Fishing terms, A to Z

Words familiar to us can be foreign to others. As an example, take fishing. If you are an avid angler, terms such as jig, structure, back-trolling and crank baits are common. For the novice or casual angler, however, they might make no sense.
 

For those new to fishing, here are some basic terms that might be helpful to know.
 

Angler/angling: An angler is a person who fishes; angling is another word for fishing.

Backlash: Tangled line on a bait casting reel. Tangled fishing line is also referred to as a bird’s nest.

Back-trolling: Technique in which the boat motor is put in reverse, allowing the boat operator to make sharper turns to follow changes in lake bottom structure.

Bait: Usually refers to live bait put on a hook (worms, minnows, insects, crabs, etc.).

Bait casting: Fishing with a revolving spool reel and bait casting rod; the reel is mounted on the topside of the rod.

Bobber: Also called a ‘float,’ they come in various shapes and sizes. They float on top of the water to keep the bait off the lake bottom and signal a fish bite by “bobbing” on the water.

Buzz bait: A large bait with propeller-type blades that churn when retrieved on top of the water.

Catch and release: The act of catching and immediately releasing a fish as a way to conserve the resource.

Crank bait: Minnow-like lure with a lip that causes the lure to dive under water during the retrieve; usually made from plastic or balsa wood.

Drifting: A method of fishing where the angler allows the boat to drift in the wind. Usually involves using live bait.

Flies: Lures made from fur, hair, feathers or synthetics tied to hooks; intended to resemble insects, larvae or minnows.

Fly-fishing: A preferred trout-fishing method using a special fly rod with either live or imitation flies tied to a hook.

Jerk bait: A soft or hard plastic bait resembling a small fish, usually fished by using quick jerks or yanking it to resemble a bait fish.

Jigs/jigging: Jigs are lures with a weighted head and a fixed hook often dressed with fur, feathers, or a plastic body/tail. Live bait can be added to the hook. Jigging is a technique in which the jig is moved up and down frequently.

Leader: Length of monofilament, wire or other stranded material tied between the end of the line and the lure or hook. Provides extra strength and guards against abrasion from sharp teeth or rough mouths of fish.

Livewell: Compartment in a boat that holds water in which to keep caught fish alive.

Lures: Artificial bait made to resemble live bait.

PFD: Personal Flotation Device, such as a life jacket or floating cushion.

Plugs: Type of lure made of wood, plastic or rubber and designed to imitate small minnows, fish, frogs, bugs, etc. Can be either floating or sinking.

Reel: Mechanical device that holds the fishing line. There are various types of reels, most notably spin-casting, spinning, bait-casting and fly-casting. Beginners are better off with a spin-casting reel.

Rod: The fishing pole, usually made of fiberglass, graphite or composite materials. Rods come in various lengths and strengths. Rods are available for fly fishing, spinning, spin casting, and bait casting.

Sinker: Weight used to sink lures in the water. Sinkers come in different weights, shapes, and types.

Slip-sinker: A sinker that slides up and down on the line rather than being locked in place.

Snap/snap swivel/swivel: A snap is a hook-shaped piece of wire with a clasp that is tied to a fishing line. A lure is attached to the snap. Snap swivels are the same concept but also help prevent line twisting.

Split-shot sinker: For the novice angler, this is the preferred sinker. These are very small round weights with a slit for the line. The slit in the weight is pinched together to hold the sinker in place.

Strike: A “hit” from a fish attempting to take a lure or bait.

Trolling: Fishing from a boat with the motor kept in forward gear at a slow speed. Live or crank baits are preferred for this type of fishing.

Zebra Mussels: Zebra mussels are an invasive species that foul beaches, interfere with food webs, smother native mussels, clog water intakes and are linked to fish and wildlife die-offs. Mussels attach to boat hulls, fishing equipment, nets and boat lifts. They can be transported on those materials or aquatic plants that remain on marine equipment and fishing tackle. Microscopic larvae may be carried in the water of undrained bait buckets or livewells. It is illegal to import, possess, transport and/or introduce zebra mussels into the wild.