fly line and leader project a fly to a target some distance away.

Casting Arc

The path that the fly rod follows during a complete cast, usually related to the face of a clock.

Chenille

A yarn-like material for wrapping bodies which is in the form of a pipe cleaner (with thread in place of the stiff wire). Can be found in many colors and materials, and is a critical component of the Wooly Worm and Wooly Buggers patterns.

Chironomid

Scientific name for the the members of the Diptera family of insects commonly known as Midges. In the pupae stage they typically appear to be small aquatic worms.

Clinch Knot

Universally used knot for attaching a hook, lure, swivel, or fly to the leader or line; a slight variation results in the improved clinch knot, which is an even stronger knot for the above uses.

Co-Polymers

Mixtures of various nylons and plastics along with anti-UV chemicals that have resulted in the exceptionally high breaking strength of modern tippet material. Orvis Super Strong is a co-polymer tippet material. This is certainly one of the biggest advancements in fly fishing in the last 50 years. It allows us to use very fine tippets with breaking strengths two to four times as strong as regular nylon monofilament. Co-polymers are not as abrasion resistant as regular nylon monofilament.

Crystal Flash

The trade name for a synthetic stringy material used in many streamer patterns to add flash and color.

Cul-du-Canard Feather

Short whispy feathers taken from near the preen gland of a duck. Typically there are few of these feathers found per duck. These feathers add a significant amount of float to a fly due to the fact that they are soaked with natural preen oil. Use of floatant on these feathers will negate their floating qualities, actually causing the fly to lose flotation.

Damping

Reducing excess vibrations in the rod blank when unloading the rod during a cast. This causes fewer waves in your fly line resulting in more power & distance for less effort. Orvis use a proprietary damping material, called MVR, in the handle of the Trident Rods to accomplish this to a level not attainable by casting skills alone.

Damselfly

An important stillwater aquatic insect most commonly imitated in the nymphal form; usually hatches in early to mid-summer. Adult looks like a dragonfly, but folds its wings along its back when at rest.

Dead Drift

A perfect float (the fly is traveling at the same pace as the current); used in both dry fly and nymph fishing (see mending line and "S" cast).

Deer Hair

Most commonly used of the hollow hairs for fly tying; used for the Humpy and the Muddler Minnow styles of flies.

Dink

A very small fish; also known as a "guppy" or "fry guy."

Double Taper (DT)

A standard fly line design in which both ends of the line are tapered, while the greater portion or "belly" of the line is level; excellent line for short to moderate length casts, and for roll casting; not as well suited for distance casts; commonly available in floating, or sinking styles.

Drag

The mechanical system in a reel that applies friction to the spool; also the force of water against a fly line or leader that causes the fly to move in an unnatural manner.

Drag Free

See Dead Drift

Dragonfly

An important stillwater aquatic insect most commonly imitated in the nymphal form; usually hatches in early to mid-summer. Unlike the Damselfly, the Dragonfly adult holds its wings straight out (like an airplane) when at rest.

Dropper

The bottom fly in a two fly rig, trailing the point fly.

Dry Fly

An artificial fly that floats on the surface of the water; designed to replicate the adult stage of an insect

Dry Fly Floatant

A chemical preparation that is applied to a dry fly (before using the fly) and occasionally to fly lines and leaders, to waterproof it; may be a paste, liquid, or aerosol.

Dubbing

A primary body ingredient in both dry flies and nymphs, dubbing is a chopped-up fibrous material pinched and twisted onto the thread for wrapping onto the fly. Also refers to the process of applying the dubbing material.

Dubbing Rake

Tool used to tease out dubbing on a fly to give it an enlarged appearance.

Dun

The first stage in the adult mayfly's life cycle; usually of short duration (1 to 24 hours); this is the stage most often imitated by the dry fly; Also used for a darkish gray-blue color that is very desirable in some fly tying materials.

Elk Hair

Body hair from elk which is used in many fly patterns to supply body and floatation.

Emerger

An aquatic insect in the process of rising to the surface and changing to a flying adult form. Often will have an attached trailing shuck which feeding fish may key upon.

Entomology

The scientific study of insects.

Estaz

Trade name for a chenille which uses colored fine plastic strips for the barbules. Can be found at many craft shops and yarn stores.

False Cast.

A standard fly fishing cast; used to lengthen and shorten line, to change direction, and to dry off the fly; frequently overused. In false casting, the line is kept moving backwards and forwards without being allowed to touch the surface of the water or the ground (see casting arc, back cast, and forward cast).

Ferrules

The joints that connect the sections of a multi-piece rod.

Fish Hair

Synthetic hair used in tying streamers and salt water flies.

Flashabou

Commercial name for a colorfull synthetic filament material used in fly tying for dding flash to streamers as well as other patterns.

Float tube

A 1-person, U- or O-shaped watercraft in which the angler sits in a canvas or nylon seat, partly submerged in the water. It generally consists of a rubber inner tube or urethane bladder encased in a nylon shell, with a backrest, stripping apron and various pockets.

Floatant

Material applied to flies and leaders in order to cause them to float on the surface of the water. Typically sold in liquid or paste form, although dry shake crystals have recently been found on the market.

Floating Fly Line (F)

A fly line where the entire line floats; best all round fly line (see double taper, level, shooting head, weight forward). Typically used for dry fly fishing and shallow water nymphing.

Floss

Material for tying flies.

Fly

An artificial fishing lure that features an arrangement of materials tied onto a hook to imitate an aquatic or terrestrial insect, baitfish, leech or other food source.

Fly Casting

A standard method of presenting a fly to a target using a fly rod and fly line; involves many different casts (see back cast, forward cast, false cast, roll cast, "S" cast, and shooting line).

Fly Line

A key ingredient to fly fishing; made of a tapered plastic coating over a braided dacron or nylon core; available in several tapers and in floating, sinking, and sink-tip styles (see double taper, shooting head, weight forward, sink-tip, and floating fly line).

Fly Pattern

Recipe used for tying a specific fly.

Fly Reel

The fishing reel used in fly fishing to hold the fly line. There are three basic types: single action, multiplier, and automatic. 1.)Single action is the most common and the most popular. Single action means that one turn of the handle equals one turn of the spool. 2.) Multiplying reels use a gear system to increase this ratio (usually, 2-to-1). With a 2-to-1 ratio, each turn of the handle equals 2 revolutions of the spool. 3.) Automatic fly reels are the least practical for most people; they operate by a manually wound spring which is activated by a lever; automatic reels are heavy and tend to malfunction.

Fly Rod

A type of fishing rod especially designed to cast a fly line. Fly rods differ from other types of rods in that the reel attaches at the butt of the rod with the rod handle always above the reel; fly rods usually have more line guides than other types of rods of the same length. Fly rod lengths vary, with common lengths being between 7 and 9 feet. Materials used in fly rod construction are bamboo, fiberglass, and graphite.

Fly Tying

The process of building fishing flies using thread and various materials.

Forceps

A pliers-like tool that locks closed. It is often used for crimping barbs on hooks and for removing flies from the mouths of fish; also called "hemostats."

Forward Cast

The front portion of the false cast or pick-up and lay-down, and a mirror image of the back cast.

Forward Taper

See weight forward.

Gel-spun polyethylene

A synthetic fiber that is extremely thin, supple, slippery, very abrasion resistant, and strong. It is stronger than steel for its size. It is often used as a braided fly line backing where large amounts of backing are needed and space on the reel is limited.

Graphite

The most popular rod-building material in use today; offers the best weight, strength, and flex ratio of any rod building material currently available.

Guides

The loops on a rod through which the line runs.