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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

action of a lure the specific movement of a lure through the water

action of a rod its dynamic response to load and force, described as stiff action, parabolic action, etc.

alkaline water with a low degree of acidity

anadromous fish that spend part of their life cycle in salt water and part in fresh water

aquatic community the interrelationships of biological organisms within a body of water (may also apply to Great Lakes fish)

aquatic insects water-bred insects which spend all or part of their life in water; e.g., midges, stoneflies, mayflies

artificials man-made baits; e.g. spoons, plugs

B

backing line added to the back of the line, so when spooled it fills the reel

backtrolling a system of boat control whereby a craft is moved in reverse while running lures or baits

baitcasting reel a fishing reel in which the spool is not stationary during a cast, but revolves

baitfishing technique using the natural prey of other species

barbels beard-like appendages on some species, like the catfish, which help them detect food through their senses of taste and smell

barbs (on hooks) sharp protrusions on some hook shanks

bass bugs large, floating flies with deer hair and/or cork bodies

boat control the process of placing a boat in the correct position with relation to the fish -- and keeping it there -- in order to facilitate the most effective presentation

bobber a device which floats on the surface and allows an angler to suspend baits at various depths and helps to signal a strike; also called a "float"

bottom content geological make-up of the lake or river bottom; e.g., sand, muck, clay, rocks

break any change in regular terrain, as in a hump on bottom, or drop-off to deep water; or in the flow of current, as that caused by a boulder

break line a definite change in depth or cover or the area where two layers of water meet and differ in temperature, oxygen, and/or turbidity

buck a spawning male fish

bucktail lure dressed with deer hair

bug flies a cork-bodied surface fly designed to imitate a variety of aquatic and terrestrial foods

buzz bait a lure similar to a spinner bait, with a three-dimensional propeller designed to be fished quickly on the surface

C

cannonball a type of very heavy round weight used in deep-water fishing with downriggers

catch-and-release an ethical principle whereby an angler carefully releases a fish

caudal the tail area of a fish

cheater line a secondary short line attached to the main line for running a secondary lure

chugger a top-water plug that has a cup-shaped mouth

chum bait thrown in the water to attract fish; e.g., cornmeal, fish entrails

clarity the degree of visibility in a body of water as determined by water color and turbidity; i.e., stained, dirty, muddy

coaster a brook trout that spends part of its life at sea or in the Great Lakes

cold-water period the stable period of very late fall -winter - early spring

comfort zone a species' ideal water temperature, pH, O2, etc.

competitive species the relationship between two or more species in a body of water competing for the same food and/or spawning habitat

cone of vision the area above, below, in front of, and behind a fish, within which it can see

contour lines continuous lines on a map indicating depth used by anglers to identify structure

controlled drift a system of boat control in which a motor, oars, paddles, or a push pole are used in addition to wind and current drift

countdown method counting as a lure sinks to determine the desired depth of retrieve

cover any feature in a body of water which provides protection for individual or groups of fish; e.g., weeds, rocks, deep water

crank bait a sinking or diving plug, usually with a lip

ctenoid a type of fish scale that has rough patches

D

deep-water zone the main basin of a lake or the channel of a river or reservoir

depth control controlling your lure or bait at a specific depth

dorsal fin the fin situated on the back of the fish

downrigger a metal device, resembling an oversized rod, that is mounted to the decking of a boat and can be lowered or raised on a metal cable; used to present lures in deep water on light lines

drag an adjustable mechanism that allows a hooked fish to take the line off the reel to avoid break-offs

drift the movement of a lure, natural food, or a boat when they move naturally with the flow of water or prevailing winds

drop-off a point where there is sharp increase in depth

dry fly a fly which floats on the surface of the water and imitates mature aquatic insects

E

ecosystem a system formed by the interaction of a community of organisms within their environment

edge concept edges can be related to areas of temperature, water clarity, current, or structures, and they often hold catchable fish; e.g., active, feeding bass found on the weedline

egg sinker a type of weight shaped like an egg with a hole in the middle

electronics devices to enhance an angler's ability to sense the aquatic environment; e.g., depth sounders, temperature probes

epilimnion the warm layer of water above the thermocline

eutrophic lake the late stages of the geological aging process of lakes

exotic species a species that is not native to a body of water, but has been introduced to it intentionally or by accident

eye (of a hook) small loop at one end of a hook to which line is tied

F

fan cast to make a series of systematic casts to cover an area around the angler

fisheries management the scientific practice of studying the aquatic ecosystem and applying measures to keep it balanced

fishing pressure the effect of angling on specific fish populations

fishing regulations governmental measures to protect a species or its environment; e.g., prohibiting the fishing of fragile species during the spawning period

fishways man-made passages around obstacles to aid the movement of fish from one body or section of water to another during spawning migrations

flies bits of fur, feathers, and other materials that are tied on a hook so that they imitate insects, baitfish, etc.

