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Drifter Den Resource Center

For us, fly fishing is a passion. The Drifter Den is a community that shares that passion and a place to share it with others.
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  • Adipose Fin | Fly Casting Terminology

    Adipose Fin

    The adipose fin refers to a small, fleshy fin located on the back of certain species of fish, particularly salmonids. The adipose fin is found between the dorsal fin and the caudal (tail) fin, closer to the tail.

    The adipose fin is unique because…

    June 1, 2023

  • Anchor Box | Fly Casting Terminology

    Anchor Box The anchor box is used for spey casting and relates to the area off to your side where you are attempting to land your fly—usually a rod tips length away…

    June 1, 2023

  • D Loop | Fly Casting Terminology

    D Loop

    In spey casting, the “D loop” refers to a specific shape or formation that the fly line and leader create during the casting stroke. It is a crucial element of the spey casting technique, which is commonly used in situations where backcasting space is limited, such as when fishing in rivers with obstacles or dense vegetation.

    The D loop gets its name from…

    June 1, 2023

  • Hang Down | Fly Casting Terminology

    Hang Down

    In fly fishing, “hang down” refers to a specific stage where the rod and line are at the end of a cast and the fly line is fully extended in the water. The hang down occurs during the final moments of the drift, when the line and the fly are directly downstream of the angler.

    When the line is allowed to hang down, it means…

    June 1, 2023

  • Holding Water

    Holding water is a section of water where fish rest (or hold). This is often though of as deep and/or slow sections, but different species will hold in various structures.

    November 9, 2025

  • River Left | Fly Casting Terminology

    River Left While fishing or boating on rivers, you may need to refer to a specific river bank. This is done by facing downstream—the river bank to the left is considered “river…

    June 3, 2023

  • River Right | Fly Casting Terminology

    River Right While fishing or boating on rivers, you may need to refer to a specific river bank. This is done by facing downstream—the river bank to the right is considered “river…

    June 2, 2023

  • Sink Tip Ratings Explained

    The “T” Designation
    T-series sink tips (e.g., T-7, T-8, T-11, T-14, T-17, etc.) are tungsten-impregnated, level-density sinking lines used in fly fishing. The “T” stands for tungsten, and the number indicates the grains of weight per foot of line.

    Sink Rates
    Sink rate describes how fast the line sinks through the water column, usually measured in inches per second (ips).

    November 9, 2025