C

Caddisfly
Type of fly that is great bait for trout and bass. Caddisflies are mothlike and found in streams or lakes.

Cape
The skin and feathers from the head and neck of poultry or some other birds of which the hackle feathers are used for hackling flies and also for some types of wings. See under Hackles and Wings.

Cartridge reel
Type of reel that uses interchangeable plastic spools enabling use of multiple lines with one reel

Cast reels
Reels that are manufactured by "casting" the parts from a mold & then connecting together to make the whole reel

Casting hand
The hand that holds the rod while casting. Usually, your casting hand is your dominant hand: e.g., your right if you are right-handed. The opposite hand is referred to as the line hand.

Casting loop
The loop that forms in the line during the wrist snap of the back cast. A tight loop should be formed when casting.

Casting stroke
The complete cycle of casting the fly line using the backcast and forward cast

Chenille
A fuzzy, fibrous material used in the making of bodies, particularly popular for lure bodies. It is available in a range of colours and fluorescent colours. There is also a thicker 'jumbo' chenille, a finer micro chenille, a 'sparkle' chenille with a core of silver tinsel, 'speckle' chenille which is banded with two colour, and 'suede' chenille. The introduction of micro chenille has enabled lures to be tied in very much smaller sizes.

Chest waders
One piece waders that come up to the chest and are held up by suspenders

Chironomid
Scientific name for the the members of the Diptera family of insects commonly known as Midges. In the pupae stage they typically appear to be small aquatic worms.

Click & pawl
Drag style of spool restraint that uses 1 or 2 spring-loaded "pawls" ratcheting against teeth on the spool

Click mechanism device
Used in click & pawl, as well as some disc drag systems, that results in an audible clicking sound as the spool rotates

Clinch knot
The primary knot used to tie the leader to the fly

Clippers
Device used to cut leaders, lines, etc.; usually attached to a retractable reel on a vest

Copper Head
A copper bead placed at the head of a subsurface fly. See Gold Head. Sometimes preferred to the flashier gold beads.

Creel
Large wicker basket anglers use to hold and carry caught fish. Most states set a creel limit for certain species of game fish.

Crossbar
The part of the fly reel frame that acts as support between the sides.

Crow
The wing feather is used mainly in the winging of wet flies.

Crystal Chenille
Short pearlescent-fibered plastic chenille used for nymph streamer and woolly bugger bodies.

Crystal Hair
A stiff synthetic brightly coloured and reflective winging or ribbing material.

Crystal Yarn
An Estaz substitute. See Estaz

Cul de Canard
Short whispy feathers taken from near the preen gland of a duck. Typically there are few of these feathers found per duck. These feathers add a significant amount of float to a fly due to the fact that they are soaked with natural preen oil. Use of floatant on these feathers will negate their floating qualities, actually causing the fly to lose flotation.