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A
Abu Garcia - reel manufacturers
Action - description of the flexibility of a rod. Rods
have a fast or slow action. Fast action rods are generally stiffer
overall but bend more at the tip. These are often used in feeder
fishing. Slow action rods are more flexible with some flexing their
entire length. These are mainly float fishing rods.
Adipose fin -- a small fleshy fin with no rays, located
between the dorsal and caudal fins
Adjustable bankstick
- a bankstick made with a hollow tubed rod that has a sliding insert
that allows you to change the height
Affluent - a
stream or river that flows into a larger one; a tributary
Air Bladder - a
tough walled gas filled sac in the upper part of the body cavity of many
bony fishes just beneath the vertebral column; its principal function is
to offset the weight of heavier tissue such as bone. In some fishes used
for sound production or respiration.
Albright knot - common knot used for tying the backing to fly
line.
Alevin - the
developmental life stage of young salmonids and trout that are between
the egg and fry stage. The alevin has not absorbed its yolk sac and has
not emerged from the spawning gravels
Algae - plant
organisms found in both ponds and lakes.
Allcocks of Redditch - reel manufacturers
Amnesia fishing line - memory free solid monofilament line
popular with carp and sea anglers
Anadromous -
fish that ascend rivers to spawn - fish that migrate to the sea to grow
and mature, and migrate back to fresh water to spawn and reproduce
Anal fin -- the fin located on the ventral median line and
behind the anus
Angle - to fish with a hook and line
Angler - one who fishes with a pole or rod and reel
Angler fish - a fish species
Angling - term
used for fishing. It is the sport of catching fish, freshwater or saltwater,
typically with rod, line, and hook.
Anti tangle lead
- lead weight with a piece of silicone tubing through the centre
projecting a centimetre either end to protect the line from abrasion
Anti-reverse -
mechanism on the reel that prevents the spools of multipliers and
fixed-spool reels from turning backwards
Aquaculture - The controlled cultivation and harvest of
aquatic plants or animals such as edible marine algae, clams, oysters,
and salmon
Arbor - the centre of a centrepin reel's spool. The arbor
can also be a knot
Arbor knot - knot used for tying backing to the arbor of
the fly reel.
Arlsey bomb - a pear shape lead weight
developed by the late Dick Walker used for fishing
Artificial Baits
- lures or flies made of wood, plastic, metal, feathers, or similar
inert material
Attractor -
this is an additive that is used with the bait or mixed with the
groundbait. Flavour attractors can be sweet or spicy. Brasem is a good
additive used for catching bream
back to top
B
Back shot -
back shot can be the piece of shot placed up the line behind a sliding
leger or feeder or is a piece of shot placed on the line behind a float
to help keep it steady in windy conditions. The piece of shot is placed
about a foot away from the float tip and is usually a piece of shot from
the float rig so it doesn't sink
Back cast - the casting of line in a direction opposite to the
direction the fly is intended to go. The backward counterpart of the forward
cast which acts to create a bending action on the fly rod, setting up the
conditions to generate the forward cast and present the fly.
Backing line - old line or string padding that is attached to a
reel to fill up the spool before attaching the line
Bagging up -
catching lots of fish during a fishing session
Bag
limit -
fishery restriction in the number of fish that an angler may retain, on a per
trip or daily basis. Generally pertaining to trout.. Also known as Creel limit
Bail arm - the wire part of a fixed-spool reel that guides
the line on the spool
Bait - anything
used on the hook to entice and capture the fish
Bait band - used with boilies and pellets etc. A small
elastic band that is wrapped around a bait and the hook is passed under
the band or nicked through it so that the bait hangs from the side or
the base of the hook. Bait bands are available in a variety of sizes to
suit different sized baits
Bait boat - remote controlled boat used mainly for carp fishing by
carp anglers or by specialist anglers to place both their baited rig and loose
feed, such as boilies, accurately at distances unachievable by casting
Bait box - used for carrying your bait such as maggots
Bait-clip - a clip that holds the baited hook during the
cast
Bait dropper -
a device used to put hookbait samples down to the bottom of your swim.
It is basically a cage with a door on the side held closed with a latch.
When lowered down to the bottom the latch is pushed up and opens the
cage door letting the bait fall out
Bait fish - any fish that is of primary prey to a larger fish
Bait needle - a
needle that has had one side of the eye removed making a small hook.
When used for baiting a hair rig you put the boilies or whatever bait
you want to use onto this needle and then hook the hair rig loop onto
the needle and pull the bait off the needle and onto the hair rig line.
Then you put a bit of grass or boilie stop through the loop to hold the
bait on, pull the bait down to it and your ready to go
Bait rocket - a
rocket shaped device of different sizes used a lot by carp anglers for
getting bait out to where they are fishing. The rocket is tied onto the
end of your line then filled with boilies or other particle bait and
cast out into your swim. When the rocket hits the water it flips upside
down emptying out the contents
Baitrunner -
especially used by carp or specimen anglers this is an open faced reel
with a rear drag system that has a lever at the back. Line can be pulled
off freely by a hooked fish and when the lever is activated the normal
drag mechanism is engaged
Ball bearings - small metal balls added to the mechanical mechanism of high-quality reels to make the retrieve smoother. Normally the more ball bearings a reel has the higher quality.
Balling up -
throwing in lots of balls of groundbait into your swim such as at the
start of a bream fishing session
Balsa - type of
wood floats used to be made of and still are in some cases, several
lures are also manufactured from balsa wood. This wood is very light,
yet highly buoyant
Bank - The ground next to a body of water.
