Home > The Fly Society > Angler's Glossary

Fly talk confuses and intimidates most rookies (and a lot of non-rookies too). To remove some of the mystery and provide some translation, we've created an angler's glossary. At the very least, it can help you avoid feeling like an ass at your local fly shop.

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R

Reel Pure: A revolutionary brand that represents passion, respect, and pride for fly fishing: "Reel Pure makes serious stuff, without the serious attitude."

Reel Spool: The section of the reel that the line is wound. The term "I got spooled" refers to when a fish rips all of the line off the spool. It's synonymous with "I just got my ass handed to me."

Reel Seat: Device that holds the reel to the rod, usually using locking metal rings or sliding bands. Do yourself a favor…try to keep sand away from this. Nothing good comes from it.

Retrieve: Bringing the fly back after the cast (while keeping the rod tip low and pointed towards the line.) There are many different types of retrieves. Use the one the best imitates the bug you are throwing.

Rising Fish: Refers to fish feeding on the waters surface (taking bugs on the waters surface)

Rod Flex: The way the rod bends during the cast. Some rods flex more than others. See your local Reel Pure dealer to better understand what type of rod flex would be best for you.

Rod Guides: The closed wire loops attached to the rod by wrappings that hold the fly line in proximity to the rod along its length.

Rod Hand: The hand that holds the rod. Some anglers will switch hands when reeling and fighting the fish. The preferred method is to use your line hand to do the reeling, and your rod hand to do the casting.

Roll Cast: One of the three most basic fly casts; allows a cast to be made without a back cast. Good to use when thick bush is behind you.

S

"S" Cast: Cast used to put a mend in the line before it hits the water (see drag, dead drift, and mending line). Come to the point where you're mastering the "S" cast, and you're probably catching more fish than your friends. It's a good place to be!

Saltwater Taper: A weight forward fly line that is similar to a bass bug taper (see Weight Forward and Bass Bug Taper).

Setting the Hook: Driving or pulling the hook into the fish's mouth.

Shooting Taper (ST) or Shooting Head: A single tapered fly line designed for long casts with minimum effort (attaches to the tip of the main fly line.) They also enable you to change line types quickly with interchanging head sections.

Sink Rate: The speed at which a sinking fly line sinks; there are at least 6 different sink rates for fly lines, from very slow to extremely fast. Type 3 being slow (3 inches per second) and type 9 being fast (9 inches per second).

Sink-Tip Fly Line (F/S): A floating fly line where the tip portion sinks; available in 4 foot, 10 foot, 12 foot, 15 foot, 20 foot, 24 foot, and 30 foot sinking tips. Deadly system for steelhead and salmon when river conditions vary and different depth are needed.

Sinking Fly Line (S): A fly line that sinks the entire length of the line. Good for deeper water fly fishing.
Spinner: The egg laying stage of the mayfly.

Spool: The part of the fly reel that holds the backing and the fly line. These can be purchased separately and allow the angler to interchange different line types. With the advent of multi tip fly line systems, however, the need for multiple spools decreases. Research both before deciding to buy extra spools.

Stonefly: Very important bug to anglers. Most stoneflies hatch out by crawling to the shoreline and emerging from above the surface. So fish the shorelines with these guys, and enjoy!

Streamer: Fly that imitates baitfish. Streamers generally catch bigger fish. Fish typically assault this type of fly.

Stripping line: Type of line retrieval done by pulling it through your fingers. Can be done in any combination of fast short strips or long slow strips. Vary the strip to find what works best.

Surgeon's Knot: Excellent knot used to tie two lengths of monofilament together.