Glossary of Angler Terminology

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Index

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acidity

To make or become acid; the measurement of sourness in an aqueous solution. Acidity (and alkalinity) are measured using the pH scale, where 7 is neutral and 1 is a strong acid. Litmus paper turns to the color red in the presence of acid.

action

Rod performance measurement; a description of the elapsed time between the pole's flexion and return to its normal position (of a straight configuration), ranging from slow to fast, with slow being the most amount of flexion. This may also refer to the rod's stength (light, meduim and heavy), where light is a limber rod and heavy is a stout rod. The movement of a lure due to its built-in properties.

air bladder

A gas-filled sac in the upper body cavity of many fishes, just beneath the vertebral column. A primary function is to offset the weight of heavier tissue or bone. In some fish species, it is used for respiration or sound production.

alkaline

Measure of the amount of acid neutralizing bases. Acidity (and alkalinity) are measured using the pH scale, where 7 is neutral and 14 is a strong alkaine. Litmus paper turns to the color blue in the presence of alkaline.

angling

The act of recreational fishing; the catching of fish by means of line and hook; game or sport fishing.

backlash

A spool's tangle of line resulting from a baitcasting reel's overrun; "Professional Spaghetti" or "Professional Overrun".

bag limit

The restriction in the number of fish that an angler may keep (as determined by the fish licensing body); bag limits may vary by species or total catch, typically set by a daily basis.

bail

The semi-circular arm on an open-faced spinning reel that engages the line after a cast.

bait

An enticement to lure or attract fish; to place a lure on a line.

baitcasting

Fishing with a baitcasting rod and revolving-spool.

baitfish

Small fish consumed by predators, including other fish.

bullet sinker

A cone shaped weight (comprised of lead, zinc or steel) of varying heaviness that slides (up and down) on the line.

butt

The thick part of the leader. The butt of a leader is attached to the fly line.

buzzbait

A top-water lure; an artificial lure (with propeller-style blades) that stirs up the water surface upon retrieval.

buzzing

Retrieving spinnerbaits along the water's surface to create a splash (in hopes of attracting fish).

carolina rig

A deep-water assembly - it is typically made of a soft-plastic bait (shaped as a crawfish/lizard/worm) with a 16-18 inch leader, barrel swivel and hook; a rigged, weedless lure where the hook buried in the body of the bait; a rig considered excellent for fishing humps, ledges, points and sandbars for isolated fish.

crankbait

A fishing plug that dives from having an attached lip. The lip size affects the depth in which the lure dives - larger lips result in deeper dives.

depth finder

A sonar device used to identify the bottom structure, determine water depth and spot fish within a body of water. The unit may be either a flasher or a LCR recorder; a fishfinder

disgorger

A hook removing device; typically used to remove hooks deeply embedded in a fish.

end

A loop is a closed curved line, formed by bringing the tag end back and alongside the standing part, or a knot that creates a loop.

eyelets

The rings or line guides (on a rod) through which filament is passed.

filament

Fishing line; may be comprised of single or multiple strands.

fillet

A slice of fish meat without bones; cutting a portion of boneless fish for human consumption.

fish

Literally, a vertebrate (animal with a backbone) that has gills and lives in water, but generally used more broadly to include any harvestable animal living in water. Fishes refers to more than one type of fish; finfish refers to sharks, some rays and bony fishes, and scalefish refers to fish bearing scales

fish finder

A sonar device used to identify the bottom structure, determine water depth and spot fish within a body of water. The unit may be either a flasher unit or LCR recorder; a depth finder.

flipping

A long-rod technique where a lure is dropped into the water, rather than casting it, into heavy cover from a close distance.

frog

One of Nature's

gear

All fisherman tools used to snare and capture fish; items such as hooks, lines, nets, spears and traps.

gills

Respiratory organ of fishes and aquatic invertibrates; a filamentous outgrowth having blood vessels at which gas is exchanged between water and blood.

None at this time.

isolated fish

A fishing location where fish may be separated from the open water, by way of a fallen tree or a small cove.

jerk bait

Plugs having no built-in action of their own; any lure movements that created by the angler's maneuvering of the rod and line.

jig

A leadhead hook; typically a hook that is dressed with hair, plastic or silicone.