Bankstick - a
straight rod that is pointed at one end and is threaded at the other
end. The pointed is pushed into the ground. and into the threaded end is
screwed a rod rest, keepnet or bait alarm. A reed cutter can be screwed
into a bankstick making it into a long handle. Also if sitting in a
chair an angler can use two banksticks with a rod rest attached to each
so that the rod is held off the ground at the right height for reaching
Bar - long ridge in a body of water
Barb - a sharp pointed raised burr cut in the hook just behind the point
of a hook. To stop the bait or a fishing coming of
the hook
Barbel - a hard
fighting coarse fish species targeted by individuals or specialist
anglers -
see Barbel
Barbless hooks
- fish friendly hooks that are made without a barb. Easier to penetrate
and easier to remove. As long as pressure is kept on the line when a
fish is hooked the losing of the fish is minimised
Barbules - fleshy projections from the mouth of fish such as carp and barbel.
Bass - sea fish - a very popular game fish in the USA
Bead - beads
are small plastic balls with a hole through the centre for the line to
go through. Placed on the line before and after weights they are used as
a buffer to protect the line when casting or striking
Bed chair - a
padded folding chair carp anglers use, can be unfolded into a bed
Big chuck - To
make a very long distance cast
Birds nests -
tangled fishing line often caused by the main line coming off the spool
to quickly
Bite alarm -
many types available.. An electronic device that 'beeps' when movement
of your line is detected. Notifies you when you are otherwise occupied
that a fish has taken your bait. Similar in shape to a rod rest with a
'V' shape for sitting the rod into
Bite or biting - when fish has had or is having a go at your bait
Bivvy - a domed
shaped tent that has a large opening at the front so that you can fish
from under it. Mainly used by carp or specimen anglers
Blank - this
has two meanings. The first meaning is used in rod building. It
describes a section of the rod with no rod rings etc. The second meaning
is the day we all have at sometimes, the day when you do not catch any
fish at all
Bleak - species of fish
see Bleak
Block end feeder
- sometimes called a 'maggot feeder'. This is used on your line to carry
groundbait or hookbait offerings into your swim. Maggots are the main
type of bait used. The block end feeder is a plastic tube device with
holes drilled into the sides, blocked at one end with a cap at the other
that opens to insert bait or groundbait. They vary in size from 2
centimetres in length upwards with the average being 50 centimetres. The
amount of holes in the feeder control the speed at which the groundbait
or hookbait escapes
Blood knot - the most common knot for tying lines to the
hooks, flies and
lures and also used to tie two lines together
Bloodworm -
bloodworm is the small reddish larva of the midge fly. Used mainly as a
hook bait on small wire hooks but also added to groundbait. This bait
can be the difference between catching and blanking on day when bites
are few. An ideal bait for use on canals.
Bobbin - used to hold the spool of thread as the fly is
tied
Bodied waggler
- a bodied waggler is a float with a buoyant bulb near the bottom of the
float that increases the amount of shot needs to set it
Boilie -
boilies are round balls of commercial or home made bait. They are made
in various sizes and colours with different ingredients and flavour
additives to suit the fish expected to be caught. Boilies are mainly
used by carp or specimen anglers
Boilie hair stop
- boilies can be used with a hair rig. To keep the boilies on the hair
rig you can use something called a boilie hair stop. This is simply a
tiny piece of plastic with bulbs at each end like a small dumbbell. A
piece of grass can be used to do the same thing
Boilie throwing stick
- a throwing stick is 30 to 45 centimetres long. They come in different
lengths for different distances. They are slightly curved with an open
channel at the end. The boilies are placed into this channel and you
hold it with one hand behind you with the channel opening pointing
forwards and in one quick movement, swing it out towards the water in
front of you throwing the boilies into your swim
Bolt Rig
- a bolt rig is a fishing rig normaly associated with fishing for big carp and
specimen anglers - a ledger rig with a short (ish) hooklength. When the fish
takes the bait the hooklength straightens out and the the fish feels the weight
of the lead and 'bolts off', causing the fish to hook itself
Boom - a boom is made of wire and used when sea fishing.
Attached to the main line it holds the hook trace out from the main
fishing line to help prevent tangling
Bottom fish - fish that spend most of their lives at the bottom of the water such tench
Bottom fishing - fishing with the baited hook on the water bed for fish such as tench
Brackish -
water that is mostly fresh, with some salt. The far ends of tidal creeks
are mostly brackish, supporting sometimes fresh and saltwater fish
Braided line -
or braid for short is a low diameter, low stretch fishing line, made by
braiding together several strands of man made fibre. Used primarily as
very strong hook length material when targeting big carp or specimen
fish. Braided line is very strong yet supple and has the advantage of
blending in with the river or lake bottom
Bread crumb -
bread crumb is ground up bread and is the best and cheapest base for any
groundbait. Bread crumb is very fluffy and clouds the water very well
which is ideal if fishing using bread punch. When adding water give it
time to be absorbed
Bread flake -
bread flake is piece of bread torn from the loaf that is pinched onto
the hook as hookbait. White bread is best as hookbait
Bread punch - a
bread punch is a small tube type device. There are many different sizes
of bread punches for different hook sizes. The bread punch is pushed
down onto a slice of fresh bread and a bit of bread is cut out. This bit
of bread is placed onto the hook as hookbait. Bread punch is a great
bait for all fish but especially roach
Breaking strain - this is the measurement of line
strength. The point at which the fishing line breaks is the breaking
strain, the 'dead' weight needed to break a line usually stated in
pounds (lb) or kilograms (kg). The age of the line or knots in the line
can lower this measurement so its a good idea to change your line
regularly
Bream - species of freshwater fish
see Bream
Brolly - short
nickname for an umbrella
Bucktail
- (USA) a type of fishing lure
Bulk Shot -
split shot put onto the line together, bulked into a group
Bumped
off - Lost a fish during the fight due to the hook pulling out Bung - this is
a small conical piece of plastic with an attachment at the end that
elastic can be tied to. The bung fits inside a section of a pole,
usually the second or third section and the elastic is tied to this thus
anchoring it
Butt - the butt is end of the handle section of a rod
Butt pad - a cup type pad on a belt worn around the
midriff that protects the holder from the butt of the rod whilst
fighting fish Buzzers -
Electronic bite indication alarms used mainly by carp fishermen
back to top
C
Caddis - a general name for the dozens of subspecies of caddis
flies found in trout streams all over the world. Also known as a "sedge," they
are characterized by a tent-like wing. Caddis have four stages of development,
from egg to larva to pupa to adult
Cage Feeder - a cage feeder is a weighted cylindrical tube made
from wire mesh. Used by fixing to the mainline, usually by way of a swivel, and
filling with groundbait and casting to the are you are fishing. The groundbait
attracts the fish. Used for fishing on the bottom for bottom feeders such as
bream, carp, barbel and tench
Canal - a man made waterway used for navigation. A canal can also called a Cut
Carnivorous
- meaning - feeding on animal tissue
Carp - a freshwater fish.
