| When it comes to fly fishing, the jargon can get a bit | | | | a deeper pool of water. Often found just after |
| overwhelming if you let it. Here's the plain English | | | | riffles, a pool offers little in the way of prospecting in |
| scoop on some common terms used. | | | | the interior. It does, however, offer excellent |
| Fly fishing is many things to many people. For some, | | | | prospects in the areas where water flows in. More |
| it is a zen like way to interact with nature. For | | | | than a few species of fish feed at such locations as |
| others, it is test of skill in the act of competing with | | | | the water flowing into the pool brings food and |
| tricky little fish. For yet others, it is a ballet of artistic | | | | nutrients with it. |
| movements and techniques to obtain the perfect | | | | "Dead water" refers to an area where there is little |
| cast for the perfect fly placement that produces the | | | | or no current. This tends to occur in odd geographic |
| perfect catch. For most, it is just good, clean fun. | | | | areas, large rivers or areas with flow problems. Dead |
| Whatever your preference, fly fishing has a definite | | | | water is rarely a good place to fish, so avoid it like |
| language you will need to learn. | | | | the plague. |
| Traditionally, fly fishing takes place on flowing water | | | | Although not a term per se, vegetation that grows |
| such as a river or stream. There are variations for | | | | out into the water and shady shoreline locations are |
| lake or ocean destinations, but they represent a | | | | often excellent places to fish. These locations offer |
| minority. Given this fact, following is an explanation of | | | | the combination of shade and nutrients, which are |
| some of the terms associated with traditional fly | | | | popular with fish. When referring to shade, it is |
| fishing. | | | | important to understand that fish are not generally |
| A "riffle" is an area with fast moving water broken | | | | worried about sunburns. Instead, they are worried |
| up over some solid structure, most often rocks. A | | | | about dive bombing birds such as Osprey. A fish that |
| rifle can be an excellent location to cast for a number | | | | cruises along the top of a pool of water in direct |
| of reasons. The riffle tends to be an area where | | | | sunlight tends to have a very short life span. |
| insects congregate. Where there are insects, there | | | | Obviously, the above represents a small sampling of |
| are fish. In particular, try to cast to areas just | | | | terminology related to rivers and moving areas. |
| downstream of blockages as your catch should be | | | | Nonetheless, you will at least know why so many |
| residing in such locations. | | | | anglers talk about riffles. |
| A "pool" is an area where fast flowing water enters | | | | |