Fly Fishing Glossary M's

Fly-Fishing can often be confusing to beginners to the sport because fly-fishermen talk and write in a strange language using words not always in standard use. To help take some of the confusion out of the terms bandied about by fly fishermen we have compiled this glossary.

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Marabou Fluffy and soft down or underfeathers from most birds, but particularly for fly tying, Marabou comes from chickens, turkeys or other domestic fowl.

Matching the hatch: An attempt by a fly angler to select an artificial fly that imitates the color, size, shape and behavior of natural insects that fish are feeding on at a particular time. Often when a hatch is happening, fish become very selective and refuse insects that are not the most abundant.

Mayfly: An aquatic insect found throughout the world, in both still water and rivers. It is most easily identified by its sail-like upright wings and long graceful tails. Many classic trout flies imitate mayflies. Mayflies vary in size from the 3 mm tricos to the 30 mm hexagenia.

Mend or Mending the Line: Throwing an upstream curve into your fly line as it floats down the stream to avoid having water currents pull on it and cause unnatural movement of your fly (unnatural drift or line drag). Fish and especially trout are exquisitely sensitive to (and turned off by) movement of a insect that moves at a different rate or in a different direction than the current.

Midge: a term properly applied to the small Dipterans that trout feed on. Many people call Midges gnats imitated by a variety of flies including Knotted Midge and F Fly Dark Olive. Adult's appearance is similar to mosquitoes. Midges have two wings that lie in a flat "V" shape over the back when at rest. They are also known as "the fly fisher's curse" because of their small size and trout's affinity to feeding upon them. Use micro dry flies to imitates these

Midge Tip: A fly line with a sinking head that ensures the fly leader is in or below the surface film. Works especially well with buzzer fly fishing.

Monofilament: a clear, supple nylon filament used in all types of fishing that is available in many breaking strengths (see breaking strength) and diameters. Monofilament is a standard and the cheapest of tippet materials.
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