sedge fly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency (Specialist)Technical (fly fishing)
Quick answer
What does “sedge fly” mean?
An artificial fly used in fly fishing, designed to imitate a caddisfly (a moth-like insect).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An artificial fly used in fly fishing, designed to imitate a caddisfly (a moth-like insect).
The term can also refer to the natural insect (caddisfly) of the order Trichoptera, especially when of interest to anglers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. British anglers may use 'sedge' more commonly, while American anglers sometimes use 'caddis fly' or 'caddisfly' for both the insect and the imitation. The artificial pattern might have regional variations in design and name.
Connotations
In the UK, 'sedge fly' evokes a traditional, sometimes bushy dry fly pattern. In the US, 'caddisfly' patterns are extremely popular and diverse.
Frequency
More frequent in UK angling literature. In the US, the term 'caddis' is dominant.
Grammar
How to Use “sedge fly” in a Sentence
Noun + Noun compoundVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in entomology and fisheries science texts.
Everyday
Rare, except among fly fishers.
Technical
Core term in fly fishing for a specific category of artificial flies and the insects they imitate.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “sedge fly”
- Mispronouncing 'sedge' to rhyme with 'edge' (correct: /sɛdʒ/).
- Using 'sedge fly' to refer to any dry fly.
- Confusing it with 'midge fly', which is much smaller.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In common angling parlance, 'sedge fly' usually refers to the artificial imitation. The natural insect is a caddisfly. The terms are often used interchangeably by fishers, but strictly, the insect is the caddisfly.
Sedge flies are most effective during hatches of caddisflies, typically in the evenings from late spring through autumn, when the adult insects are on the water.
Traditional sedge patterns are typically tied as dry flies to float. However, some patterns (like the 'sedge pupa') are designed to be fished sub-surface, resembling the emerging insect.
It is more commonly used in British English. American anglers tend to say 'caddisfly' or 'caddis' for both the insect and the fly pattern, though 'sedge' is understood.
An artificial fly used in fly fishing, designed to imitate a caddisfly (a moth-like insect).
Sedge fly is usually technical (fly fishing) in register.
Sedge fly: in British English it is pronounced /sɛdʒ flaɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɛdʒ flaɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a fly sitting on the SEDge (grass) by the river, then being tied onto a hook.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMITATION IS DECEPTION (the fly is a deceptive copy meant to trick fish).
Practice
Quiz
What does a 'sedge fly' primarily imitate?