A 

• Action - Measure of rod performance that describes the elapsed time between flexion and return to straight configuration; ranges from slow to fast, with slow being the most amount of flexion; also refers to the strength of the rod (light, meduim and heavy) with light being a limber rod and heavy a stout rod; also refers to gear of reels.
• Active Fish - Fish that are feeding heavily and striking aggressively.
• Angler - Person using pole or rod and reel to catch fish.
• Anti-reverse - System that prevents reels from spinning in reverse.
• Arbor Knot - A simple yet very effective knot for securing your fishing line to your reel. For instructions on how to tie an arbor knot, click here.
• Artificial Reef - Any material sunk offshore for the express purpose of attracting fish. Old boats, concrete culverts and blocks, metal pipe, the list is endless.

B 

• Backlash - Tangle of line on a baitcasting reel due to spool overrun. Also known as a "bird's nest" or "professional overrun".
• Bail - Metal, semicircular arm on an open-face spinning reel that engages the line after a cast.
• Bait - Food, or some substitute, used to attract fish and entice them to strike your hook. "Bait" may refer to an artificial lure or live bait.
• Baitcaster or Baitcasting Reel - Most common style of reel used in bass fishing; typically round or oval (low-profile) shaped and somewhat open construction. These reels are susceptible to backlashes if not properly adjusted and cast with proper technique. This type of reel requires a lot of practice to minimize the threat of backlashes and therefore is not recommended for kids or those new to fishing. Also known as level wind reels. Photo of low-profile (oval) baitcaster:
  
  
• Baitcasting - Fishing with a revolving-spool reel and baitcasting rod; reel mounted on topside of rod.
• Baitfish - Small fish often eaten by larger predatory game fish; any small fish that can be used as live bait when fishing.
• 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 (and more expensive the price).
• Balsa - Type of wood several lures are manufactured from. This wood is very light, yet highly buoyant. Gives the lure great action. Examples include Bagley's Balsa B, and Rapala Original Floating Minnow.
• Beads - Glass, or plastic beads added to a Carolina Rig to enhance the noise, and protect the knot.
• Beds - Circular areas in the lake bottom that bass and other fish clear out in which to lay their eggs during the spawn. "The bass are on the beds" refers to the fish actively spawning.
• Bell Sinkers - Sinkers shaped like a bell, which are normally used on a Carolina Rig. Also known as casting sinkers.
• Bird's Nest - Another term for backlash
• Blank - Traditionally, the term "blank" referred to a fishing rod sold without grip, guides or finish allowing the angler to outfit and customize the rod to suit his/her specific needs. Oftentimes today, the term refers to a finished rod sold without the reel only.
• Brackish - Water that is mostly fresh, with some salt. The far ends of tidal creeks are mostly brackish, supporting sometimes fresh and saltwater fish.
• Break - Distinct variation in otherwise constant stretches of cover, structure, or bottom type. Basically anything that "breaks up" the underwater terrain.
• Breakline - A line of abrupt change in depth, bottom type, or water clarity in the feature of otherwise uniform structure. A place where there is a sudden or drastic change in the depth of the water, or weed type. This may be the edge of a creek, a submerged cliff, or even a stand of submerged weeds.
• Bucketmouth - Nickname for largemouth bass.
• Butt Seat - A boat seat that is shaped in a sort of half moon design, which anglers often use to lean against while fishing. Also known as "Bike" seats.
• Buzzbait - Topwater lure with large, propeller-type blades that churn the water during retrieve in an effort to attract a strike from aggressive fish. Comprised of a leadhead, rigid hook, and wire that supports one or more blades. Click here to see an example of a buzzbait.
• Buzzing - Retrieving a lure, such as a spinnerbait or buzzbait, at a rate fast enough to cause it to remain partially out of the water, causing a noisy disturbance. Sometimes called ripping or burning.

