Tippet
Tied to the leader, it protects the leader length and condition.
This is the line that is cut when flies are switched. Line
map or more information.
Dry/Wet
Flies
A dry fly is anything that is fished on the water surface. Wet flies
are fished subsurface.
Dropper
This is a creek or river technique where an angler will tie a wet
fly somewhere on the tippet or dry fly. The dropper
is often tied to the bend of the dry fly hook
or directly to the eye. A (usually) short leader is used; about 12-16 inches.
Droppers are usually a nymph.
Stimulator
Used frequently with a dropper, it is a dry fly that doesn't closely
mimic one particular insect, but is "buggy" and attractive to game
fish.
Strike
Indicator
A term used interchangeably with very small brightly colored floats
and floating stickers or a stimulator. Basically strike indicators help the
angler know when a strike has occurred.
Fly Drag
Refers to the wake made by the fly when being retrieved or when the
fly has reached its maximum drift on a stream.
Hackles
Usually feathers wrapped around the shank of a hook. They are tied
and used with a variety of materials.
Double
Taper(ed Line)
This is fly line that is narrower (smaller diameter) at the head and tail
of the line than in the middle. The taper usually gets bigger after the first
15 feet, then has 60 ft of the wider diameter and ends with 15 ft of taper
again. More...
Leader
Connects between the fly line (that expensive colored line) and the tippet
(the 3X, 5X or whatever size). Line map
or more information.
Nymph
A fly used to simulate subsurface forms of emerging insects.
Keeper
Ring
A small loop near the handle or cork of the rod used to hold the fly when
not in use. See my post about this here.
Picture
Floatant/Sinkant
(SinkFast)
An oily substance used on flies to help them float or sink. Picture
Purchase Floatant here.
Backing
Line
Usually nylon line attached to between the reel and the fly line to provide
a cushion of distance if a fish should run past the length of the fly line
(which is about 90 feet).
Bag Limit
The maximum number of fish you can take from a body of water. Check online,
bait shop or fishing regulations to determine the limit prior to fishing.
Sometimes measured by weight.
False
Casting
A cast used to judge distance, shoot line or build speed prior to the actual
cast.
Streamer
A fly that is fished subsurface and mimics a small fish or fry.
Dead
Drift
A wet or dry fly allowed to drift at the same speed as the current.
Strip(ping)
The action of retrieving a fly by pulling in the line by hand.
Take
When the fish strikes the fly.
Surface
Film
Looks like dirty Saran Wrap on the water. It is the upper-most layer of water.
Hooks
Check out the 'Gear' section for information on
hooks.
Fly Line
Line codes explained - Line
diagram
