Fishing+Terms

In Fishing, there are many terms you have probably never heard of. Here is a list of most of them.


 * action –** Measure of rod performance ranging from slow to fast and describes the elapse time from when the rod is flexed to when it returns to its straight configuration. Also refers to the strength of the rod, light, medium and heavy, with light being a limber rod and heavy a stout rod.
 * active fish –** Fish that are feeding heavily and striking aggressively.
 * air bladder –** A gas-filled sac in the upper part of the body cavity of many bony fishes. It is located just beneath the vertebral column; its principal function is to offset the weight of the heavier tissue such as bone.
 * algae –** Simple plant organism (typically a single cell) commonly found in water.
 * angler –** Person using a fishing pole or rod and reel to catch fish.
 * angleworm** – Any live earthworm placed on a fishing hook.
 * angling –** Usually refers to the recreational catching of fish (sport-fishing) by hook and line.
 * aquatic hitchiker--**a plant that "hitches" a ride on a boat that is transported to another lake and then colonizes in that lake. An example is Milfoil.
 * artificial lures and flies –** Means man-made devices intended as visual attractants for fish and does not include living or dead organisms or edible parts thereof, natural or prepared food stuffs, artificial salmon eggs, artificial corn, or artificial marshmallows.
 * attractant** – Liquid, solid or power form of scent applied to fishing lures for increased productivity.


 * backlash –** An overrun of a revolving-spool reel, such as a bait-cast reel, which in turn causes the line to billow off the reel and tangle.
 * bag limit –** Restriction in the number of fish an angler may retain, generally on a daily basis.
 * bait –** Can mean live bait or artificial bait, such as a lure.
 * baitcasting –** Fishing with a revolving-spool reel and baitcasting rod, with the reel mounted on the topside of the rod.
 * baitwell** – A special well or livewell in a boat to hold bait.
 * bass boat** – A design of shallow-drafting boat developed for modern, competitive bass fishing.
 * bar –** Long, shallow ridge in a body of water.
 * barb** – A sharp projection on a fishing hook that holds a hooked fish.
 * barbless** – A hook manufactured without a barb, or one made barbless by cutting it off, filing it off or flattening the barb (typically with pliers).
 * bell sinker** – A bell-shaped fishing weight.
 * bite –** When a fish takes or touches a bait so that the fisherman feels it.

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 * blind cast** – Casting at no particular target.
 * bobber** – A float attached to the line under which a hook and sometimes a sinker hang. The bobber holds the bait or lure at a predetermined depth and also signals the strike of a fish (strike indicator). A variation is called a slip-bobber or slip-float, where the line runs freely through the bobber and there is a stop on the line for the predetermined depth.
 * bottom feeder or bottom-fish** – A bottom-feeding fish, such as a catfish or carp. Refers to a fish that feeds predominantly on the bottom, not just one that is sometimes caught on the bottom, such as a largemouth bass or trout.
 * bullet sinker** – A cone-shaped piece of lead, zinc or steel of varying weights that slides up and down the line.
 * buzzbait** – Top-water bait with large, propeller-type blades that churn the water during a retrieve. Usually comprised of a leadhead, a rigid hook and a wire that supports one of more blades. Typically has a plastic skirt like a spinnerbait.
 * catch-and-release** – Refers to catching a fish and immediately releasing it. Many anglers practice catch-and-release as a way to help conserve the resource. In some waters, such as certain small trout streams, the state fishing regulations actually require anglers to catch-and-release.
 * channel** – The bed of a stream or river. This can also refer to a submerged stream or river channel in a reservoir.
 * chum** – To throw chum (typically cut up pieces of bait fish or other bait) overboard to attract fish. A chum line is the trail of bait or scent in the water that attracts game fish.
 * clarity** – Refers to the depth you are able to see an object, such as your lure, under the water.
 * clearwater** – Describes a lake or stream with good visibility.
 * cover** – Natural or manmade objects on the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. Examples include stick-ups, tree lines, stumps, rocks, logs, pilings, docks, and weed patches.
 * crankbait** – Any of a wide number of hard plastic or wooden lures that dive when retrieved (cranked with a reel) through the water. Crank or cranks are slang terms for these baits.
 * creel limit** – The daily number of fish an angler can keep in possession as set by state regulations. Can vary from water to water, so be sure to check the fishing regulations.
 * culling** – A method of removing and releasing lighter-weight fish from a livewell so the heaviest or tournament limit is retained.

