School of FlyFishing
Indoor Course: "Fly Rods"
Glossary of Terms
This glossary is a compilation of terms used in the Fly Rods School of FlyFishing Indoor Course. To review a more comprehensive glossary of many of the terms used throughout all 10 Indoor Courses, go to our School Library; it contains the glossary, a section on recommended books on fly fishing, and some search components.
Term |
Definition |
Location |
| action | term describing the flexing characteristics of a fly rod | |
| back cast | that stage of a flycasting stroke that is on a backward plane to the rear of the caster | |
| blank | name given to fishing rods without any components affixed; a "naked' ("blank") rod | |
| butt cap | the piece fitting over the end of the reel seat | |
| butt section | the section of a rod that holds the reel & is held in the casting hand | |
| damping coefficient | term to describe the ability of a rod material to stop vibrating by absorbing the energy generated by a cast | |
| drag | the undesirable effect of water current pulling on the fly line that results in the fly "dragging" behind | |
| false cast | name for a completed casting stroke that does not result in the fly line being released by the caster; an "interim" casting cycle that takes place only in the air | rod selection |
| ferrule | the rigid connector point where rod pieces are joined together | |
| flex | used to describe rod action | |
| grip | the component that serves as the handle of the rod | |
| guide(s) | metal circular devices affixed to rods through which line moves in a straight line | |
| hookkeeper | device on fly rods to secure a fly when attached to a leader | |
| line taper | fly line design feature that changes the diameter at various points along the line as a means to effect casting characteristics | |
| line weight | term to classify fly lines by the weight of the first 30 feet | |
| mend | the practice of changing the position of the fly line on the water to minimize the effects of drag | |
| modulus | measure of rod strength & stiffness | |
| reel seat | part of the fly rod that holds ("seats") the fly reel to the rod | |
| rod blank | see blank | |
| snake guide(s) | spiral-shaped metal guides; predominant style used on fly rods | |
| spey rod | a full flexing rod designed to be used in a casting technique common in Europe referred to a "spey" casting | |
| still water | slang for lakes or ponds, etc.; as opposed to "running water" of streams or rivers | |
| stripping guide | round, circular metal guide; the first up from the grip on fly rod butt section; also called "ring guide" | |
| tip guide | closed round or pear-shaped metal guide on the tip of rods | |
| tip section | the uppermost/top section of a rod. (as opposed to the "butt section") | |
| weight | term used to refer to classification of both fly rods & fly lines |