Fly Fishing Jargon

Fly fishing is one of those outdoor activities that has developed a language all of its own. If you are really going to get hooked, you are going to need some insight in to what people are talking about.

There is a great debate in the fishing world as to whether fly fishing enthusiasts and regular anglers should be grouped together and use the same terms. At first glance, it would seem so. In truth, people that gravitate to fly fishing tend to stick solely with it. This, of course, has resulted in the development of a language all their own. Often, the language actually contradicts some terms that have other meanings in the traditional fishing lexicon.

Action is a word generally understood to mean whether the fish are biting or not. If they are, the action is good. If they are not, well at least you are not at work. In fly fishing, however, “action” is usually used to refer to the pace a particular fly rod casts a line. Stiffer rods tend to cast lines faster and farther while rods that bend more tend to cast lines slower and shorter distances. If you tell a fly fisherman that the action was good at the river today, they will start looking at your rod instead of asking you about your tally.

Affluent is another term that has taken on a unique meaning in the area of fly fishing. No, it does not refer to someone being able to speak another language. It also does not refer to the size of their bank account. Instead, it refers to a particular type of stream – one that flows into a bigger body of water. Understanding this can help you avoid a lot of confusion when people start talking about an affluent.

Perhaps the most obvious area where language has run amuck is, well, the flies. If you hear an odd name that sounds like slang, it is most often referencing a particular type of fly. A fly, of course, is your “bait”. It is almost always a man made hook with all manner of things tied onto it. In general, one is trying to create something that looks tasty to fish that hunt flies and insects. Common, if odd, fly names include Wooly Bugger, anything with the name nymph following it and the famous Frankenfly. A Frankenfly is what you get the first time you try to make your own fly. It will be horrific, but you will love it since it is yours. You might even frame it.
Obviously, this is a relatively modest introduction to the language of the fly fishing enthusiasts. The best way to learn it is to take “action” to become “affluent”.

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of fly fishing gifts.
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