False Cast
False casts are made to load the rod without releasing the line. Anglers make false casts by moving line forward and backward through the air until the rod is bent, or loaded, enough to shoot out a cast.
Haul
Fly casters speed up the line during a cast by hauling during a false cast to help load the rod. Hauls can be made on the forward cast, back cast or both. Made on both casts, it is known as a double-haul.
Roll Cast
When making a roll cast, anglers load the rod using the resistance of the line pulling from the water's surface. This cast is used when there is no room for a back cast.
Strips
After making a cast, the fly is retrieved by short pulls, or strips, on the line with the angler's free hand. Anglers use one or more fingers of their rod hand as a guide for the fly line to pass through as they strip line in.
Stripping Basket
Worn around the waist, a stripping basket is the repository for the fly line as it is stripped in. The stripping basket keeps line away from your feet, where it can become tangled while fishing.
Loop
While casting, a U forms in your line. One end of the U is from the end of your rod, the other end is your fly. The bend of the U leads the line and fly through the air. The tighter the U, the further your line will travel. The U is the loop.
Tailing Loop
A tailing loop is an indication something is wrong with the cast. The tailing loop forms behind the loop that your line should form as it travels through the air. Usually the result of a timing error or jerky casting motion, tailing loops often result in wind knots.
Wind Knot
Knots that form in the leader section of the line while casting. Resulting from a tailing loop, wind knots weaken your leader and are confirmation that you need casting practice.