see Carp
Carper - one who fishes for carp
Carp rod - Carp rods are made specifically for catching carp. They
are made to be strong to cope with the larger carp, yet have a good constant
test curve. They are usually around 11 feet long. Carp rods are usually made
with carbon fibre or with a carbon / fibreglass composition. They also usually
have a fixed, screw reel seat. The most common test curves for carp rods, are
between 1.5 lbs. up to 3.5 lbs
Carp sack - a carp sack are a specialised bag designed to hold a
carp in the water in place of a keepnet. They are made of a material that is
designed not to harm any fish placed in it. The sack is designed to help keep
fish calm by covering the fishes head and eyes. It is placed back down under the
water, and is tethered to the bank
Carp sling - this is a specialised sling used for weighing fish.
It is designed to weigh one fish at a time. The material used in making the carp
sling is also designed to reduce the amount of protective slime that is removed
from the carp. These can be a separate sling or incorporated into special carp
landing net heads. These special carp net heads arms are designed to fold up
together over the fish. The net can then be removed and act as the sling
Cast - 1. to send a bait, lure or imitation fly out onto the water by using a rod
and reel.
2. a cast can be the wormlike secretion above ground covering the
worm hole made by lugworms, lobworms and other worms
Casters - casters are the chrysalis form of a maggot. They are
approximately 1 cm long and .3 cm wide. They are shaped like a rounded capsule.
The colour of casters varies between light and dark brown. They are a great hook
bait for catching roach
Casting - to send a bait, lure or imitation fly out onto the water by
using a rod and reel.
Casting arc - the path that a rod takes during the cast
Catapult - a catapult is a 'Y' shaped form of sling shot. It is used
to catapult (throw out) loose bait or groundbait to the area the angler is
fishing
Catch and release - releasing a fish after it has been
caught.
Caudal fin - the tail fin of fish
Caudal peduncle - the
tapering portion of a fish's body between the posterior edge of the anal fin
base and the base of the caudal fin.
Centrepin Reel
- centrepin reels are fishing reels that have a vertical drum set upon a central
pin that holds the line. Mainly used for river fishing because when trotting a
good centrepin will spin freely and allow the float to pull line from the reel
and flow steadily with the current of the river
Channel
- bed of a stream or river
Char - an excellent game fish that is a cousin of the trout family
Chemically etched - a process used in the manufacturing of hooks
which gives a very sharp point.
Chick Pea - a particle bait used mainly by carp anglers
Chopped worm - chopped worm is simply what it says, bits of worm
chopped up into small pieces and used as hookbait or in groundbait. Chopped worm
is a great bait for catching perch.
Chub - species of fish
Chum - 1. dog meat used as a carp bait 2. a groundbait of
chopped fish etc used by sea anglers fishing from a boat - thrown over the side
of the boat to attract fish such as when shark fishing. Also called rubby dubby.
Circle hook - normally used for sea fishing. A circular hook up to 16/0 size, very safe to handle. The fish hooks itself with this one, and the harder they pull, the more firmly the hook imbeds itself. Ideal for releasing fish, since the circle hook is seldom swallowed.
Clonker - a large fish
Clutch - the drag system on a reel
Coarse fish - all freshwater fish other than salmon and trout are
coarse fish. The word 'Coarse' as in coarse fish, is believed to have come from
many years ago when fish other than salmon and trout were considered 'coarse' to
eat.
Coarse fishing - coarse fishing is is angling for coarse fish. It
encompasses many different techniques and methods used to catch coarse fish. The
major techniques classified under coarse fishing are; Ledgering, Float fishing,
Pole fishing, Whip fishing, Lure fishing, Bait fishing etc
Cocktail - a cocktail
is a term given when using two or more types of bait on the hook at the same
time
Controller /
Controller float - controllers are short and stubby, pre weighted
fishing floats designed to present baits on the surface for carp fishing during
warm weather when they are feeding on the top
Crack off - the
snapping of the line when casting, resulting in the loss of end tackle
Crankbait - a crankbait
is a plastic
or wooden lure with a diving bill, that dives downward when retrieved that
catches fish while you are reeling (cranking) it in.
Creek - a stream of water that is smaller than a river.
Creel - a wicker basket to keep tackle and fish, normally used by
trout and salmon anglers
Creel Limit - the number of fish an angler can keep as set by the fishery rules. Also known as Bag limit
Crimps - are used to secure mono line or wire that cannot be tied
Crucian Carp - species of fish
see Crucian Carp
Crystal waggler
- crystal waggler is the name for a float that has been made out of
transparent plastic.
