Reference Guide > Fly Fishing Glossary
Fly Reel - Holds the fly line and provides a smooth mechanical drag.
The fly reel holds the fly line and backing, and with bigger fish, provides a mechanical drag or braking system that helps slow down a running fish. Fly fishing reels are single-action, which means one revolution of the handle gives you a single revolution of the spool. Fly reels can be standard arbor, which are the smallest and lightest of reels, mid-arbor, where a wider-diameter spool gives you a slightly faster retrieve, or large arbor, which give the fastest fly line retrieve speed. The large- and mid-arbor reels are most useful with fast-running fish like saltwater species or large trout, where a fish can run toward you and you need to gather line quickly.
Basic Reel Types
Battenkill Bar Stock Standard Arbor
Battenkill Mid Arbor 
Battenkill Large Arbor
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Fly Rod- Casts the fly line.
A fly rod is a long, skinny rod that is made differently from casting and spinning rods. This is because a fly rod actually casts a weighted line rather than a weighted lure.
Braided leaders offer an extremely delicate fly casting presentation, and many anglers prefer them for smaller flies and spooky fish. They cast easily because the stiffness of a braided leader is similar to that of a fly line, so the nice loop formed on a good cast gets carried along better. Because they are so supple, braided leaders also help avoid drag in tricky currents, and they are also capable of turning over a very long tippet, even a tippet that is four or five feet long.
Braided Leader Detail
Zero Gravity Freshwater Fly Rod 
Zero Gravity Saltwater Fly Rod
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Grip - The part of the fly rod you hold.
The grip on a fly rod is the piece of cork that is used as the handle of the fly rod.
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Guide - Holds the fly line to the fly rod.
A guide is a piece of metal that holds the fly line to the rod, sometimes referred to as an “eye” The first guide or two closest to the fly reel is called a stripping guide, the guides along the rest of the fly rod are called snake guides, and the guide at the very top of the fly rod is called the tip top.
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Hip Boots - Hip-length waterproof pants.
Hip boots are either short waders or long boots, depending how you define them. They come up to your upper hip and attach with a strap to your belt. They can be stocking-foot models (where you need to purchase a separate wading shoe) or bootfoot, with a rubber foot already incorporated. They are best for small stream fishing, wading the edges of a pond, or fishing just the very edges of a river.
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Leader - The link between the line and fly.
Because fly lines are heavy and opaque, there must be a relatively invisible and flexible connection between the line and the fly. The leader serves this purpose. Like a fly line, a leader is tapered so that it presents the fly properly.
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Nylon leaders and tippet material - Most common and most economical leader material.
Nylon leaders are relatively inexpensive and are very strong. Our standard nylon leaders and tippet are made from Super Strong material. They tend to float and are not quite as abrasion-resistant as fluorocarbon leaders. Orvis Super Strong AR leaders and tippet are much more abrasion resistant than regular nylon leaders, are less expensive than PVDF leaders, but do not have the sinking qualities or the transparency of PVDF leaders.
For general stream trout fishing with floating lines, Super Strong nylon leaders are recognized as the best leaders in the world. Our special tapers and Super Strong material offer the best combination of easy turnover and strength to land big trout on a light tippet.
Examples of Nylon Leaders and Tippets
Super Strong Knotless Nylon Leaders
Super Strong Nylon Tippet Material
Nymphs - Specific imitations of aquatic invertebrates.
Nymphs are specific or general imitations of aquatic insects, crustaceans, or aquatic worms. They are more realistic than wet flies and most anglers feel they are more effective. Nymphs can be fished close to the surface during a hatch of insects, or along the steam bed at times when trout are not feeding on the surface. To get nymphs close to the bottom, they can be weighted with metal wire (added to the hook before the fly is tied), or they can be made with brass or tungsten beads attached. Tungsten beaded flies sink quicker and are used in deeper pools and runs. Weight can also be attached to the leader with sink putty or split shot to get the fly closer to the bottom. Less often, a sinking line can be used, but most anglers prefer to use a floating line and weighted flies or weight on the leader. Strike indicators, plastic, foam, or yarn placed on the leader; help follow the fly’s drift and aid in detecting unseen strikes.
Examples of Nymphs
The Fly Formerly Known As Prince 
Bead Head American Pheasant Tail 
Hare's Ear
Types of Sinking Aids
Tungsten Sink Putty 
Non-Toxic Oval Shot 
Toobies (non-toxic)
Types of Strike Indicators
Turn-On Strike Indicators 
High Floating Indicators 
Battenkill® Low Flow Yarn Indicator
Exerpts from www.orvis.com
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