Fly Fishing Terms: Your Complete Fly Fishing Glossary & Lingo Guide

Learning fly fishing terms helps you communicate with other anglers, understand gear descriptions, and fish with confidence. This guide covers the most important fly fishing terminology every angler should know.

The right vocabulary makes fly fishing easier and more enjoyable. When you know the proper terms, you can ask better questions at fly shops, understand instructional videos, and connect with fellow fly fishers on the water.

This quick reference covers the most common fly fishing terms you'll hear on the water. Keep this list handy while learning, and soon these terms will become second nature. 

For more detailed explanations, check our comprehensive guide: Common Fly Fishing Terms You Need to Know.

These basic fly fishing terms form the foundation of angling vocabulary. Master these first, then build on them as you gain experience.

A cast moves your fly line and fly through the air to reach your target. The basic cast involves lifting the line off the water (backcast), pausing while the line straightens behind you, then driving the rod forward (forward cast) to deliver the fly.

Double haul is an advanced casting technique that increases line speed and distance. This method involves pulling on the fly line during both the backcast and forward cast, creating higher line speeds and longer casts.

Mend describes adjusting your fly line position on the water after casting. Mending prevents drag caused by different current speeds. You lift and move sections of fly line upstream or downstream without disturbing your fly.

Drift refers to how your fly moves naturally with the current. A good drift makes your fly look like real food instead of something attached to a fishing line. Achieving drag-free drift requires proper mending and line control.

Learn proper casting techniques from our detailed guide: Casting with a Fly Rod.

An eddy forms where water flows back upstream behind rocks or other obstacles. These circular currents create feeding spots where fish wait for food to come around. Fishing eddies requires short, accurate casts.

A seam marks the boundary between fast and slow water. Fish often position themselves along seams to intercept food carried by the current while spending minimal energy. These transition zones produce consistent fishing.

A rise occurs when fish come to the surface to eat. Different rise forms tell you what insects fish are eating and how to fish for them. Splashy rises might indicate large flies, while subtle sips suggest small insects.

Pools are deeper, slower sections of rivers where fish rest and feed. These areas often form below rapids or falls. Pools hold the largest fish and provide good fishing during low water conditions.

A run describes moving water of moderate depth and speed. Runs connect pools and provide excellent feeding areas for trout and other species. These sections often produce steady action throughout the day.

Our guide to Reading Water and Fishing Fish explains how to identify productive water.

Hook set means driving the hook point into a fish's mouth when it takes your fly. Different fishing methods require different hook sets. Dry fly fishing uses a gentle lift, while streamer fishing needs a firm strip-set.

Strike has two meanings in fly fishing. It can mean a fish attacking your fly, or the angler's response to set the hook. Some anglers use "strike" and "hook set" interchangeably.

Landing covers everything from getting a hooked fish to your net or hand. Proper landing technique protects both fish and angler. Keep fish in the water when possible and handle them gently.

Strip describes retrieving line by pulling it through your fingers. Stripping creates action in streamers and nymphs. Different stripping patterns - long strips, short strips, or varied rhythms - trigger different fish responses.

Clinch knot is the most basic knot for attaching flies to tippet. This simple knot works well for flies size 10 and larger but can slip with very small flies or slick tippets.

Improved clinch knot adds security to the basic clinch by threading the tag end through an extra loop. This modification prevents slippage and works with smaller flies and fluorocarbon tippet.

Blood knot joins two pieces of similar diameter monofilament. This knot creates a strong, streamlined connection for extending leaders or connecting tippet sections.

Surgeon's knot provides an easy way to connect different tippet sizes. Though bulkier than a blood knot, the surgeon's knot ties quickly and holds reliably.

Learn to tie these essential connections with our Fly Fishing Knots guide and How to Tie a Clinch Knot tutorial.

Hatch describes when aquatic insects emerge from the water to mate and lay eggs. During hatches, fish feed actively on the emerging insects, creating excellent fishing opportunities.

BWO stands for Blue Winged Olive, a common mayfly family that hatches throughout the season. These small, olive-colored insects produce some of the most reliable fishing, especially during overcast weather.