Cut - a narrow body of water. A Cut is also another name for a
canal
Current - the natural flow of water in a river or sea
Cycloid scales
- smooth, flat, round scales that have concentric lines called circuli,
found on trout, herring, and other fish
back to top
D
Dace - species of fish
see Dace
Dacron - is a synthetic material that is popular in the
manufacture of braided line used in rig traces
Daiwa - fishing tackle producer
Dam - fishing tackle producer. Also a Dam is used to hold water back.
Dam Quick - fishing reel manufacturers
Damselfly - it appears the same as the dragonfly, they are aquatic
insects found in ponds and lakes and they are an important food for many
species of fish
Dap - to fish with a fly bounced gently on the water
Dapping - a technique of presenting a fly on the surface of the water where the fly is connected to a short piece of line on a long rod. The fly is then touched on the surface of the water, immediately over a place where a fish might lie. A very little used fishing technique, it's a method to eliminate drag and present the fly to fish that stay close to the bank of a river
Day ticket - payment by anglers to fish a fishery for a day
Descaling - the removal of fish scales
prior to cooking
Deadbait - Deadbait is a dead fish used
to catch predatory fish like Pike, Eel and Zander
Deadbaiting - is using a dead fish while
angling to catch predatory fish like Pike, Eel and Zander
Dendrobaena - worm used as fishing bait, full name Dendrobaena
veneta (also known as the European night crawler & Eisenia hortensis), is a very
tough and particularly wriggly worm, making them ideal as worms for fishing
Diamond eye threader -
the diamond eye threader is used to thread elastic through the top section of
poles. It is made from one long length of very thin stainless steel wire folded
in half. The two halves of the wire are twisted together into one length and at
the folded end the wire is opened and shaped as a four sided diamond, with a
thin point at the top. The elastic is put through the hole and the other end
pulled all the way through the pole section thus threading the elastic
Disgorger - device for
removing a hook from the mouth of fish or deeply embedded in the throat of fish
Double-tapered fly line - a fly line that is thicker on both ends and thinner in the middle. Double-tapered fly lines can be switched around as one end becomes worn.
Dorsal fin - the fin located on the back
of fishes, and in front of the adipose fin, if such is present
Downrigger - a device fitted to a boat that uses a cable and a
heavy weight to troll baits and lines at a set depth
Drag - a device inside the reel, like a brake that puts pressure
on the line being pulled from the reel
Dragonfly - a large predatory aquatic insect that usually matures
in ponds and lakes
Drift fishing - fishing
and drifting along with the wind and tide
Drogue - device dragged behind a boat to reduce speed, such as a
bucket with the bottom cut out
Drop back - slackening
of the main line indicating the fish has picked up the bait and moved towards
the angler.
Dropfly
- an artificial fly attached to a leader in angling
Drop-Off - a sudden increase in depth of the water.
Dropper - the secondary
fly tied on the leader somewhere between the lead fly and the fly line: also, in
coarse fishing, small shot (weight placed near the hook when float fishing)
Dry fly - an artificial fly used to float on the water and to imitate an adult insect on the surface of the
water
Dun - a stage of life in a mayfly's lifecycle
back to top
E
Ebb tide - the outgoing or falling tide
Eel - species of fish
see Eel
Eddy - a section of moving water usually moving around an object
under the water
Electrofishing - fishing by stunning fish with electric shock. As
used when checking waters for fish count
Embryo - the early stages
of development before an organism becomes self supporting
End tackle
- the hook and lead used at the end of the main fishing line
Esox lucius - Latin name for Pike
Estuary -
sheltered water, often with grass bottom or grassy shorelines, where juvenile
fish have
shelter, food and a chance to grow
Eyed - a hook with an enclosed loop on the shank for tying the
line to
back to top
F
False cast - casting the fly line forward and back in the air as a means to lengthen the amount of line that extends out from the rod, to dry the fly or to modify the path of the line. In a false cast, the fly is not allowed to drop onto the water.
Fathom - measurement of
water depth. Six feet of depth. Many nautical charts are marked in fathoms, not
feet
Feather the line - term used for - after casting the angler slows
down the spool of the reel with a finger to stop the line spilling from the
reels spool too fast and getting tangled up
Feeder
- this is a cylindrical container of various sizes for holding groundbait or
free offerings of hook baits. They can be 'block end' for holding loose
offerings such as maggots or 'open end' used for groundbait or 'cage
feeder' made from a mesh material used for groundbait.
Feeder rod - this is made for casting feeders which can be fairly
heavy when filled with groundbait. These rods are generally from 9ft to 12 ft
and made stronger and more stiffer than float rods.
Feeding on the top - this is a term used when fish are feeding on
baits presented on top of the water - floating baits such as bread
Ferrule , ferrules - the end connections between multi-piece rod pieces. One
is solid the other is hollow and the solid end fits inside the hollow end
Fibreglass - material
used to make rods. Glass makes the rod less sensitive and more flexible, and
reduces the chance of pulling a bait from a fish's mouth
Fin - the external membranous projecting part of a fish used in propelling or guiding the body.