None at this time.

largemouth bass

Largemouth bass may be distinguished from other black basses in that the upper jaw reaches far beyond the rear margin of the eye. The Greek term Micropterus means "small fin" while Salmoides (the Greek term salmo) means "trout". This refers to the fact that largemouth bass have been called "trout" in some southern states.

light intensity

The amount of light that can be measured at various water depths; the greater the intensity, the farther down the light will penetrate. This measurement can be significantly affected by numerous factors, including wind conditions and water clarity. In waters where the light intensity is low, brightly colored lures are effective choices for bait.

lipless crankbait

Artificial swimming baits; fake baits that are designed to rattle, vibrate, wobble (or a combination these traits) during retrieval of the lure.

livewell

An enclosed boat compartment designed to hold and keep live fish.

monofilament

A single synthetic line; an untwisted filament.

None at this time.

overhand knot

The foundation for many other knots.

perch

pickerel

Esox and niger are both Latin words. Esox means "pike," and niger means "dark," or "black." Like its close relatives, northern pike and muskellunge, the chain pickerel is equipped with a large mouth, well adapted for piscivory. The lower jaw, which extends further forward than the upper jaw, is equipped with four sensory pores on the underside. The dorsal and anal fins are set well back on the body. Chain pickerel are usually olive-green or yellowish-brown on the back and sides, shading to a creamy yellow underneath. There is a distinctive pattern of interlocking dark bands on the back and sides that is reminiscent of a chain-link fence.

point

A jutting land finger (protruding into the water). Deeper water may be found just beyond the exposed tip.

professional overrun

See backlash.

professional spaghetti

See backlash.

None at this time.

rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus is Greek meaning "hook snout," and mykiss is the Kamchatkan name for rainbow trout. Rainbow trout have a characteristic salmon-like shape. Dark spots are clearly visible on the tail fin, which is slightly forked. The anal fin has 10-12 rays. The back is usually a dark olive color, shading to silvery white on the underside. The body is heavily speckled, and there is a pink to red stripe running lengthwise along the fish's sides

slip sinker

A lead, steel or zinc weight having a hole through its center. When threaded on a line, this sinker slides freely (up and down).

smallmouth bass

The smallmouth bass is generally green with dark vertical bands rather than a horizontal band along the side. There are 13-15 soft rays in the dorsal fin, and the upper jaw never extends beyond the eye. Micropterus is Greek meaning "small fin" [see Guadalupe bass for further explanation]. The species epithet dolomieu refers to the French mineralogist M. Dolomieu.

spawning

Release or deposition of spermatozoa or ova, of which some will fertilize or be fertilized to produce offspring; fish reproduction process characterized by females and males depositing eggs and sperm into the water simultaneously or in succession so as to fertilize the eggs

spinnerbait

A type of artificial lure that consists of one or two rotating blades and either a straight or safety-pin style shaft dressed with material

standing end

The short area at the end of the standing part of the line.

standing part

The main part of the line that is fixed and under tension. Such as the part of line that is on the reel.

suspended fish

Fish at mid-level depths, neither near the surface nor on the bottom

swimming lures

Lipless crankbaits; Artificial swimming baits; fake baits that are designed to rattle, vibrate, wobble (or a combination these traits) during retrieval of the lure.

tag end

The working end, the part of the line where the knot is tied.

Texas rig

The method of securing a hook to a soft-plastic bait (such as crawfish/lizard/worm), by burying the hook point into the lure's body.

tippet

The end of a leader to which the fly is attached. The tippet can be the end of a leader or an added line to the end of a leader.

turn

A turn or wrap is one complete revolution of line around another.

umbrella

A crutch for amateur fishermen.

None at this time.

weedless lure

A lure used to fish locations, having heavy cover, with a minimum amount of line snagging.

working end

The part of the line used actively in tying a knot. The opposite of the standing end.

wrap

See turn

None at this time.

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E-mail: Contact the webmaster with your questions, comments or suggestions.

Glossary of Angler Terminology