flippin' method using an underhand pendulum motion with a long rod to present sinking lures to fish in heavy cover

float same as "bobber"

floater-diver a plug that floats when not being moved, but runs beneath the surface when retrieved

fly fishing a method of fishing with flies

forage the diet of a particular species

freshet the sudden rising of a stream or river by means of heavy rain or melting snow

front trolling a system of boat control in which a bait or lure is trolled behind a boat moving forward

fry newly hatched fish

G

gaff a large metal hook for landing fish; prohibited in some areas

guides loops along the length of the rod through which the line is passed

H

habitat the location where a plant or animal species lives as determined by environmental factors

headwater small stream which is the beginning of a river system hen a spawning female

holding area any specific position in a body of water to which fish are attracted because of its cover or food

hot-shotting a presentation whereby a wobbling plug is fished in a river directly downstream from a boat or wading angler

hypolimnion the colder layer of water below the thermocline ichthyology the study of fishes

I

inflated worm method inserting an air bubble into a worm with a hypodermic needle

introduction the intentional or accidental placement of fish in a body of water; intentional scientific introduction of fish is also called "stocking"

J

jerk baits very large stick baits which the angler must jerk to impart action

jigging imparting an up-and-down or sideways action to a jig

jigs lures with a lead head moulded around the hook; many are dressed with fur, plastic, or feathers

K

kelt a spawned-out salmon or trout that does not return to the ocean, but dies; kelt salmon are also called black salmon

kype the upturned lower jaw of a mature salmon or trout

L

lake classifications broad categories of lake types; eg. " oligotrophic, " " mesotrophic, " and " eutrophic "

lake zones specific water zones; e.g., shallow water. water

landlocked fish any species that is limited to a body of fresh water without access to the sea

lateral line the line along the side of the body of a fish which is sensitive to vibrations

leader the transition between the line and the lure, often made of heavier line, lighter line, or wire

light conditions refers to intensity of daylight; e.g., cloudy day -- low light conditions, sunny day -- high light conditions

line standards fishing line is often rated by pound-test, which refers to the amount of steady strain a line can withstand; other factors are limpness, shock and abrasion resistance, diameter, and elasticity

littoral zone shallow-water zone

M

metabolism the rate at which a fish's biological functions occur; i.e., breathing, digestion

mesotrophic the middle stage of a lake's geological aging process; these lakes are usually fertile, warm to cool bodies

morphology the body shape of a species

movements locational shift of fish from one area to another, usually on a daily or seasonal basis

N

negative fish at the lowest feeding mood, usually stressed by one or more factors in their environment

neutral the middle stage of fish activity

nitrogen narcosis a condition suffered by fish when taken suddenly from deep water to the surface, causing expanding gases by rapid decompression

noodle rod a special long, soft rod that can handle light lines

nymphs flies made to sink below the surface of the water and imitate immature insects

O

oligotrophic a lake that is young by geological standards; it is usually low in fertility, deep, and cold

open water upper water layer of a lake, from the outside edge of the first major drop-off down to the deep-water zone

oxygen factor the necessary amount of dissolved oxygen to sustain fish, supplied by current, wind, and the photosynthesis of aquatic vegetation

P

pan fish small fish, usually of the sunfish variety such as bluegills

parasites organisms that infest and draw nourishment from a host, including game fish

parr a young salmonid or trout

pattern any reoccurring locational/presentational situation, which can be duplicated elsewhere in the body of water being fished

peak period a period in the seasonal cycle of a species that is marked by high activity and is very productive for the angler

pectoral fins paired fins on the side of the body

pH the system of measuring the level of acidity in a liquid on a scale of O to 14; each fish species has a preferred pH level

plastics soft, pliable lures made of plastic; available in an infinite variety of designs

plug a three-dimensional lure that runs on top of or through the water; also called a crank bait bait

point an extension of land which slopes into deep water

pool a deep, slack area of a pool or river

positive referring to fish intent on feeding; also called "active"

predator/prey relationship the relationship of baitfish and other forage to the fish which eat them

presentation the act of placing the correct bait at the correct depth and speed to trigger a response from the fish