Fingerling - a young fish in its first
or second year of life
Fish - a creature that lives in water and has fins and gills. If you don't know what this is maybe you should learn before going fishing:)
Fish On - a hooked fish, shouted in a match when time
is up, allowing for a period of time to land it
Fishable -waters that can be fished
Fisherman / Fisherwoman - a man / woman who fishes as an
occupation or for pleasure
Fishery - a water that contains fish
Fishfinder / sonar - electronic devise usually used on board a boat
to detect fish or objects under the water
Fishhook - a curved (U shaped) section of strong wire sharpened at
one end and tied to fishing line the other. either barbed or barbless for
catching fish
Fish Ladder - a series of pools arranged like steps that fish
(salmon or trout) use to move upstream over a dam
Fishing - the art of catching fish. Fishing is the act of catching
or trying to catch fish. This can be either the recreation of catching fish as a
sport or commercial fishing of catching fish as a food. Fishing is carried out
in rivers, canals, lakes, seas and oceans, from the shore or from a boat
Fishing Gear - term used for the collection of all fishing tackle
such as rods, reels, hooks, line etc
Fishing Line - self explanatory
Fixed spool reels - reel with a static spool
Flake - a piece of bread used as hook bait
Flies - artificial
imitations of the aquatic and terrestrial insects found in and near trout
streams. Flies are tied of many and various materials, such as feathers, fur,
thread, tinsel, and even space-age materials. Patterns imitating minnows,
baitfish and other fish and crustacean species are also called, flies
Floatant - a paste or powder applied to the fly, fly line or
leader, to increase its buoyancy
Floater - a floating bait, often refers to dog biscuits,
trout pellets or similar
Float, floats - a float is a buoyant devise that is used to suspend a
bait at a specific depth and used as an indicator as to when a fish is taking the bait.
Fluorocarbon - a type of fishing line that is often invisible below the water's surface.
Fluvial - migrating between main rivers
and tributaries
Fly - an artificial bait made from natural and synthetic material,
to imitate insects, fish, animals etc
Fly box - used to store your flies, to keep them dry and protect
the delicate ones
Fly Fishing - a technique for fishing where the weight of the line is used to cast a very light weight fly that would not be heavy enough to be cast with a conventional spinning or casting rod. Usually pertaining to trout and salmon fishing
Fly Line - a weighted line which is cast out onto the water to deliver the fly to the desired location.
Flymaker - a person who ties artificial flies for angling
Forceps - similar to a pair of long handled pliers. A medical
instrument used in the removal of hooks from jaws of a fish. Used mainly by game
anglers and by predator anglers for removal of the hook from a hooked fish. Have
pliers like jaws with locking clips so that once they are clamped to the hook,
they stay there until you release them.
Forward cast - the part of the cast when the line is in front of
the angler
Freshwater - freshwater is a term used for waters such as rivers and lakes as opposed to saltwater (the sea)
Freshwater fish - a term used for fish living in waters such as rivers and lakes as opposed to saltwater fish that live in the sea
Fry - a 'baby' fish. Fish in the early stages of development.
In trout or salmon it is during this stage the fry is usually less than one year
old, has absorbed its yolk sac and is between the alevin and parr stage of
development.
back to top
G
Gaff - steel hook of varying sizes, mounted on a pole or stick, used for hooking and lifting into a boat a caught fish.
NOTE: National byelaw for England and Wales. The use of a gaff is prohibited at all times when fishing for salmon, trout, freshwater fish or freshwater eels in England and Wales.
Game fish - pertaining to salmon and
trout or fish caught for sport particularly ocean fish such as sharks
Garcia Mitchell - reel manufacturers
Gar - a long freshwater fish
Gear ratio - retrieve
speed of reel determines how much line is reeled in one revolution of the reel's
handle
Gill rakers - a series of projections
located along the front edge of the gill arch
Gills - the fleshy and highly vascular
organs comparable to lungs used in aquatic respiration
Good’un - a large fish
Grilse - a young Atlantic salmon that has returned to the river
from the sea to spawn for the first time
Grinner Knot - a very strong knot often used in rig tying
Groundbait - groundbait is a mixture consisting of a fine bread
crumb base with other ingredients such as crushed hemp and flavourings. Hookbait
can be added as an extra attractant. The groundbait is intended to be thrown
into the water to attract fish.
Gudgeon - species of fish
see Gudgeon
Guide - a person who accompanies an angler, showing him where and
how to catch fish
Guides - the wire loops on a fly rod through which the line is
passed that directs the line to the tip
back to top
H
Hackle -
the series of
extended fibres right behind the eye of a fly. The hackle is what allows a dry
fly to float
Hair Rig - mainly used in carp angling this is a method of attaching
bait where the bait is threaded onto a short thin section of line which hangs
from the back or bottom of the hook.
Hardy Brothers - rod and reel manufacturers
Hemp - a very popular small black seed used as a particle bait, or
crushed and used in groundbait. Extremely effective when used in conjunction
with Tares for catching roach. It is prepared by soaking and boiling.
HNV - High Nutritional Value; a term used to describe baits
especially boilies
Hook - a curved (U shaped) section of strong wire sharpened at one
end and tied to fishing line the other. either barbed or barbless for catching
fish.
Hooklength - a hook attached to a length of line, also known as a leader. A hooklength
and hook combined form a trace
Hook shank - the top of the long section of a hook
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I
Ichthyology - the scientific study of
fishes
IGFA - international game fish federation, the headquarters is in
Florida USA, and sets standards for fishing tackle and keeps a list of
record fish
Incubation - the period of time from egg
fertilization until hatching
Inshore fishing - fishing in a boat that is close to shore
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J
Jerk bait -
a jerk bait
is a lure that floats and when you jerk it, it goes underwater.
Jig - a fishing lure that is jerked to attract the fish, normally
used from a boat
Jigging - the sporadic up and down movement of the rod to imitate
natural movement of a lure
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K
Keep net - net used to keep fish alive to be returned after the
end of the fishing session
Kelt - a salmon that has spawned recently
Knots - to tie anything you need a knot. To connect a hook to line
a knot is tied
Krill -
small abundant crustaceans that form an important part of the food chain in
Antarctic waters
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L
Landing net - net with a long handle to retrieve the fish once
brought to the bank
Lateral line - series of sensory pores opening to the
exterior located along the side of fish
Larva - refers to the subsurface stage of development of an
aquatic insect
Leader - used in fly fishing - A leader is a wire or real strong
fishing line that goes on the end of your line. there are two types - the tapered link between the fly and the fly line.
