FFI casting definitions
The complete term list from the FFI Fly Casting Definitions (2025 Edition), one card per definition: loops and fly-leg shapes, the movements that make a cast, the pause, casting terms, casts and techniques, and the physics behind all of it.
Search a term, filter by the section of the document it comes from, or read straight through — cards are ordered the way the document orders them. Each card links to the terms beside it, and where the site has a practical card on the same subject, to that too.
Kept complete as a reference in its original form on the FFI Fly Casting Definitions page, with attribution to Fly Fishers International.
- Loop The shape a fly line assumes as it overtakes rod tip during a Fly Cast. Read the full answer
- Fly Leg The moving section of fly line in a Loop from fly to start of Loop Nose. Read the full answer
- Rod Leg The moving or stationary section of fly line in a Loop from rod tip to end of Loop Nose. Read the full answer
- Loop Nose The curved section of fly line at front of Loop which is transition between Fly Leg and Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- Straight Fly Leg A Fly Leg where fly line and leader are relatively free from curvature from Loop Nose to fly. Read the full answer
- Convex Fly Leg A Fly Leg with a dome shaped configuration curving away from Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- Concave Fly Leg A Fly Leg which is not Straight and dips toward Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- Trailing Loop A Loop which has a Fly Leg which is not Concave, and crosses Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- Tailing Loop A Loop with a Concave Fly Leg, which dips towards and crosses Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- Under-Running Loop A Loop whose Fly Leg unrolls below its Rod Leg. Read the full answer
- In-Plane Loop A Loop whose Fly Leg and Rod Leg are in same plane. Read the full answer
- Out-of-Plane Loop A Loop whose Fly Leg and Rod Leg are in different planes. Read the full answer
- Translation A linear change in position of rod butt. Read the full answer
- Rotation An angular change in position of rod butt. Read the full answer
- Casting Stroke Rotation and/or Translation of rod butt sufficient to cause Loop formation. Read the full answer
- Stroke Length The distance moved by rod butt during Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- Casting Arc The angle change of rod butt during Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- Stop Deceleration of rod resulting in Loop formation. Read the full answer
- Rod Plane The surface traced by rod during a Fly Cast. Read the full answer
- Rod Tip Path The straight or curved path travelled by rod tip during a Fly Cast. Read the full answer
- Tracking The lateral path of rod tip during Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- Trajectory The direction travelled by Loop relative to horizon. Read the full answer
- Lift Moving rod up to reposition fly line for next movement in a Fly Cast. Read the full answer
- Follow-Through Moving rod forward and down after Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- Timing The moments in time when each casting action transitions into next. Read the full answer
- Tempo The rates of movement within a cast. Read the full answer
- Pause The time period between Casting Strokes. Read the full answer
- 180 Degree Principle (Aerialized Casts) The intended Rod Tip Path and fly line are closely aligned both laterally and vertically with target at start of each Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- 180 Degree Principle (Anchored Casts) The Delivery Cast, D Loop, and Anchor are closely aligned laterally with target. Read the full answer
- Drift Moving rod tip in direction of current cast during Pause. Read the full answer
- Drag Moving rod tip in direction of next cast during Pause. Read the full answer
- Creep Drag which contributes to a casting fault. Read the full answer
- Up/Down Moving rod tip up or down during Pause. Read the full answer
- In/Out Moving rod tip in (closer to caster laterally) or out (further away) during Pause. Read the full answer
- Aerial/Overhead Cast After initial Lift, aerialized forward and back casts are made until Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- False Cast A forward cast followed by a back cast, both of which remain aerialized. Read the full answer
- Overhang The amount of running/shooting line outside rod tip during Casting Strokes. Read the full answer
- Point P The point where fly line suspended from rod tip first touches water. Read the full answer
- Anchor The fly and fly line/leader in contact with water at bottom of D Loop. Read the full answer
- Anchored Cast A cast whose back cast Loop passes underneath rod tip and forms an Anchor and a D Loop. Read the full answer
- Anchor Position The location and layout of Anchor relative to caster. Read the full answer
- Skipped Anchor A fault where an Anchor briefly forms and then prematurely leaves water while moving away from target before Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- Blown Anchor A fault where an Anchor prematurely releases from water during Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- Piled/Crashed Anchor A fault where an Anchor lands on water creating slack in fly line/leader. Read the full answer
- Bloody L Anchor A fault where an Anchor has some of fly line/leader positioned at approximately a right angle to remaining Anchor. Read the full answer
- Level Line Drop A fault in D Loop Sweep which causes fly line/leader to land flat on water. Read the full answer
- Trunking A fault where downward rod tip movement at end of D Loop Sweep results in an Anchor which is too long, with Point P behind caster. Read the full answer
- Hooking A fault where D Loop swings around and behind caster. Read the full answer
- Connection Point The fly line/leader or fly line/sink tip connection. Read the full answer
- D Loop A round shaped back cast Loop between rod tip and Anchor of an Anchored Cast. Read the full answer
