- Dry Fly A dry fly is a fly that is designed to float on the surface of the water. Examples of common dry flies include the Elk Hair Caddis, the Blue Winged Olive, the Parachute Adams and the Royal Wulff. Dry flies are constructed of relatively buoyant materials - usually feathers and fur (real(...)
- Dubbing Dubbing in fly fishing refers to the process of using a dubbing material to create a body for artificial flies. The dubbing material, which can be made of fur, wool, or synthetic materials, is twisted onto the fly tier's thread to form a fuzzy rope. This rope is then wound around the hook(...)
- Emerger An emerger is a hatching insect (ie caddis or mayfly) that is at the phase of its life where it is between a nymph and a dun (the term can also refer to a fly tied to imitate this phase such as a Klinkhammer). It is the stage of the insect's life cycle when it is transitioning from an(...)
- Flipping A method of casting in bass fishing, and other kinds of fishing, where you start with rod low and raise it using an underhand pendulum like motion to flip the lure into tight cover. It's useful to get into tight spots beneath docks or in heavy timber and can be very accurate. Pitching is(...)
- Hatch A hatch in fly fishing is a mass emergence of a particular insect type, usually mayflies, caddis flies, midges or stone flies. A hatch sees hundreds of thousands or even millions of aquatic insects leave the river bed as nymphs in a particular area and ascend to the surface where they(...)
- Mending Mending is the process of flicking the fly line with the tip of your rod to counteract the effects of different currents in a river to achieve a drag-free drift. An example of mending is where you have a fast current in the middle of the river and a slower seam of current where you are(...)
- mend Mending is the process of flicking the fly line with the tip of your rod to counteract the effects of different currents in a river to achieve a drag-free drift. An example of mending is where you have a fast current in the middle of the river and a slower seam of current where you are(...)
- Nymph A nymph is a type of wet fly design to imitate the larvae of insects such as chironomids (midges), mayfly, caddis and stoneflies. A nymph is typically weighted so it sinks to the bottom of the water column where the actual insects typically emerge. However sometimes fly fishers use(...)
- Rise A rise is the indentation created when a fish (usually a trout) breaks or almost breaks the surface when it is feeding. Rises occur during a hatch when the fish are feeding on insects that are in the surface film or just below. Technically a fish leaping out of the water to feed on(...)
- Streamer A streamer fly is a type of artificial fly used in fly fishing that is designed to imitate small baitfish, leeches, or other larger prey items that trout and other game fish hunt and eat. Here are some key characteristics of streamer flies: Larger Size: Streamer flies are typically larger(...)
- Strike The "strike" in fly fishing is the moment when the angler sets the hook, usually by lifting the rod tip. Lifting the rod tip is the best way to strike in dry fly fishing for trout. But saltwater fishing, the angler usually needs to "strip strike" by ripping the line back with the hand(...)
- Tippet Tippet is the piece of transparent line - usually monofilament or fluorocarbon - that is attached to the thin end of the leader in fly fishing. The tippet is the final connection piece to the fly and has the lowest breaking strain of the whole set up. Tippet is sized by diameter (the X(...)
- Waders Waders are pants that allow an angler to walk into the water (or wade) to access fish or a fishing spot while staying dry. Chest waders usually have suspender straps that go over the shoulder to stop them falling down. Hip waders finish just below the waist and can only be used to(...)
- Wading The act of walking through the water while your legs are to some extent submerged. Anglers usually wade to get into a closer position to cast to fish or access likely looking pieces of water. It is possible to wade in water that is even up to chest deep provided there is little or no(...)
- Wet fly A wet fly is a fly that is designed to sink below the water's surface. The heavier the weight of the fly, the deeper it will sink in the water column. Nymphs, soft hackle flies and streamers are all different types of wet fly. Wet flies are usually designed to imitate bait fish or(...)
