GLOSSARY

Angler: Someone who fishes for fun or sport.

Backlash: A tangled line resulting from the overrun of a reel.

Bait: Food as lures for fish. It includes worms, minnows, crayfish, crickets, grasshoppers, and frogs. Baits can be dead or alive, fresh or frozen and can vary in size and color. All live bait can be bought from a bait shop.

Bobber: A colorful, plastic or wooden float used to keep the bait a desired distance below the surface.

Buck tail: Hair from the tail of a deer, used to make a skirt for a hook.

Crayfish: Small lobster-like freshwater crustacean. Excellent bait for trout or bass.

Drag: The brake on a reel. When an artificial fly moves on or under the water faster than the current.

Estuary: The mouth of a river.

Ferrule: Metal plug and socket on matching ends of rod pieces so that they can be fitted together.

Hook: A J-shaped needle with a barb to snare the fish. Hooks are identified by their weight, size and style and are made up of five parts: the eye, shank, bend, point and barb.

Minnow: Small fish of several species used as bait.

Plug: An artificial lure made of wood or plastic and resembling a baitfish in size and color.

Pork rind: A strip of pig's skin used as bait.

Reel: A spool around which fishing line is stored: it allows you to control the fishing line, bait and lure in the water. There are two basic types: The ones with spools that rotate and those with spools that are stationary. Conventional reels are mounted on top of the rod while spinning wheels are mounted underneath the rod.

Rise: Fish coming to the surface to feed.

Sinker: A metal weight used to pull the lure to a desired depth.

Spinner: A blade shaped metal lure that spins as it is pulled through the water.

Split shot: Small cylindrical lead sinker that is split opened so it can be crimped onto a line.

Spoon: A lure that is shaped like a spoon without a handle.

Spreader: A device that allows you to have two baited hooks at the same time.

Stink bait: Doughballs, cheeseballs, or any homemade dough-like substance that can be molded onto a line.

Swivel: A brass or stainless steel device for connecting line to leader or leader to lure to stop the line from twisting.

Tackle box/bag: A container for fishing tackle. Usually made of plastic, anti-corrosive metal or water-resistant fabric.

Trolling: Fishing from a moving boat.

Ultra light: Designation for spinning tackle where the line is less than 3 lb-Test and the rod less than 3 ounces.