- V Loop A pointed back cast Loop between rod tip and Anchor of an Anchored Cast. Read the full answer
- D Loop Sweep A Casting Stroke which initiates formation of back cast Loop of an Anchored Cast. Read the full answer
- Line Placement Move A movement of rod immediately after Lift which results in fly line being positioned appropriately on water for subsequent D Loop Sweep. Read the full answer
- Touch and Go Anchor Cast An Anchored Cast in which fly line/leader first re-contacts water after Lift and D Loop Sweep. Read the full answer
- Sustained Anchor Cast An Anchored Cast with a Line Placement Move before its D Loop Sweep. Read the full answer
- Downstream Anchor Cast An Anchored Cast which in moving water places Anchor and D Loop downstream of caster, or in still water leaves them on same side of caster as fly line before Lift. Read the full answer
- Upstream Anchor Cast An Anchored Cast which in moving water places Anchor and D Loop upstream of caster, or in still water places them on opposite side of caster from fly line before Lift. Read the full answer
- Circle Up A circular and upward movement connecting D Loop Sweep and Delivery Cast with which caster moves into Key Position. Read the full answer
- Key Position The hand and arm positions from which caster begins Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- River Left / Left Bank The left bank of river when facing downstream. Read the full answer
- River Right / Right Bank The right bank of river when facing downstream. Read the full answer
- Delivery Cast The final Casting Stroke of a Fly Cast, which presents fly. Read the full answer
- Mends Manipulating fly line layout by rod movement after Stop on a Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- Shooting line Increasing amount of fly line outside rod tip by releasing fly line after Stop. Read the full answer
- Slipping line Increasing amount of fly line outside rod tip by releasing fly line and moving rod either before or after a Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- Straight Line Presentations Casting Strokes and/or Mends which produce a straight fly line layout. Read the full answer
- Slack Line Presentations Casting Strokes and/or Mends which produce slack line layouts. Read the full answer
- Curved Presentations Casting Strokes and/or Mends which produce a curved line layout. Read the full answer
- Hauling Single Haul - Pulling fly line through rod guides during either forward or back Casting Stroke. Read the full answer
- Continuous Tension Cast A cast where continuous rod movement maintains tension in fly line. Read the full answer
- Oval / Belgiian / Elliptical Cast A Continuous Tension Cast formed by a relatively horizontal back cast Rod Plane which then transitions without stopping into a more vertical Rod Plane on forward cast. Read the full answer
- Roll Cast An Anchored Cast without a substantial change of direction consisting of a Lift, D Loop Sweep, Circle Up, and Delivery Cast in which fly does not leave water until after… Read the full answer
- Switch Cast A Touch and Go Anchor Cast without a substantial change of direction consisting of a Lift, D Loop Sweep, Circle Up, and Delivery Cast. Read the full answer
- Spey Cast An Anchored Cast with a change of direction. Read the full answer
- Single Spey An Upstream Touch and Go Anchor Cast with a change of direction, consisting of a Lift, a fly line repositioning movement, then a D Loop Sweep, Circle Up, and Delivery… Read the full answer
- Double Spey A Downstream Sustained Anchor Cast with a change of direction, consisting of a Lift and an Upstream Line Placement Move, followed by a downstream rod movement… Read the full answer
- Snap Cast An Upstream Sustained Anchor Cast with a change of direction, consisting of a Lift, a Line Placement Move in which rod moves upstream and reverses direction downstream… Read the full answer
- Snake Roll A Downstream Touch and Go Anchor Cast with a change of direction, consisting of a Lift with a circular movement towards target, transitioning into a D Loop Sweep, Circle… Read the full answer
- Perry Poke A rod movement which directs slack fly line on water in front of caster approximately in line with target direction, and is then followed by a D Loop Sweep, Circle Up… Read the full answer
- Speed How fast an object is moving. Read the full answer
- Velocity Speed in combination with direction of motion of an object. Read the full answer
- Acceleration The rate at which velocity changes over time. Read the full answer
- Positive Acceleration An increase in velocity of an object. Read the full answer
- Negative Acceleration / Deceleration A decrease in velocity of an object. Read the full answer
- Constant Acceleration Velocity that changes at same rate over time. Read the full answer
- Constant Velocity Acceleration is zero. Read the full answer
- Force A push or a pull on an object. Read the full answer
- Torque A force that can cause an object to change its rotation about an axis. Read the full answer
- Mass The amount of matter or substance that makes up an object. Read the full answer
- Weight The result of force of gravity acting on a mass. Read the full answer
- Work The energy transferred to or from an object, computed as force multiplied by distance over which it is applied. Read the full answer
- Energy The capacity of an object to do work. Read the full answer
- Momentum An object's momentum is its mass multiplied by its velocity. Read the full answer
- Impulse The momentum transferred to or from an object, computed as force multiplied by time over which it is applied. Read the full answer
- Power A measure of rate at which work is done, or at which energy is transferred, computed as work done per unit of time. Read the full answer
- Newton's Laws of Motion First Law of Motion: Inertia — An object will continue its current motion or lack thereof until some net force causes its speed or direction of movement to change. Read the full answer
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