S

SLP
Synthetic living fiber with sparkle - an excellent synthetic dubbing replacement for seals' fur.

Screw-locking reel seat
A reel seat with a fixed metal hood at the top and a metal hood at the bottom of the reel seat. It can be screwed down over the reel seat foot. This is the most popular type of reel seat. Also called a downlocking reel seat.

Secure
To fasten with thread or cement.

Segment
A strip of feather, division of body, or any one part of a material or section consisting of more than one.

Sharpener
Used to sharpen hooks; also known as "hook hone"

Shock tippet
A short piece of heavy monofilament line or wire tied to the tippet. It prevents a sharp-tooth fish from biting through the existing tippet and stealing the fly.

Shooting head
A separate segment of fly line, usually about 30' in length, that is attached to the running line

Shooting taper fly line
Great for extra-long casts and strong winds, this thinner line can tangle easily. Abbreviated (ST). More advanced casters usually use an (ST) fly line.

Shooting line
A variation of the basic pick up lay down cast. This cast begins with the angler holding line, but instead of holding the line throughout, he or she releases the line from the line hand at the end of the forward cast. This adds even more speed and distance to the cast.

Single click
Reel that has one pawl

Single haul
A casting motion that generates line speed and distance in the pick up lay down cast. A haul is timed with either the back cast wrist snap or forward cast wrist snap. The quick pull on the fly line creates tension in the fly line.

Sinkant
Liquid applied to a fly line or fly that makes it sink, rather than float.

Sinking fly
A type of artificial fly designed to sink in the water. Sinking flies imitate underwater forms of terrestrials or aquatic insects. These types of flies are sometimes considered more effective than dry flies because most fish tend to feed underwater.

Sinking fly line
A fly line that sinks after it hits the water. Abbreviated (S). This type of fly line has greater density and less air resistance than a floating line. Less air resistance makes it harder to keep the fly line in the air during the back cast, so newcomers should stay away from sinking fly lines. Floating flies cannot be used with sinking fly lines.

Sinking tip fly line
This fly line combines the performance of a sinking line and a floating line. Abbreviated (F/S). The sinking tip is usually 10 to 20 feet long; the remainder of the line is a standard floating line.

Skamania
A fish of mixed breeds.

Slack line
Refers to a line that is not perfectly straight, that has some "slack" in it; in a designed cast, leaves "S" curves in the fly line on the water to provide protection against drag

Slip-on leader butt
A manufactured accessory, usually of braided material, that slips over the tip of the fly line to provide a knotless connection to a leader butt section to which leaders may be attached by knots or interlocking

Snake guide(s)
Spiral-shaped metal guides; predominant one used on fly rods

Sparkle Yarn
Also known as Antron. It is a synthetic translucent yarn to which air bubbles cling when it is wet. It is an excellent body material for imitations of those insects that carry air bubbles. It is suitable for hatching nymph or pupa patterns.

Spinner
The adult stage (imago) of the Ephemeropterans.

Spool capacity
The amount of line (fly line & backing) a reel's spool may contain; usually gauged by using a weight forward line & 20# backing

Spool diameter
The diameter of the reel spool

Spool release
Lever or button activated to disengage the reel spool so that it may be removed

Spool
Width the diameter of the opening between the two sides of a spool

Still water
Slang for lakes or ponds, etc.; as opposed to "running water" of streams or rivers

Stocking
Foot waders that style of waders that has no "boot" as part of the wader, requiring a separate pair of boots to go over the foot portion of the wader

Straling
The wing quills are used for winging. The back and breast feathers are used for hackling.

Stack
To superimpose one material on top of another.

Stonefly
Family of aquatic insects commonly imitated in flyfishing. Many species are found in western streams.

Stripping guide
The guide closest to the fly rod handle. Stripping guides are usually made of materials that are abrasion-resistant, such as hard chrome and ceramic. This helps protect a fly line from tearing or scuffing.

Sunscreen
Lotion or creme used by fly fishermen to protect skin against harmful effects of sun's rays

Super Micro Chenille
Extremely fine, super strong chenille that can be used on small flies. Good for San Juan worms.

Surgeon knot
Knot used to attach tippet or leader material to a knotted leader. Anglers also use this knot to add tippet material as the existing tippet wears down. The knot is formed by overlapping two lines side by side, making a loop and passing the long end of one knot and the shorter end of the other knot through the loop twice. Tighten the knot by pulling the long ends of each line, then the shorter ends, until it is tight.

Suspenders
Elasticized, adjustable, harness-like device worn over the shoulders to keep chest waders up