In the world of fly fishing there are many words that are important to know. Many of these words are unusual or have a different meaning when used in reference to fly fishing. The following list includes some of the more unusual and double meaning words used by fly fishermen.
Action: a general term often used to try to describe the feel of the rod – such as sft, hard, slow, or fast
Attractor: usually a bright colored fly that is not usually tied so that it imitates a particular type of food
Belly: the sagging portion of a fly fishing line
Blank: a rod without a handle, reel seat, or guides
Blood Knot: the common name for a barrel knot
Chalk Stream: a stream, usually found in valleys, that is spring fed and slow moving with a lot of vegetation
Complex Hatch: the simultaneous hatching of several types of species of insects
Compound Hatch: the masking, or hiding, of a hatch of smaller insects by a hatch of larger insects that occurs on the same day
Cutthroat Trout: a true trout that is found mostly in the western part of the United States
Dapping: a fly fishing technique in which the fly is repeatedly bounced on and off of the surface of the water
Down Eye Hook: a hook that has the eye bent below the shaft
Dropper: the secondary fly that is attached to the leader in a cast of flies
Emerger: a term that is used to describe any insect that moves up towards the water’s surface preparing to hatch into the adult stage
Feeding Lie: where a trout goes in order to actively feed
Flat-butt Leader: a fly used in fly fishing where the butt section is formed into a ribbon shape
Freestone Streams: fast moving, tumbling streams with rock covered bottoms
French Snap: a small clamp, often used by a fly fisherman to attach his net to his vest
Holding Lie: where a trout generally remains when not actively feeding
Leisenring Lift: a technique used in nymph fly fishing where the line is lifted, causing the imitation fly to move upwards, right in front of the trout’s suspected lie
Midge Rod: a short, light weight rod
Natural – a living insect, as opposed to an artificial, or man-made, insect or fly
Nymphing: any oaf the various fishing techniques in which the fly fisherman presents an imitation of the underwater stage of an insect
Presentation: the method of placing a fly where the fish is most likely to see it; includes the manner in which the cast in completed and the method in which the fly is fished
Rise: the act of the fish taking an insect from the water’s surface
Run: a term used to describe a particular stretch of moving water
Shooting: a casting technique
Spate: high water
Stripping: quickly retrieving line or pulling line from the reel
Terrestrial: of or relating to an insect whose life cycle is completely spent on land or in plants
Waders staff: a sturdy rod about as high as the armpit of the person fly fishing used for support in heavy water
There are many words and terms that are unfamiliar to most people but not to those who enjoy fly fishing.
By: Greg F Williams
Posts Tagged ‘Nymph Fishing’
Fly Fishing – Nymphing
November 16th, 2009
This is also said to be quite a challenging proposition due to the fact that nymphs are very small underwater media to angle trout and other fish. Therefore one needs to perfect the fly fishing routine lest they will loose out on a good catch as trout live on a diet of nymphs in the sub surface section of the water.
Though there is a lot of information available in the form of literature, catalogs, and Internet medium it is without doubt that personal experience and on hand knowledge has no substitute! Some tips given herein will surely help the angler to gain adequate expertise in “Nymphing” and fly fishing but giving it a try is the best method of becoming an accomplished sportsperson.
The Salient Features of Nymph Fly Fishing
A fairly concise description is attempted of the entire fly fishing or “nymphing” process for the angler to understand the intricacy of the subject. By no means is this a treatise on the topic!
As the name implies nymphs is the young version of fully grown water insects used in the fly fishing sport – real or imitation to catch the fish. Trout and other fish probably prefer these under developed nymphs thereby getting attracted in large numbers.
The Sport of Fly Fishing
It is very interesting to learn about the sport by analyzing the philosophy and thereby the technique adapted for a successful sporting activity. Because of using nymphs the method of fishing is under the surface of the water. It becomes therefore more difficult to spot the fish getting baited. Obviously the bait is not visible either thereby making the entire process a bit more tricky. It is the sense of touch or feel by which the angler detects a “hit” and this can be sometimes dubious due to obstructions in the water.
In view of the above fact it is necessary to purchase the most relevant equipment and gear for nymph fly fishing. Since detection is difficult as to when the fish is baited it becomes essential to use equipment or instruments that aid in detecting the presence of a fish that has taken the bait! The instruments are called strike indicators to make the catch effective. The orange colored contraptions help in identifying movements and abnormal tremors when a fish bites. Along with some weights and other equipments one can easily get into the habit of nymphing or nymph fly fishing.
Methods of Nymph Fly Fishing
There are several practices for fly fishing using nymphs and it all depends on the skill acquired by different people as well as the location of fishing. The very basic one is known as the “Beginner’s method” whilst the more advanced one is called “Dead Drift” method. The beginner’s nymphing procedure can be easily understood as it is quite simple and one only has to cast the rod and allow the nymphs to float downstream for the catch.
The second advanced method of Dead Drift is the most useful and effective way of catching fish using the nymphing technique. This has generally three variations meant for either wade anglers or boat anglers. Enough literature and information is available on Internet and offline to learn these three variations and one can quite simply understand the tricks of the Dead Drift trade!
Angle by using the fly fishing nymphs and you will take a “stout” trout catch!
By: Tony David Smith