A leader is a wire or real strong fishing line that goes on the end of your
line. You tie one end to your fishing line and the other end to your lure. This
makes sure that fish with sharp teeth such as pike or zander or fins won't cut
your line.
Ledger / Leger - a weight used in fishing
Ledgering / Legering - to fish without a float using
a heavy weight to keep the bait on the river bed / bottom of the lake
Lever drag - a type of drag system on a reel, adjusted by a lever
on the side of the reel
Lift bite - this is
when a fish takes the baited hook from the river or lake bed and the float rises out of the
water
Line - Fishing line. Fishing line comes in many forms and
strengths, the most common being monofilament line made from nylon. When
fishing, anglers should use as light a line as possible to prevent detection by
the fish, while still ensuring that it is heavy enough to prevent breakage. Line
should always be disposed of sensibly to prevent wildlife becoming caught up in
it.
Line clip - this is a small clip on the side of the spool on a
fixed spool reel to which your fishing line can be placed to retain it.
This is often used for accuracy when fishing at a fixed distance. After casting
the line is clipped in place and then each time you cast you reach the same
target.
Line bite - when a fish
swims into or catches your fishing line
Line drier - a devise used by fly fishermen to strip the reel of
line and then dry the line before replacing
Line Guides - the eyelets or rings on a rod through which fishing
line is passed
Live bait - live bait
as the term suggests is a fish that is alive when you put it on your hook, such as roach, and used for predator
fishing for pike or zander
Lobworm - worm used as a fishing bait. These are the large worms
with the flat tail that are found in our gardens
Loosefeed - small offerings of hook bait such as maggots or
sweetcorn which are thrown into the water to keep the fish interested in the
area you are fishing
Lug worm - one of the best baits for saltwater fish such as cod,
plaice, bass etc. Lugworm are dug at low tide and are easily
spotted by the worm cast on the surface of the sand or mud. The lugworm burrows
in the sand in a U shape tunnel. There is the worm cast and a few inches away a
small depression in the sand, this is the ends of the U shape tunnel. Dig to the
side of this to collect the lugworm
Lures - artificial devise to imitate insects, small fish, animals
to attract fish
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M
Mainline - the main fishing line on the fishing reel
Match fishing - a competitive form of coarse fishing which
involves people drawing out a random peg (a place to fish), and then trying
catch as many fish as possible within the allotted time. Usually the winner will
be the one with the greatest weight of fish caught
Mayfly - a species of aquatic insect that provides food for a
variety of fish, mayflies have upright wings in the shape of a sail
Method the - the Method is a style of feeder fishing. It consists
of a frame feeder covered with groundbait, fished with a short hook length up to
6 inches
Midge - a tiny aquatic insect that thrives in just about all
aquatic environments, provide a great source of food for fish
Migrating - moving from one area of residence to another
Milt - the secretion of a fish for reproduction
Minnow - a small fish
Mitchell - reel manufacturers
Mono - short for monofilament
Monofilament - a man made nylon line
Multiplier reel - a reel with a revolving spool, which multiplies leverage on
the line as it's winched in. Mainly used by sea anglers
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N
Neap tide - the tide with the least difference or movement,
between the high and low water, happens during the first and last
quarter of the moon
Nymph - an aquatic insect during its immature stage of development
while underneath the surface of the water
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O
Offshore fishing - fishing from a boat out to sea a distance away
from the land
Olivette - an oval fishing weight used on the line by pole anglers
Operculum - the gill cover
Orvis - fishing reel and rod manufacturers and assorted fishing
tackle
Outriggers - poles that extends out from a boat to enable several
lines to be fished, without tangling
Overfish - to fish to excess
Oxbow - a U shaped bend in a river or stream
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P
Parr -
a stage of
development in the life of a salmon and trout between alevin and smolt when the
young have developed parr marks and are actively feeding in fresh water
Particles - small baits such as hemp, pellets or nuts.
Pectoral fins - the
anterior (front) paired fins attached to pectoral (shoulder) girdle
Peg - a
peg is a pre defined fishing area. Venues are split up into evenly spaced
fishing areas which are often marked with a wooden peg or marker
Pelvic fins - posterior
paired fins located in the abdominal position or towards the rear
Penn - reel and other fishing tackle manufacturers
Pennell - reel manufacturers
Perch - species of fish. Latin name Perca fluviatilis - from the
Family: Percidae see Perch
Pharyngeal teeth -
teeth located behind the gills and before the oesophagus, and anchored in bone
Pike - species of fish
see Pike Latin
name Esox lucius
Piscator - one who fishes, an angler.
Piscatory - of or pertaining to fishes or fishing.
Piscatrix (USA) - a female angler
Plankton - minute
floating forms of microscopic plants and animals in water which cannot get about
to any extent under their own power. They form the important beginnings of food
chains for larger animals
Playing - fighting the fish to tire the fish so that it can be
landed
Plug - fishing lure. a plastic or wooden immitation of a small fish
with hooks attached used for catching predator fish.
Plumbing up /
Plumb the depth - using a weight or plummet attached to your fishing
line to check the depth of water you will be fishing see
Plumb the Depth
Plummet - a weight that an angler attaches to his / her fishing line
and used to check the depth of the water. Thi can either be a small conical
weight with cork fixed at thw bottom or a clip on type. see
Plumb the Depth
Pod - a folding stand on which a number of carp rods are placed.
