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Palmer
A method of dressing a fly with a hackle wound along the bodyfrom shoulder to tail. Such flies may be known as Palmers. It is the oldest style of hackling a fly.

Palming
The practice of using one's hand to apply pressure to the exposed ("palming") rim of a fly reel to increase drag

Parachute Fly
A fly with a hackle wound horizontally rather than vertically round the shank. Special parachute hooks are available with a vertical stem on the shank around which the hackle can be wound, but most tyers wrap the hackle around its own hackle stalk, which is tied to stick up vertically, or round the wing base.

Partridge
The brown back and grey breast feathers are used for hackling wet flies. The wing and tail feather are used for winging.

Pawl
A metal device inside a fly reel that serves to provide drag; normally associated with a "click & pawl" mechanism

Peacock
The eyed tail feather is used for quill and herl bodies. The bronze herl comes from the stem of the eye tail; the green herl comes from the sword feathers at the base of the tail. The blue neck feathers are occasionally used.

Perfection loop knot
Knot used when a loop is needed at the end of a line. Since most fly line are made with a loop at one end, tying a perfection loop into the butt section of a leader and then connecting the loops will join the two lines.

Pheasant
The centre tail feather herls of the cock bird are used for the bodies and tails of nymphs and dry flies; and the copper back feathers are occasionally used for hackles. The secondary wing feathers of the hen are used for winging. The centre tail feathers are similarly used.

Plymaster 6/0
Waxed flat nylon thread with a slight twist.

Pocket
Area of water found behind an obstruction in a stream. Food accumulates in a pocket for fish to eat.

Point fly
The front, or lead, fly in a two-fly rig.

Polarized lenses
Special lenses found in sunglasses that reduce the glare from the water’s surface. These are helpful for spotting fish beneath the water’s surface.

Polypropylene
A synthetic material, the fibres of which are suitable for dubbing and in yarn form for winging. It is excellent for floating flies.

Polyseal
Coarse two inch fiber sparkle dubbing. Excellent substitute for seal fur.

Pound test
Refers to the strength of a fly line. It signifies how much weight the fly line can support before it breaks.

Preparing the line
Extending the fly line, leader and fly out onto the water prior to making the cast.

Presentation
Placing the fly line, leader and fly onto the water with the fly rod. This is the final stage of the cast.