Caddis refers to a large group of insects that build cases as larvae. Adult caddis have tent-shaped wings and often skitter across the water surface, creating exciting surface fishing.

Fly tying creates artificial flies from feathers, fur, thread, and other materials. Hackle provides the stiff feathers used on many dry flies. Dubbing describes fur or synthetic material twisted onto thread to form fly bodies.

Thread holds fly materials together and comes in various colors and sizes. Most fly tying uses 6/0 or 8/0 thread. Hooks provide the foundation for all flies and come in hundreds of styles for different patterns and fishing situations.

Skunk means catching no fish during a fishing trip. Every angler gets skunked occasionally - it's part of fly fishing. Don't let a skunk day discourage you from returning to the water.

LDR stands for "Long Distance Release," a humorous way to describe breaking off flies on trees, rocks, or fish. LDRs happen to every angler, so tie on a new fly and keep fishing.

Matching the hatch means using flies that imitate whatever insects fish are currently eating. This approach often produces better results than using your favorite fly regardless of conditions.

Pocket water describes small pools and eddies between rocks in fast water. These spots often hold fish but require accurate, short casts to fish properly.

Technical water challenges anglers with spooky fish, complex currents, or difficult presentations. These situations demand precise casts, perfect drifts, and often smaller flies.

Fly fishing terms can vary by region and local fishing culture. Western anglers might say "rainbow" while eastern anglers say "bow" for the same fish. Some areas use "creek" while others prefer "stream" for small waters.

British fly fishing terminology differs from American usage. "Nymph fishing" in America equals "upstream wet fly fishing" in Britain. A "dropper" in Britain refers to what Americans call a "tag end" when tying knots.

Saltwater fly fishing has developed its own vocabulary, especially in areas like the Florida Keys, Pacific Northwest, and Northeast coast. Terms like "permit," "bones," and "albies" refer to specific saltwater species.

Understanding regional differences helps you communicate with local anglers and guides. When visiting new areas, ask about local terminology and preferred techniques. This knowledge improves your fishing and helps you connect with fellow anglers.

Knowing fly fishing terms improves your success on the water. When other anglers say "try a size 16 BWO emerger in the seam," you'll understand they mean using a Blue Winged Olive pattern in the current break between fast and slow water.

Proper terminology helps you choose the right gear. Understanding what makes a "fast action" rod different from a "moderate action" rod guides your purchase decisions. The same applies to fly lines, reels, and other equipment.

Many fly fishing techniques have specific names that describe exactly how to perform them. Learning these terms speeds up your skill development. Instead of trying to figure out casting problems on your own, you can research techniques like "double hauling" or "mending" to improve quickly.

For beginners, our Complete Beginners Guide to Fly Fishing provides step-by-step instructions using clear, simple language.

Good fly fishing conversation flows naturally with proper terminology. Instead of saying "the thing that floats on top," use "dry fly." Replace "the line closest to the fish" with "tippet."

Practice using terms in context: "I need to mend my line to get a drag-free drift" sounds much better than "I need to move my line so my fly looks natural." The first statement shows you understand the concepts and techniques.

Common beginner mistakes include mixing up "leader" and "tippet," or using "line" when referring to "backing." Take time to learn the differences between similar terms. Each word has a specific meaning that helps communicate precisely.

Join conversations at fly shops, fishing clubs, or on the water. Listen to how experienced anglers use terminology, then practice using these terms yourself. Most fly fishers enjoy helping newcomers learn proper language and techniques.

Start with our guides for Basic Fly Fishing Skills and Going Fly Fishing for the First Time to build confidence.

Learning fly fishing terminology takes time, but the investment pays off quickly. Proper vocabulary helps you learn faster, communicate better, and fish more effectively. Start with basic terms, then expand your knowledge as you gain experience.

Don't worry about memorizing every term at once. Focus on the words you need most often: gear names, basic techniques, and common fly types. Add new terms gradually as you encounter them on the water or in reading.

At Wild Water Fly Fishing, we believe fly fishing should be accessible to everyone. That's why we create beginner-friendly kits with clear instructions and helpful terminology guides. To put your new vocabulary to use, visit our About Us page to learn about our heritage, or check our FAQs for answers to common beginner questions.