Easier and neater than using banksticks.
Pole - similar to a rod but minus the eyes and reel seat. Comes in
different lengths
Pole fishing - specialised method that utilises a pole with line
and hook attached, without a reel
Pop-Up - usually refers to boilies which when fished as bait will
float or pop up off of the bottom of the lake bed
Pond - a body of water
smaller than a lake often artificially formed
Predator - an animal
that hunts and kills another for food such as pike and zander
Predation - hunting and
killing another animal for food
Priest - used to administer the last rites to the captured fish.
They used to be made of stag horn, aluminium and mahogany and had a lead
weight in the head
Pumping - a technique used when fighting a heavy large fish. i.e.
on a boat to retrieve a fish, you lift the rod and wind in the line as
you lower the rod, then do it again and again until the fish surfaces
Pupae - the immature stage of development for an aquatic insect
Putcheon / Putcher (USA) - a wire trap for catching salmon
PVA - Poly Vinyl Alcohol – a thin material which dissolves in
water
PVA bag - a small bag made from PVA used to hold bait particles
and your rig when casting.
PVA string - string made from PVA used in tying rig sections
together for casting.
PVA tape - tape made from PVA used in tying rig sections together
for casting.
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Q
Quill Float - a float made from the quill of peacock feathers. Not
used as much nowadays
Quiver tip - special type of rod used to detect
bites when ledgering. It has a sensitive tip that curves over when the angler
has a bite. Quiver tips vary in strength and stiffness which can be changed
according to the weather conditions
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R
Ray -
this has two
meanings, one is the name of a sea fish the other meaning is one of the supports
of a fin
Redworm
- worm used as a fishing bait. Has been the hook bait choice of anglers for
generations! Normally found in manure heaps
Reel - an instrument that holds the fishing line. Used in
conjunction with a rod it is attached to the handle of the rod and is
used to collect and cast the fishing line
Reel seat - for attaching the reel to the rod, this could be done
with a secure slot and a screw ring, or by two sliding rings
Reproduce - to produce
offspring
Reservoir - an artificial water body, normally used for drinking water
supply, and which may also be stocked with fish.
Re-stocking - the practice of releasing artificially reared fry or
fingerlings into ponds, reservoirs, or open waters.
Rig - the end gear or terminal tackle
Rise -a fish breaking the surface of the water to take an insect
River - a natural flow of water of considerable volume.
Riverbank - the bank or banks of a river.
Riverbed - the area / channel between the banks through which a
river flows.
Roach - species of fish
see roach
Rod - the instrument used to cast the bait. There are many types
of fishing rods - leger rods, fly rods, casting rods,
spinning rods, beachcasters, boat rods
Rod rest - pole that can be driven into the ground, with a V shape
at one end to rest the rod, can have several V's so you can fish with
more than one rod at one time
Rod ring - rod rings are the rings along a fishing rod that the
line runs through
Roe - the eggs of
fishes
Rudd
- species of fish see Rudd
Run - this has three meanings, the hooked fish making a dash for freedom away from the
angler, could also mean a stretch of water or a group of fish of the
same species, such as salmon, that migrate together up a stream to spawn. The
run is usually associated with the seasons, e.g. spring, summer, and winter runs
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S
Salmon - species of fish - game fish
Salmonid -
fish of the
family Salmonidae that includes salmon and steelhead
Salter spring balance - scales used by anglers to weigh their
catch
Seat box - seat boxes are boxes made to hold all of
your tackle and can also be used to sit on while fishing
Setting a hook - striking at a bite to set the hook into the
fish's mouth
Shakespeare - reel manufacturers
Shimano - fishing tackle manufactures
Shoal - a group of fish swimming together
Shot - also called split shot - round balls of lead or metal
(depending on the size) with a split (cut) halfway through.
Line is place in the cut and the shot squeezed together to close the cut,
holding the shot on the line. Used to balance the float in the water or to stop
the leger from sliding down the line to the hook
Silt - substrate
particles smaller than sand and larger than clay
Sinker - term referring to both leads and sinking baits
Sinking fly line - fly line made from material that sinks below
the water surface
Skimmer - term refering to a small bream, generally under 1lb 8oz
Slack tide - the short period between the ebb and flood tides when
the current is at its weakest
Smolt - a young salmon that is ready to migrate
Snag - rocky or uneven bed that can snare your hook and line
Spade end hooks - instead of an eye to which to tie
the fishing line to spade end hooks have the end where the eye normally is
flattened and the line is tied round this either by hand or the use of a hook
tier
Spawn - the eggs of fish
Spawning - the 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.
Specimen - this is a term given to any fish that is a particularly
good size for its species
Spin - fish with spinners or lures
Spinner (lure) - a lure can be metallic or plastic in the shape of a fish
and shiny to attract fish, used with a spinning rod and fast retrieval
reel. A lure that spins in the water and is usually used for catching
predator or game fish such as
pike,
chub trout and salmon
Spinning rods - rod designed to specifically assist with the
spinning lure
Split cane rod - an
old-fashioned bamboo rod made by gluing together long strips of cane in
hexagonal fashion. The cross-section of a split cane rod would look like a pie
cut into six slices, though the periphery is six-sided or eight-sided
Split shot - also called shot is round balls of lead or metal
(depending on the size) with a split (cut) halfway through.
Line is place in the cut and the shot squeezed together to close the cut,
holding the shot on the line. Used to balance the float in the water or to stop
the leger from sliding down the line to the hook
Spod - used a lot by carper's for baiting up. a spod is a 'rocket'
shaped plastic tube closed at the pointed end. A powerful rod with strong line
should be used for casting the spod. The spod is tied to the main line, filled
with bait such as particles or pellets and cast out into the area to be fished.
