A Beginner-Friendly Glossary from RSO Outfitters
If you’re new to fly fishing, it can feel like you’ve stumbled into a whole new language—nymphs, tippets, mending, hatch, backing… What does it all mean? Whether you’re gearing up for your first guided fly fishing trip or just trying to follow the conversation at your local fly shop, understanding the basics will help you feel more confident and connected on the water.
At RSO, we believe a big part of a great experience—especially when fishing rivers like the Bighorn River—comes from knowing the tools and techniques. This article breaks down some of the most commonly used fly fishing terms so you’re ready to cast like a pro (or at least talk like one) before your next trip.
Basic Gear Terms
Fly Rod
This is your main casting tool. Fly rods come in different lengths and weights, each suited to different types of fish and water. For Bighorn River fly fishing, a 5- or 6-weight rod is ideal for targeting trout in moving water.
Fly Reel
Attached to the rod, the reel holds your fly line and backing. A good fly reel also helps you fight fish, especially when you’re dealing with bigger trout or river current.
Fly Line
This is the weighted line used to cast the nearly weightless fly. It’s usually brightly colored and matched to the rod weight.
Backing
A thin, strong line attached behind your fly line on the reel. It provides extra length for when a fish makes a long run.
Leader
A clear, tapered line that connects your fly line to your fly. It helps present the fly naturally and keeps fish from seeing your main line.
Tippet
The final section of the leader—the thin line that your fly is actually tied to. It’s invisible in the water and usually made of fluorocarbon or monofilament.
Fly Types & Terminology
Dry Fly
A fly that floats on the surface and imitates insects like mayflies or caddisflies. Watching a trout rise and sip a dry fly is one of the most rewarding moments in fly fishing.
Nymph
A subsurface fly that mimics aquatic insects in their immature stages. Nymphs are incredibly effective, especially on the Bighorn River, where trout feed below the surface much of the time.
Streamer
A larger fly designed to imitate baitfish or leeches. Streamers are retrieved with action and used to trigger aggressive strikes from predatory fish.
Emerger
A fly that represents an insect transitioning from nymph to adult—often just under or on the surface. Emergers are crucial during hatches.
On-the-Water Techniques
Casting
The method used to deliver your fly onto the water. There are several casting techniques—overhead, roll cast, sidearm—but your guided fly fishing trip with RSO will help you learn the best cast for the water and conditions.
Mending
Moving the line upstream or downstream after the cast to reduce drag and improve the drift. Proper mending is key to achieving a natural presentation, especially on current-rich rivers like the Bighorn.
Drift
The way your fly moves through the water. A “dead drift” means the fly is moving naturally with the current—essential for fooling trout into biting.
Setting the Hook
Once a fish takes the fly, setting the hook involves a quick lift of the rod tip to embed the fly in the fish’s mouth. Too slow and the fish spits it. Too fast and you might break the tippet.
Playing the Fish
This is the part where you fight the fish and bring it to hand. Let the fish run, keep tension on the line, and use the rod and reel to tire it out.
River-Specific Fly Fishing Lingo
Hatch
A period when insects emerge from the water to become airborne adults. Matching your fly to the insects hatching on the river is crucial to success. The Bighorn River is famous for its prolific hatches of midges, baetis, and tricos.
Matching the Hatch
Choosing a fly that mimics the size, shape, and color of the insects currently emerging. It’s a foundational strategy in fly fishing and especially important on selective rivers like the Bighorn.
Run
A smooth section of river where current flows evenly. Runs are great places to target feeding trout with nymphs or streamers.
Riffle
A shallow, fast-moving section of water with surface disturbance. Riffles are often oxygen-rich and hold a lot of feeding fish.
Tailout
The lower end of a pool or run, just before the water drops into the next riffle. Trout often hold in tailouts to catch food drifting downstream.
Trip & Guide-Related Terms
Guided Fly Fishing Trip
A professional fly fishing experience where an expert guide (like those at RSO) takes you to prime water, provides instruction, gear, and local insight. Our guided fly fishing trips are fully customized for your skill level and goals—especially on technical rivers like the Bighorn.
Drift Boat
A boat designed specifically for rivers, allowing guides to float you down long sections of water while positioning for great casts. Most of our trips on the Bighorn River are done by drift boat.
Wade Fishing
Fishing on foot in the river. Many areas of the Bighorn and its tributaries are great for wading, especially when you want to target specific runs or riffles.
Catch & Release
Releasing the fish back into the water after landing it. Practiced widely on the Bighorn, this helps preserve healthy populations of wild trout.
Bonus Terms to Know
Barbless Hook
A hook with the barb pinched down to make releasing fish easier and safer. Most guides prefer barbless hooks for conservation and practicality.
Strike Indicator
A small float (like a bobber, but fly anglers don’t like calling it that) used in nymphing to detect strikes. It lets you know when a fish has taken your fly.
Double Rig
Using two flies at once—often a dry fly with a nymph dropper, or two nymphs. Effective when fish are keying on multiple food sources.
High-Sticking
Holding your rod high to keep as much line off the water as possible, improving your drift and strike detection—especially helpful in faster water.
Ready to Talk Like a Fly Fisher?
Learning the lingo is just one part of becoming a confident angler. At RSO Outfitters, we take pride in creating a welcoming, educational, and exciting experience for anglers of all backgrounds. Whether you’re planning your first guided fly fishing trip or looking to sharpen your skills, our guides will walk you through the gear, the river, and the moment a fish eats your fly.
Want to put these terms into action? There’s no better classroom than the water—especially the Bighorn River, one of the top trout fisheries in the country.
Plan Your Bighorn River Fly Fishing Adventure
If you’re ready to learn more, explore new water, and become part of a legacy of passionate anglers, we’d love to help you get started.
Contact us today to book your next guided fly fishing trip on the Bighorn River or beyond. Come learn the language of the river—with RSO by your side.
