Fish Language

• CATCH AND RELEASE
  Refers to the method of fishing where you release your catch shortly after reeling it into the boat, allowing the fish to live on. Catch and release is done to help conserve fish resources, and is…
• CHUM
  Small bits of ground bait that the target species often feeds on. The chum is spread around in the water by throwing scoops of it into the water or by dragging it behind the boat in a bucket with…
• COVER
  Often confused with Structure. Cover is anything in the lake that a fish can hide in or under for protection from sun and predators and to ambush unsuspecting prey. This includes docks, weeds,…
• CRANKBAIT
  A type of lure that is “cranked” back to the boat and creates a side-to-side swimming action by displacing water around either side of the front of the lure. Most crankbaits displace water over an…
• DRAG
  Device on fishing reels that allows line to feed out even though the reel is engaged. The tightness level of the drag, which can be adjusted, determines the amount of line let out under pressure. The…
• DRIFT SOCK
  A sheet of plastic or water resistant fabric that is attached to a boat and dragged in the water. The drift sock acts like a parachute by creating resistance in the form of drag, and helps to slow…
• DROPSHOT
  A type of rig where the hook is further up the line and a weight is attached to the end of the line. A soft plastic bait is used on the hook, and it is suspended in the water by maintaining a tight…
• DRY FLY
  Dry fly fishing is done with a floating line and flies that stay on the surface of the water. This technique targets the fish when feeding at the surface. While trout finds 90% of its diet below the…
• FLIPPING
  The act of swinging the lure to the target instead of casting. Often used when an angler wishes to fish in thick cover and make as little disturbance in the water as possible. Unlike pitching, no…
• FLUOROCARBON
  A type of fishing line that is made from polyvinylidene fluoride. Its density is the same as water, which means that it is virtually invisible underwater.

 

Fishcyclopedia

• ALABAMA RIG
  Popularized by pro bass angler Paul Elias after a FLW Open win on Lake Guntersville in October 2011, the Alabama Rig is the casting version of the umbrella rig. Paul Elias’ winning Alabama Rig….
• ANGLING
  The act of catching a fish with a rod, line, and hook. The word “angle” is a synonym for hook. It is a style a fishing fit for recreation but not suitable to meet the demands of commercial fisheries.
• AUGER
  A device used to drill through the ice when ice fishing, cutting a hole at least 8 inches (20 cm) across. Augers are either powered by hand or are motorized, usually gas-powered but sometimes…
• BACK TROLLING
  A technique that is used for trolling at slow speeds. The motor is put into reverse so that the motion of the boat is slowed down by the back of the boat as it displaces the water across the flat…
• BAIL
  The wire arm on a spinning reel that is used to wrap the line around the spool.
• BAITCAST REEL/ROD
  A type of reel and accompanying rod. The spool of the reel is perpendicular to the rod. The reel sits on top of the rod, which requires a different style of handle than what is used on spinning rods,…
• BARB
  A tiny protrusion near the point of a hook that prevents a fish from coming unhooked. It is angled away from the point so that the hook easily enters a fish, but is more difficult to remove.
• BED
  Often called a nest, this is an area that a fish has cleared in order to provide a place for the eggs to settle during spawning. Beds are often visible from above water when they are in shallow water…
• BRAID
  A type of fishing line that is made by weaving together several individual strands. It is known for its high strength and low memory.
• CAROLINA RIG
  A method of rigging a soft plastic bait. The hook is threaded through the first 1/4″ of the bait, and then pulled though until the eye of the hook is up against the front of the bait. The hook is…