Fly Fishing Glossary A-F

Here follows a list and description of terms used in the gentle art of fly fishing. This glossary will grows as I continue to built this site.

AFTM / AFTMA

The American Fishing Tackle Association. This body defines fly line weighting standards as applied to the first 30 feet on a fly line.

Attractor Fly

This fly is designed to attract fish as a result of colour pattern, rather than a fly that imitates a living insect or food form.

Backing line

It is wound onto the reel as a backing behind the fly line, filling the spool so that the wound-on fly line reaches the correct level in the spool. It can also acts as emergency line should you hook into a big fish that strips off your fly line.

Barbless Hook

A hook with the "barb" removed by means of forceps or pliers. Most "catch and release" fly fishers use this method.

Classical casting

A fly casting style originating in the Victorian times and severly limited by the then traditions embedded in its techniques. 

Dampening

The ability of your rod to dampen vibrations whilst casting.

Dead drifting

Dridting a fly at the same speed as the current so that the fly appears to be "dead in the water".

Dry fly

A fly that floats.

Emerger

The hatching insect in the act of leaving the nymphal suck at the surface, but not yet ready for flight.

Floatant

A chemical used to ensure flotation of the fly on the water surface, it can be purchased either as a spray or a solution into which the fly is dipped.

FRY

This refers to very small recently hatched fish.

Fly Fishing Glossary H-P