Since you can use a single-hand rod to make spey-type casts and a two-hand rod to make over-head casts many of these terms can and will be used to explain both. This list is generally accepted by the many instructors I have worked with.

Left Bank, Right Bank: Reference to which bank your casting from looking downstream.

Grip: The hand position on the rod.

Note: There are a number of ways to hold the upper cork/fore grip of the rod; namely, index finger on top, thumb on top and the key or V grip (thumb and index finger opposite each other and to the side of the grip, you'll notice a V formed by the thumb and index finger). The lower cork/butt is usually held in either of two manners, thumb on top, or the ring grip (thumb and index finger form a ring around the butt cork, leaving the three lower fingers available to store line for shooting).

Stance: Refers to a safe and comfortable foot position. There are generally two stances used when practicing casting:

1. Open Stance: Right hand upper most on the rod (vice versa for left hand uppermost) right foot back, left foot forward, Note: this is the best stance to see your roll/spey movements, and your back loops in over-head casting.

2. Closed Stance: Right hand upper most on the rod, right foot forward, left foot back (vice versa for left hand upper most)

Timing: The ability to see each casting/spey movement, and an understanding of when to make the next movement, i.e. casting stroke from front to back.

Slack Line: Unintended loose line under no tension between the rod tip and fly, or between the line hand and the rod guides. This should be kept to a minimum.

Dangle: Fly, leader and fly-line straight downstream with slack removed.

Lift: The first movement in a roll/spey or overhead cast. The lifting of the rod clears some of the line from the water and adds tension to the system.

Shot Gun Lift: A term used in spey casting. Lift the rod as you would a shot-gun (i.e. a horizontal lift).

Hinging Lift: Sometimes called trunk, a roll/spey term in which the lower hand moves away from the body causing the rod tip to go downwards.This can result in excessive line stick.

Back Cast: The rearwards movement of the rod and line, also called the Sweep (roll/spey terms). The rod tip should travel in as straight a line (horizontal) as possible in its rearward movements.

Rise: In a roll/spey cast at the end of the sweep/back cast the rod tip should rise up to the 1 o'clock position. In an over-head cast the rod should come to a complete stop to allow the formation of the loop.

Firing Position: A roll/spey term, after the rod has been moved into the rise/firing position, it is now ready for the forward cast.

Loading the Rod: Is bending the rod.

Creep: Slow movement of the rod tip opposite that of a still unrolling loop which shortens the available stroke length. This often results in a tailing loop.

Drift: When the rod tip drifts backwards after the rod stop position.

D-Loop: A loop or belly of line formed under and behind the rod tip, this loop or belly of line assist in loading the rod.

V-Loop: Same as the D-Loop with a more dynamic pointed or wedge shaped belly or loop.

Loop: This is the shape the fly line takes after the rod is stopped and momentarily paused. In over-head casting you will have two loops formed over the rod tip (front loop, rear loop) in a roll/spey cast you will have two loops formed (front loop over the rod tip, rear loop under the rod tip). Note: there are exceptions to this.

Narrow loop: (Tight Loops): A loop in which the lines (legs) are close together and parallel, produced by an almost straight line path of the rod tip.

Wide Loop: A loop in which the lines (legs) are wide apart, produced by a convex rod tip path. Note : This is less efficient, but is sometimes chosen for specialty casts; such as, those sometimes used for casting weighted flies.

Open Loop: Sometimes called "no loop". The lines (legs) are widely separated. This is produced by waving the rod so that the tip moves in an exaggerated convex path.

Tailing Loop: This happens when the tip travels in a concave path (could possibly cause knot's in your leader).

Cross Over Loop: When a portion of the leader and or fly line (top leg) crosses over the (bottom leg), generally happens when the 180 principal isn't followed.

180 Principal: The D-Loop, anchor and rod tip path are aligned in a straight path to the intended target. Over-head casting; forward and back cast are made directly opposite each other.

Anchor: Sometimes called line-stick or line grip. This is the fly, leader or fly or leader and a portion of fly line touching the water when forming the D-Loop.

Bloody "L": Simon Gawesworth's great term to describe a portion of the leader or leader and fly line that is crooked on the water and isn't adhering to the 180 principle.

Crumpled Anchor: When a portion of the leader or leader and fly line piles onto the water in a bunched up mound.

Pulled or Skipped Anchor: When you have little or no anchor/grip/ line-stick.

Forward Cast: The forward movement of the rod prior to the stop and pause.

Casting Stroke: The path taken by the hand during the cast.

Stroke Length: The distance the rod tip travels within a given casting arc.

Casting Arc: The change in the angular position of the rod butt from the start of the stroke to its conclusion.

Power Application: The graduated acceleration of the fly rod within the casting arc. A smooth application of power is most desired.

Single Haul: A pull with the line hand on either the forward or the back stroke.

Double Haul: A pull with the line hand on both forward and back strokes.

False Casting: Moving the rod back and forth a number of times while keeping the fly line in the air.

Shooting Line: When the tip stops release or shoot line into the cast.

Line Slip: Used when mending so you don't change the distance of the fly presentation.

Water Mends: Lifting a portion of the fly line after it is lying on the water. Upstream and downstream mends can be used to increase or decrease fly speed or present the fly at different water depths.

Aerial Mends: The action the caster imparts to the fly line as it falls to the water.

Slack line presentation: Putting wiggles in the fly line to deal with the different water currents often used when presenting a dry fly.

Positive Curve Cast: The action the caster imparts to the rod that directs a curve from left to right.

Negative Curve Cast: The action the caster imparts to the rod that directs a curve from right to left.

Rod Plane: Orientation of the rod from vertical to horizontal on either side of the caster.

Line Plane: Trajectory of the line during the cast.

Vertical Casting Plane: Casting with a vertical rod plane. Most desired when casting directly over-head. When making a forward cast in roll/spey cast you cast a few degrees or slightly off the Vertical Casting Plane.

Horizontal Casting Plane: Casting with a horizontal rod plane. Used for many different casting applications (i.e. casting under trees or sometimes dealing with wind).

White Mouse: A Simon Gawesworth description of the tearing of the line off the water, sometimes called a roosters tail.