Glossary Of Fly Casting Terms

Ol Al · December 31, 2007

Glossary of Fly Casting Terms

Please Read this before using any of these term definitions

I again have to state this is just "my common" word usage of Terms. I know that none of these are set by the Board of Governors. Please do not think that this is any thing more that this Texan getting some common ground. I post it for the CCI and Masters to have as a way to keep our posting using some common terms. They will be changed I am

sure. I use this list for my CCI study group. It has helped in understanding the casting as we discuss it.

You'll know what I can do to the English language.

ol Al

CASTING ARC: Also called, "Casting angle". This is the angular change between the positions of the butt section of the rod from the beginning to that of the completion of the cast.

CASTING PLANE: Many use this term in preference to the way I have used," LINE PLANE."

LINE PLANE: Trajectory of the line. (For example — a high back cast followed by a low forward cast, maintaining 180 degrees between the two.)

ROD PLANE: The orientation of the rod from vertical to horizontal on either side of the caster.

TRACKING: Technically, the property of the rod tip following a straight line in all planes. In common use, however, it is considered the property of the moving rod tip to deviate or not from right to left. (Good tracking would be no deviation.)

CASTING STROKE: The linear path taken by the hand during the cast

CREEP: Minimally accelerated, slow (usually unintended) motion of the rod tip opposite that of an unrolling or newly unrolled loop.

DRIFT: Movement of the rod tip (usually intended) in the direction of an unrolling loop. This can, 1.) Increase the available stroke length for the next stroke, 2.) Allow for repositioning of the hand/arm for the following stroke, 3.) Provide the feeling of, "staying connected", 4.) Provide increased, "hang time" for the above.

FOLLOW-THROUGH: Same as drift, but used more often to describe the action immediately following the forward (presentation) stroke.

STROKE LENGTH: The linear distance in the direction of the cast traveled by the hand.

RSP: Rod Straight Position. (The point at which the fly line can overtake the rod tip allowing the loop to begin to form.)

SLP: Straight Line Path of the rod tip. (Realizing that a perfect one would result in the line colliding with the rod tip......and the fact that the best, "elite" casters have a very slightly convex path of the rod tip).

LEGS OF THE LOOP: The legs of a fly line loop are commonly described as 1.) the FLY LEG and; 2.) the ROD LEG. I prefer those terms instead of "top leg" and, "bottom leg" respectively, because it assumes a vertical rod plane. Where, for example, is the "top" leg when casting with the rod parallel to the ground?

Note that a few mechanical engineers use the terms, "traveling leg" and, "stationary leg". These definitions suffer in the case of shooting line in which instance the term, "stationary" becomes a misnomer.

Mac Brown (CASTING ANGLES, P. 88) refers to the legs of a loop as the, "end line" and "main line". I preferred not to use "main" since at the start of the cast that limb of the loop is much smaller than the other (fly leg).......one interpretation of the word, "main" being, "greatest".

TAILING LOOP: A loop characterized by the fly (upper) leg crossing over the rod (lower) leg. Most often resulting from a concave rod tip path during or between strokes.

OPEN LOOP: A Loop characterized by the large loop or lack of a the fly leg traveling

in a flat plane. Caused by the convexed path of the rod tip.

COUNTERFLEX: The flexion motion of the rod tip immediately after RSP.

REBOUND: The reverse motion of the rod tip immediately after Counterflex.

ROD HARMONICS: The first and second nodal vibration characteristics of a fly rod.

TIP TRAVEL: Total linear distance the rod tip moves in the direction of the cast. (This can be the product of; 1.) Stroke length, 2.) Casting arc, 3.) Body motion in the direction of the cast & a step by the caster in the direction of the cast.) *

KICK: One use is the sudden bucking of a level line at the conclusion of a cast. (Another use would be the description of rapid turnover of a fly leader beneath overlying brush.)

MEND: In- the- air or on- the- water repositioning of the line after the cast.

LAYOUT: The position of the fly line and leader upon landing on the water or the ground.

OVERHANG: Two uses. One is the fallen brush or bushes, mangroves, etc. which protrude from the bank. OVERHANG as the length of running line between the rear end of the head taper and the rod tip.

DOUBLE AND SINGLE HAULS: Most writers and instructors define a single haul as a pull with the line hand on either the back cast or the forward cast, and a double haul as a pull on each. You should be aware that Joan Wulff and her "disciples" teach it differently. She looks at the single haul as a pull without giving back line, and a double haul as a pull followed by giving back of line on a single stroke, forward or back.

HIDDEN DRAG: Drag of a dry fly so slight as to escape the notice of the angler ... (But not the fish!)

SPEY CAST: (My definition, after much deliberation and discussion with expert Spey folks.) An aerosolized, live line, change of direction roll type cast.

Ol Al · March 6, 2008

This is an up date to the Terms of the Fly Caster from Gordon Hill CBOG

ol Al

Changes in Red

We are still working on the final wordings. Let me give you my present opinion, (which will probably be close to the final exact wordings ). Our Glossary Committee has had a well deserved rest for a period of time, but we'll start working again, soon.

These two terms are important since so many other definitions will depend upon them.

THESE ARE NOT YET OFFICIAL !!!

Gordy

CASTING ARC: Also called, "Casting angle". This is the angular change between the positions of the butt section of the rod from the beginning to that of the completion of the cast.

CASTING ARC: Angular change in the position of the rod butt from the start of significant acceleration to loop formation.

CASTING PLANE: Many use this term in preference to the way I have used," LINE PLANE."

LINE PLANE: Trajectory of the line. (For example — a high back cast followed by a low forward cast, maintaining 180 degrees between the two.)

ROD PLANE: The orientation of the rod from vertical to horizontal on either side of the caster.

TRACKING: Technically, the property of the rod tip following a straight line in all planes. In common use, however, it is considered the property of the moving rod tip to deviate or not from right to left. (Good tracking would be no deviation.)

CASTING STROKE: The linear path taken by the hand during the cast

CASTING STROKE: Movement of the rod butt from the start of significant acceleration to loop formation.

This would seem to be the same as the wording for casting arc...... but it includes the mixture of translation and rotatory movements. Important when we consider distance casts where the caster uses translation as, "drag" and delays rotation to help yield a tight loop.

Technically, "drag" (translation alone) with absolutely no rotation won't yield any significant acceleration, because the rod tip can move only as fast as the hand..... ie. about 2 to 3 meters a second. Not much acceleration there.

CREEP: Minimally accelerated, slow (usually unintended) motion of the rod tip opposite that of an unrolling or newly unrolled loop.

DRIFT: Movement of the rod tip (usually intended) in the direction of an unrolling loop. This can, 1.) Increase the available stroke length for the next stroke, 2.) Allow for repositioning of the hand/arm for the following stroke, 3.) Provide the feeling of, "staying connected", 4.) Provide increased, "hang time" for the above.

FOLLOW-THROUGH: Same as drift, but used more often to describe the action immediately following the forward (presentation) stroke.

STROKE LENGTH: The linear distance in the direction of the cast traveled by the hand.

STROKE : Same as casting stroke.