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 * dabbing** – Working a lure up and down in the same spot a dozen or more times in a bush, or beside a tree or other structure.
 * dapping** – A method of fly-fishing in which the fly is allowed to skip or dance on the water while line and leader are held above the water from a high rod.
 * depthfinder, depth recorder, or depth sounder** – A sonar device used to read the bottom structure, determine depth, and in some cases actually locate fish. Also called a fishfinder.
 * disgorger** – Device for removing hooks deeply embedded in the throat of fish.
 * dorsal fin** – A median fin located along the back of a fish. It is usually supported by rays, which sometimes gives the fin a fan- or sail-like appearance. There may be two or more dorsal fins.
 * downlake, downriver, downshore, and downstream, downcurrent** – All terms referring to directions.
 * drag** – Device on fishing reels that allows line to pay out under pressure, even though the reel is engaged; set correctly, it ensures against line breakage.
 * drift-boating, drift-fishing** – Techniques used to fish by drifting with the current, sometimes in a drift boat.
 * drop-off** – A sudden increase in depth, often created by washes, small creek channels, canyons, pinnacles, and other submerged topographic features pole. Typical drop shot baits are small, usually 4-inches or less.
 * feeding times** – Certain times of day when fish are most active. These are often associated with the position of the sun and moon and are referred to as solunar tables.
 * fillet** – A method of using a sharp knife to separate the meat of the fish from the bones and skeleton for us to eat.
 * fingerling** – A young fish about a finger long, usually 2 inches or so in length.
 * fishhook** – A barbed or barbless hook used for catching fish. For fish hook sizes, always use numbers: No. 2, No. 4 etc.
 * fly, flies –** A natural insect used by fish as food or an imitation of a natural insect used by fly-anglers.
 * fly-casting, fly-cast –** A method for a fly-fishermen to cast flies to fish or to spots likely to hold fish.
 * fly line, fly-line (adj.)** – A line specifically designed to be used with fly-fishing tackle and a fly rod, the act of which would be termed fly-rodding.
 * forage** – Small baitfish, crayfish and other creatures that bass or other predator fish eat. Term may also be used in the sense of bass actively looking for food (foraging).
 * freshwater** – Bodies of water that do not contain salt.
 * fry** – Immature fish from the time they hatch to the time they become fingerlings.

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 * game fish or game-fish****–** Species of fish caught for sport that fights hard when hooked. (Bass, Walleye, Pike, trout, etc.
 * gear** – Any tools used to catch fish, such as rod and reel, hook and line, nets, traps, spears and baits.
 * gill** – organ that fish use to breathe with..
 * gill opening** – an opening behind the head that connects the gill chamber to the outside.
 * gill net, gill-net (v.)** – A type of net. It's named that because of the mesh sizes designed to catch the intended species by the gill. It is used by biologists when conducting fish surveys.
 * grub** – A short, plastic type of worm, usually rigged with a weighed jig hook.
 * holding area** – Structure that holds bass.
 * holding station** – Place on a lake where inactive fish spend most of their time.
 * honey hole** – A slang term describing a specific hole, spot, or area containing big fish or lots of catchable fish.
 * ichthyology** – The science or study of fish.
 * inactive fish** – Fish that are not feeding, they are in a sort of hibernation.
 * isolated structure** – A possible holding spot for fish, especially bass. Examples include a single submerged bush or rock pile on a point, a sunken island, or a large tree that has fallen into the water.
 * jerkbait** – A type of soft-plastic or hard-plastic bait resembling a bait fish that is typically fished in a series of quick jerks or is “ripped” to resemble a darting baitfish.
 * jig** – A hook with a leadhead that is usually dressed with hair, silicone, plastic or bait.
 * jigging--** to drop the line straight down to the bottom and moving it up and down or back and forth to attract attention.
 * johnboat** – A small flat-bottomed, square-fronted, shallow-draft boat that is popular with duck hunters and many anglers alike.


 * keeper** – For anglers, it is typically any fish that is worth taking home to eat.


 * lake bed, lake-bed (adj.)** – The bottom of a lake.
 * ledge** – A severe drop-off.
 * livewell** – Compartment in a boat designed to hold water and keep fish alive. Typically have some device for re-circulating water.
 * long-lining** – Another term for trolling a bait or lure a long distance behind a boat.