R

redd the spawning bed of a salmonid

retrieve the various ways of working a cast lure back to the angler

rig fishing equipment; most often refers to an outfitted boat or specially prepared terminal tackle

river classifications according to the geological aging process, rivers or sections of rivers are classified as young, middle aged, or mature; young rivers are usually at headwaters and low in fertility; middle-aged sections are further downstream and more fertile; mature sections have deeper, slower-moving waters with high fertility and lower oxygen levels

rod holder a device attached to the decking of a boat in which you place your rod; useful when trolling large baits

roll cast one of the basic fly casting methods whereby the line is rolled directly off the water

S

scientific method in contrast to fishing by "luck," fishing based on the observation of the environment

setting the hook using the rod to drive the hook through the mouth of the fish

shallow-water zone the area of a lake from shore to the first major drop-off

shank section of hook between the eye and the point

sinkers lead weights of various designs and sizes used to sink baits and lures

skirt usually a rubber or vinyl addition to a lure that gives it action and texture

slip-sinker a sinker threaded on the line which slides, preventing the fish from feeling resistance

smolt a salmonid or trout ready to migrate to sea

snake trolling a system of boat control in which a lure or bait is trolled in a weaving manner in order to impart erratic action to a lure or to avoid spooking shallow fish; sometimes called zigzagging

snelled hook a hook with leader material attached

speed trolling a system of boat control in which a lure is trolled behind a boat moving at fast speed

spincasting reel a closed-faced, push button-operated reel which sits on top of a casting rod; ideally suited for beginners

spinner a lure that consists of one or more blades attached to a central wire shaft with a clevis; the blades spin

spinner bait differs from an ordinary spinner in that the blade is attached to one end of the bent safety pin wire and the other end of the wire is moulded into the head of a Jig

spinning this method uses a reel with a fixed spool hung below a rod fitted with oversized guides; when the angler turns the handle of the reel, a metal bail engages the line and deposits it on the spool

splitshot a type of weight used for light tackle angling that is pinched directly onto the line

spooking frightening a fish

spool the section of a reel that holds the coiled fishing line

spoons lures that are stamped from flat metal, varying in size, weight, and thickness

spreader an ice-fishing minnow rig consisting of a lead weight and two or more single hooks

stacking lures placing more than one lure at different depth intervals, using one rod, usually with the aid of a downrigger

stick baits cigar-shaped plugs with no built-in action

stink baits baits with added scents

streamers wet flies made of feathers usually imitating baitfish

strike the instant a fish contacts a bait

stripping line pulling line off the reel by hand

structure any natural or man-made physical feature in a body of water; e.g., boulders, docks, weeds

stunted fish fish whose growth is severely hampered by environmental factors such as overpopulation

submandibular pores pores found in some species that are located on the underside of the lower jaw

subsurface lures lures designed to run at shallow depths

suspended fish fish holding in an area anywhere off bottom to the surface

swivel device attached to line which prevents line twist

T

tailing a method of landing a fish by grasping it near the tail

taper an area that slopes gradually and evenly towards deeper water

tapered line main or lead line that decreases in diameter towards both ends (double taper) or towards one end (weight forward and shooting heads)

temperature preference the specific temperatures at which a given species functions most efficiently

terminal tackle the equipment at the end of the fishing line, including hooks, lures, weights, and leaders

thermal stratification the process whereby a lake divides into layers of water with different temperature ranges

thermocline a horizontal band of temperature change in a stratified body of water between the epilimnion and hypolimnion

tippet the fine end of a leader where a fly is tied; it is classified by size

tip-up a type of line-holding device used in ice fishing that indicates a strike

top-water lure lures that float and are designed to be retrieved on the surface

transition area the place where one structure or water type ends and another begins; e.g., rock bottom turning into gravel

trigger the sight, sound, smell, taste, texture, or vibration of a lure which entices a fish to strike

trolling a method of angling whereby lures or baits are presented by a moving boat

turbidity suspended particles in water

turnover period a brief period when lakes or reservoirs are in the process of mixing water layers of different temperatures

two-storey fish community the relationship between species in a body of water where the warmer-water species inhabit the upper layer and the cooler-water species inhabit the deeper, colder portion

V

vomer roof portion of the mouth of a fish

W

walking sinkers sinkers designed to move across the bottom, avoiding snags

wave action wave action disturbs water surface, deters light penetration, and causes a shift in water temperature, current, and forage distribution

weed guards devices of wire, plastic, rubber, or nylon attached to hooks which prevent their points from becoming snagged

weedline the outside or inside edge of weedbeds

wet flies flies designed to sink below surface

wigglers nymph stage of the giant mayfly

wire lining using metal line to present lures when trolling

worm rigs specialized combinations of hooks, weights, and plastic or natural worms