When the filled spod hits the water it will turn upside down allowing the bait
to empty from the spod.
Spool - the part of the reel that the line is wound round and
stored
Spoon - metallic lure in the shape of a table spoon. Used in
spinning
Sportfisherman - a motorboat equipped for sportfishing
Sportfishing - fishing for sport
Spring tide - tide with the largest difference between the high
and low level water. Happens around the time of the new and full moon
Squid - marine cephalopod used as bait in sea fishing
Steelhead - (USA) a salmon that is born in freshwater streams and
migrates to the sea or large lake, then comes back to spawn
Stick float - a float that is used in river fishing (or running
water) and is attached to the line using a float rubber at the top and bottom.
Tip: use an extra float rubber in the middle as well and if one of the
rubbers break ie when adjusting the float up or down the line, then the extra
rubber can be moved into its place. Saves time having to set up again
Stocking - the practice of releasing artificially reared fry or
fingerlings into ponds, reservoirs, or open waters.
Stream - a body of running water.
Strike - this is when a fisherman gets a bite from a fish and he
lifts his rod from a forward position, in an arc upwards and backwards
in an attempt to set the hook into a fish
Sunglasses - to protect your eyes and help you see those fish. Polarised are
preferred
Surf - of the sea, braking waves close to the shore
Surfcaster - one who fishes from the shore by casting into the
surf
Swim - part of the river or lake fished by the angler
Swim bladder - a tough-walled gas-filled sac lying in the upper
part of the body cavity of many bony fishes just beneath the vertebral column;
its principal function is to offset the weight of heavier tissue such as bone.
In some fishes used for sound production or respiration.
Swimfeeder - swimfeeder is an easy way of getting the feed near the fish. A
swimfeeder is a weighted frame around which you pack the groundbait into a solid
ball or a small hollow tube into which you pack your groundbait. It is attached
to the line near the hook and when cast out the groundbait empties and is in the
vicinity of your hook
Swing tip - a bite indicater (similar to a piece of cane with an
eye on the end) fixed to the tip of the rod which hangs down vertically and has
the line threaded through the eye. The swing tip is not used as much these
days due to the arrival of buzzers and electronic bite indicators. The swing tip
is used on stillwaters and indicates a bite by rising up when the line is pulled
by a fish. Can be very sensetive and on its day can out do new electronic bite
alarms
Swivel - swivels join lines where there is a tendency for the line
to twist when it is in the water or being retrieved. Swivels can be two way
or three way and barrel or a stronger ball-bearing type
Swoffer (USA) one who engages in Swoffing, the sport of saltwater
fly fishing
Swoffing - (USA) the sport of saltwater fly-fishing
Syndicate - similar to Club - a group of anglers who each pay a
sum of money annually enabling them exclusive fishing rights to a water
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T
Tackle - a term used to refer to any fishing equipment
Tackle box - the container that houses all your tackle to be transported to the
fishing venue
Tagging - Marking, or attaching a tag to fish, so that it or they
can be identified on recapture.
Taper - the part of the fly line that gradually decreases in
diameter to the hook
Tapered leader - leader that tapers from the thicker to the
thinner line, the thinner end is attached to the fly or lure
Tench - Latin name Tinca Tinca - species of fish
see Tench
Test curve - the test curve is the weight needed to make the tip
of a rod bend 90 degrees from the rod butt. Each rod has a test curve with those
being used for specimen fish such as carp having a greater test curve than a
general coarse rod
Thermocline - the distinct interface between surface waters and
cooler, deeper waters; region below the surface layer of the sea or lake, where
temperature declines abruptly with increasing depth.
Tide - The rise and falling of seas, oceans and some rivers. The movement of the oceans caused by the gravitational pull of the moon
and sun
Tight lines - anglers saying meaning good luck
Terminal tackle - the end gear of the fishing line such as the
hook, weights, swivels
Trace - part of the set up made up of the line and hook attached
together
Treble hook - this is mainly used by pike anglers or when predator
fishing. It looks like three hooks, two with the eye removed, the shanks welded
together back to back, with the gapes at 120 degree angle to each other. These
can be barbed or barbless. If barbed use a pair of pliers and crush the barbs to
help protect the fish being damaged in the removal.
Tributary - a creek, stream, or river that feeds a larger stream
or river or lake
Troll - to tow a lure or bait behind a moving boat
Trolling - towing a lure or bait behind a moving boat
Trotting - allowing a float to travel at the speed of the current
when fishing on rivers or on running waters
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U
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V
Vegetation -
fishermen
refer to any underwater plant as vegetation
Ventral fin - the fin located on the front of a fish's abdomen.
Vertebra - an individual segment of the backbone of a fish.
Vertebrate - a creature that has a backbone, for instance a fish
or a mammal.
Vice - used for fly tying, the hook is gripped in the vice and
then the fly is built up
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W
Waders - waterproof boots worn to keep the angler dry, can be
chest high, or waist high
Wading - to stand in or transverse a river or stream on foot; most
commonly done in shallower waterways
Watercraft - A term for
how an angler reads the water and conditions to find a good location for
catching fish.
Wels Catfish - species of fish see
Wels Catfish
Wet fly - a fly pattern that is used by fly fishermen to imitate creatures below
the surface of the water
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X
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Y
Yearling -
a one year old fish
Yolk Sac - in embryos and early fish larvae, a bag-like ventral
extension of the gut containing nutrive materials. It nourishes the growing fish
until it is able to feed itself.
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Z
Zander - species of fish
see Zander
Zebco - reel manufacturers
Zooplankton
- small aquatic animals that are suspended or swimming in water
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