Reel Seat
|
The mechanism
that holds the reel to the rod, usually using locking metal rings or sliding bands. |
Retrieve
|
Bringing the
fly back towards the caster after the cast is made; can be done in a variety of ways;
important points of retrieving are to keep the rod tip low and pointed straight down the
line. |
Roll Cast
|
One of the
three most basic fly casts; allows a cast to be made without a back cast; essential for
use with sinking lines, to bring the line to the surface so it may be picked up and cast
in a normal manner. |
Running Line
|
A thin line
attached to the back of a shooting taper (shooting head) line. May be 20 to 30 pound
monofilament, braided nylon, narrow floating or sinking line, or other material. Usually
100 feet in length, it allows the fly fisher to quickly change the type of line being used
by interchanging only the head section. |
S Cast
|
A cast used
to put deliberate and controlled slack into a cast; used in getting a drag free float and
in conjunction with mending line (see drag, dead drift, mending line). |
Saddle
|
Feathers from
the back of the chicken which are longer and have thinner stems. Best choice for most dry
flies. |
Saltwater
Taper
|
A weight
forward fly line that is similar to a bass bug taper (see weight forward and bass bug
taper). |
Scud
|
Term used for
freshwater shrimp. |
Setting the
Hook
|
The act of
pulling the hook into the flesh of the fish's mouth. The amount of effort needed to do
this varies with the size of hook, type of fish, and breaking strength of leader; most
people strike too hard on trout and warm water fish and not hard enough on salmon and
saltwater fish. |
Shooting
Head
|
See Shooting
Taper |
Shooting
Taper (ST)
|
A short
single tapered fly line, 30-38 feet long; shooting heads are designed for longest casts
with minimum effort; shooting heads allow quick change of line types (floating, sinking,
sink-tip, etc.)by quickly interchanging head sections; shooting heads are most commonly
used with salmon, steelhead, saltwater, and shad fishing, though they can be used in all
types of fly fishing. |
Sink Rate
|
The speed at
which a sinking fly line sinks; there are at least 6 different sink rates for fly lines,
from very slow to extremely fast. |
Sinkant
|
A liquid
applied to flies to make them sink. |
Sinking Fly
Line (S)
|
A fly line in
which the entire length of the line sinks beneath the surface of the water. Can be found
with different sink rates for different fishing styles. |
Sink-Tip Fly
Line (F/S)
|
A floating
fly line where the tip portion sinks; available in 4 foot, 10 foot, 12 foot, 15 foot, 20
foot, 24 foot, and 30 foot sinking tips; the 10 foot sink-tips are most commonly used and
are practical in many applications; sink-tip lines are useful in all types of fly fishing,
but especially in wet fly or streamer fishing. |
Spinner
|
The egg
laying stage of the mayfly; overall not as important to the fly fisher as the dun stage;
(see mayfly and dun). |
Spool
|
The part of
the fly reel that revolves and which holds the backing and the fly line; may be purchased
separately. |
Stonefly
|
A very
important aquatic insect; nymph lives for one to three years, depending on species; most
species hatch out by crawling to the shoreline and emerging from its nymphal case above
the surface, thus adults are available to trout only along shoreline and around midstream
obstructions; adult has two pair of wings which are folded flat along its back when at
rest; stoneflies require a rocky bottomed stream with very good water quality. |
Streamer
|
A fly tied to
imitate the various species of baitfish upon which game fish feed; usually tied using
feathers for the wing, but can be tied with hair and/or feathers; tied in all sizes (see
bucktail). |
Surgeon's
Knot
|
An excellent
knot used to tie two lengths of monofilamont together; the lines may be of dissimilar
diameters. |
Tapered
Leader
|
A leader made
of monofilament and used for fly fishing; the back or butt section of the leader is of a
diameter nearly as large as the fly line, then becomes progressively smaller in diameter
as you approach the tip end (see knotless tapered leader, knotted leader, and tippet). |
Terrestrial
|
Term used to
describe land-based insects which are often food for fish. |
Tight Loop
|
Same as
narrow loop (see "narrow loop"). |
Tinsel
|
A metallic
filiment used in fly tying to provide flash and color. |
Tippet
|
The end
section of a tapered leader; the smallest diameter section of a tapered leader; the fly is
tied onto the tippet. |
Trailing
Shuck
|
A section of
synthetic yarn tied to the back of a fly to imitate a case bieng shed from an emerging
insect. |
Turn Over
|
Describe how
the fly line and leader straighten out at the completion of the cast. |
Unloading
the Rod
|
Unbending the
rod. Transfering the casting energy from the rod back into the fly line. |
Vest
|
A fly
fisher's wearable tackle box; numerous styles available; particularly important in wading
situations. |
Vise
|
The tool used
to hold a hook in place while tying the fly. |
Waders
|
Protective
outer clothing used to keep the fisherman dry when standing or float-tubing in water.
Typically made of neoprene, nylon, or a Goretex-like material. Can be insulated to supply
warmth. |
Wading Shoes
|
Wading Shoes
- shoes built specifically to be worn over stocking foot waders; can be made of leather,
nylon or other synthetic materials. |
Weight
Forward (WF)
|
An easy
casting fly line because it carries most of its weight in the forward section of the line;
instead of a level middle section, like a double taper, it quickly tapers down to a fine
diameter running line which shoots through the guides with less resistance for added
distance; the most versatile fly line. |
Wet Fly
|
(1) any fly
fished below the surface of the water; nymphs and streamers are wet flies (2) a
traditional style of fly tied with soft, swept back hackle, and a backward sweeping wing;
the forerunner of the nymph and streamer. |
Wet Fly
Swing
|
A typical
presentation method for fishing a wet fly. Cast the fly downstream and across, and then
swim it across the current. Commonly used to imitate swimming mayflies, emerging caddis,
and small fish. |
Whip Finish
|
A knot used
to tie off the thread when finishing a fly. |
Whip
Finishing Tool
|
A tool
designed to make whip finishing quick and easy. |
Wind Knot
|
An overhand
knot put in the leader by poor casting, greatly reducing the breaking strength of the
leader |
X
|
X - archaic
measurement used to designate diameter of leader material used in conjunction with a
numeral, as in "4X". To determine the actual diameter of "4X" or any
"X" number, subtract the numeral from the number 11 (eleven). The result is the
diameter in thousandths of an inch. For example, to find the diameter of 4X material,
subtract 4 from 11 (11 - 4 = 7) thus the diameter is .007". *Note* diameter does not
always correspond to breaking strength. |
Zinger
|
A retractable
string clip used to connect tools to ones fly vest. |
Z-Lon
|
Trade name
for a synthetic yarn used in making carpeting. Can be used for many purposes in fly tying
such as nymph bodies, spent wings, and trailing shucks |