 * marker buoy** – A small plastic buoy, often fluorescent color that is tossed into the water to mark a fish holding area or a school of fish. Such buoys are popular for those fishing schooling sport-fish, such as crappie, white bass, or striped bass, in open water.
 * milfoil** – Surface-growing aquatic plants that are not native and not wanted.

**nest** – The spot where a fish lays its eggs.
 * night crawler** – A common type of worm used in fishing.


 * open-faced reel** – A typical or standard spinning reel in which the line comes off the fixed spool in loops and there is no nose cone.
 * organic baits** – Minnows, insects, worms, fish eggs, cut bait, cheese, etc.
 * over-fishing** –Too much fishing in one place that results in the decline of a population.

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 * panfish** – Any of a variety of species of fish that fit in a frying pan. Often applies to sunfish, crappie, perch, other small fish or small sizes of other species.
 * pectoral fin** – The fin usually found on each side of the body behind the gill opening.
 * point** – A finger of land jutting into the water, which if pronounced, can form a peninsula. Some points are submerged and not visible at the surface but can often be detected in depth finders. Points often hold fish; they can become good ambush spots for predatory fish.
 * popper** – Top-water plug with a dished-out head designed to make a splash when pulled sharply to imitate a wounded baitfish struggling on the surface.
 * possession limit** – The maximum limit or amount of a fish species set by regulation that may be possessed at one time by any one person.


 * ramp** – Also referred to as a boat ramp or launch ramp. It is the launch-retrieve area for a boat.
 * reservoir** –Lake created by a dam.
 * re-stocking** – The practice of releasing hatchery-reared fish from the hatcheries into ponds, streams, rivers, or lakes.


 * shad** – Fish that have a rather deep body.
 * shore-fishing** – Fishing from the shore, as opposed to fishing from a boat or wading.
 * slack line** – The loose line from the tip of the rod to the lure.


 * slip-sinker** – A lead, zinc or steel weight with a hole through the center that allows it to slide freely up and down the fishing line. It helps the line sink down to the bottom and cast farther.
 * sonar** – An acronym derived from the expression “sound navigation and ranging.” Refers to the method or equipment for determining by underwater sound techniques the presence, location or nature of objects in the water. Fish finders use sonar.
 * spinnerbait** – An artificial bait that is a leadhead and one or two rotating blades and either a straight or a safety-pin style shaft dressed with material (often called a skirt).
 * spinning** – A manner of fishing employing an open-face or closed-face spinning reel and spinning rod; reel is mounted on the underside of the rod and the rod guides are also on the underside of the rod.
 * Spinning reel** – A fixed spool reel, generally referring to open-faces spinning.
 * stocking** – The practice of releasing hatchery raised fish into ponds, reservoirs, streams or rivers. Stocking is often necessary in waters where the fishing pressure exceeds the natural fish reproduction capabilities.
 * structure** – Changes in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. Examples include flooded roadbeds, washes, arroyos, humps, ledges and drop-offs.

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 * tackle** – Angling equipment, excluding artificial baits, attached to the end of a fishing line; examples include hooks, snaps, swivels, snap-swivels, sinkers, floats, and plastic beads.
 * Texas** **rig (Texas-rigged)** – The method of securing a hook to a soft-plastic bait, such as a worm, lizard or crawfish, so that the hook is weedless (doesn’t protrude). Typically, a slip sinker (often a bullet sinker) is threaded onto the line and then a hook is tied to the end of the fish line. The hook (often an offset hook) is inserted into the head of the soft-plastic bait for about one-quarter of an inch and brought through until only the eye is still embedded in the soft-plastic bait. The hook is then rotated and the point is embedded slightly into the body of the soft-plastic worm without coming out the opposite side. Many anglers try to ensure the bait stays straight once it is Texas-rigged.
 * treble hook** – A hook with a single or bundled shaft and three points.
 * tributary** – A creek, stream, or river that feeds a larger stream or river, or lake.
 * trolling** – Towing a lure or several lures behind a boat. When a fish is caught on the trolled lure, the boat is typically stopped and the fish is reeled in.
 * trolling motor** – A small electric fishing motor used for trolling.
 * weed line** – Abrupt edge of an aquatic weed-bed caused by a change in depth, bottom type, or other factor.

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