Fly fishing has a large vocabulary, and much of it is borrowed from entomology and casting. This glossary groups common terms so you can find what you need quickly. New to the sport? Start with our beginner guide to fly fishing.
Gear Terms
- Fly rod: A long, flexible rod designed to cast fly line. Rods are rated by weight, such as 5-weight.
- Line weight: A standardized number (for example, 3 to 8 for most freshwater use) that matches rod, reel, and line.
- Fly line: The thick, coated line that provides the weight for casting.
- Backing: Thin line spooled under the fly line, giving extra capacity if a fish runs.
- Leader: A tapered length of clear line connecting fly line to the fly.
- Tippet: Thinner line tied to the end of the leader, which is what you tie the fly to. It is usually fluorocarbon or monofilament.
- Drag (reel): The reel’s adjustable resistance when a fish pulls line out.
- Waders: Waterproof pants or chest-high boots used to stand in the water.
- Floatant: A treatment that helps dry flies float.
- Split shot: Small weights pinched on the leader to sink nymphs.
- Strike indicator: A small float on the leader that signals a take, also called a bobber.
Casting Terms
- Backcast: The part of the cast that sends the line behind you.
- Forward cast: The forward stroke that delivers the fly.
- False cast: Casting back and forth without letting the fly land, used to dry the fly, add distance, or change direction.
- Loop: The shape of the line as it unrolls in the air. Tight loops are usually more efficient.
- Roll cast: A cast that uses the water’s tension to load the rod when there is no room for a backcast.
- Shooting line: Letting extra line slip through the guides during a cast to add distance.
- Stripping: Pulling line in by hand, often to move a streamer.
- Mending: Flipping a section of line upstream or downstream to control drift.
Presentation Terms
- Drift: How the fly travels with the current.
- Dead drift: A drift where the fly moves at the same speed as the water, with no drag.
- Drag (on the fly): An unnatural movement of the fly caused by the line pulling it across currents.
- Swing: Letting the fly arc downstream on a tight line at the end of a drift.
- Set the hook: Tightening the line, often with a rod lift, when a fish takes.
- Tight lines: Fishing with little slack, or a casual angler’s farewell wish.
Fly Types and Parts
- Dry fly: A fly designed to float on the surface.
- Nymph: A fly that imitates an immature aquatic insect, fished below the surface.
- Streamer: A larger fly that imitates baitfish, leeches, or similar prey. See how to fly fish a streamer.
- Wet fly: A fly fished just below the surface or in the film, often swung downstream.
- Emerger: A fly representing an insect rising to the surface to hatch.
- Terrestrial: A fly imitating land insects like ants, beetles, and grasshoppers.
- Popper: A floating fly with a flat or cupped face that makes a splash, often used for bass and panfish (see float and fly bass fishing).
- Hackle: Feather fibers wrapped around the hook to suggest legs or add flotation.
- Hook size: A number where a bigger number generally means a smaller hook. See our hook sizes chart.
- Pattern: The name of a specific fly design. Learn how patterns are categorized in our guide on identifying fly fishing flies.
Insect and Fish Behavior
- Hatch: When aquatic insects emerge in numbers and often trigger feeding.
- Match the hatch: Choosing a fly that imitates the insects currently active.
- Rise or rise form: A fish taking something at the surface.
- Riffle, run, pool: Water types: shallow broken water, moderate-depth flowing water, and deep slow water.
- Seam: The line where fast and slow currents meet, where fish often hold. See fishing for rainbow trout in a river for examples.
- Undercut bank: A bank eroded below the surface, offering cover for fish.
Funny and Slang Terms
Anglers like nicknames. A few common ones:
- Skunked: Fishing without catching anything.
- Hero shot: A photo of a caught fish.
- Fish on: Called out when a fish is hooked.
- Chuck and duck: A casual description of casting heavy, weighted flies.
- Dry-fly snob: A lighthearted label for someone who prefers dry flies over everything else.
Related Fishing Phrases
Some phrases cross over from general fishing, such as catch and release, limit, creel, and slot limit. Rules vary by location, so check local regulations for the specifics on any water you fish.
Using the Glossary
You will pick up the language quickly through practice. If you are comparing gear types, see spin vs fly fishing for how terms like leader and drag differ between the two styles.