C 

• Carolina Rig - A style of terminal tackle normally used to keep a lure a foot or two (or more) off the bottom. This is most commonly used with a plastic worm, but is also used with floating crankbaits and other lures as well. A barrel slip sinker of 1/2- to 1-ounce is first slipped on the line and then a swivel is tied to the end of the line. A piece of line 18 to 30 inches long is then tied to the other end of the swivel and a hook or lure is tied to the end of this piece line. Rigged Texas style (weedless with the hook buried in the body of the bait), the combination is excellent for fishing ledges, points, sandbars, and humps.
• Catch-And-Release - Term that refers to releasing the fish you catch so that they can live to fight another day, and thus insuring a productive fishery.
• Centipede - Four-inch straight plastic worm that resembles a centipede. Used primarily for Carolina rigs. Example: Zoom Salty Centipede
• Charger - Device used to charge a trolling motor's batteries.
• Chugger - Topwater plug with a dished-out (concave or "cupped") head designed to make a splash when pulled sharply. Similar to but smaller than a popper. Example: Storm Chug Bugs.
• Chunk - Plastic or pork trailer commonly used on jigs. The term "chunk" also refers to a fat bass.
• Clarity - Refers to the degree of transparancy of the water you are fishing. This determines the distance and depth that a fish is able to see an object (such as your lure) under the water.
• Classic, The - Better known as The BASS Masters Classic, the year-end championship of bass fishing. This is where the top 45 anglers meet to crown a world champion angler.
• Colorado Blade - A spinning blade design used in spinnerbaits. Gives out a strong vibration. Blades are more rounded or circular in shape. Click here to see a colorado style blade. This Booyah Red Hook Series Spinnerbait features a double colorado blade design.
• Cover - A place for a game fish to rest in relative security from predators and current. Cover is a non-permanent physical feature of the body of water. This term is often confused with the term "structure" which refers to the permanent features of a body of water. Examples of cover include bushes, stumps, dock pilings, and laydowns.
• Crankbait - Typically, a lipped or "billed" lure that dives under the surface when retrieved or "cranked". Some models feature internal rattles that emit noise as the bait is retrieved and act as an auditory attractant for bass. See example: Bomber Model ''8A'' Crankbait
• Crawfish - Small fresh water crustaceans similar to lobsters only smaller. A favorite food of bass. This term also describes a reddish color used in many lure designs.
• Cull - The act of "culling". See next term.
• Culling - Refers to releasing a smaller fish and replacing it with a larger one you have caught once you have reached your limit. "This big fish will cull that small one" is a phrase heard on The Bassmasters TV show often.
• Culprit Worm - A soft plastic bait that emulates a worm and is most often fished using a Texas rig. These worms feature a "ribbon" tail that flutters as the bait is retrieved and acts as a visual attractant for predatory fish such as bass. Although there are several similar worms, Culprit is the manufacturer of the original ribbon tail plastic worm, thus no matter what the manufacturer, worms of this style are often referred to as a "Culprit" worms by anglers. Click here to see an example of a Culprit worm.

D 

• Depthfinder - A sonar-operated monitoring device mounted in a boat that is used to read the bottom structure, determine depth, and in some cases actually spot the fish; also called a fishfinder. Click here to see an example of a depthfinder.
• Dink - A small fish that is too small to keep and is therefore released immediately.
• Drag - Device on fishing reels that allows line to pay out under pressure, even though the reel is engaged; set correctly, it ensures against line breakage.
• Drift Anchor - A large bag or sock resembling an airport wind sock. This is dropped over the side of the boat to help control the boat in rough water or to allow for drift fishing with the current. Click here to see an example.
• Drift Bag - See "drift anchor" above
• Drift Sock - See "drift anchor" above
• Drop Shot - A hook tied directly to the line from four-inches to four-feet above the sinker. The hook is attached from the back side or opposite the point, with a simple palomar knot with a tag end about four or five feet long. The weight hangs and the hook is at a 90-degree angle to the line with the hook point up. The hook can be 18 to 24 inches above a bell sinker tied on with a slip-knot.

E 

• Edge - Refers to the borders created by a change in the structure or vegetation in a lake. Some examples of edges are tree lines, weed lines, and the edge of a drop-off.

F 

• Ferrule - The joint where different sections of a rod fit together.
• Finesse Fishing - An angling technique characterized by the use of light tackle - line, rods, reel and artificial baits (often tube worms, grubs, or other small-sized soft-plastic lures); often productive in clear, fairly uncluttered water.
• Finesse Baits - Baits used when utilizing finesse fishing tactics to entice fish to strike. Typically these finess baits are small soft plastic lures such as tube baits, grubs, short worms, and jigs.
• Fishfinder - See "depthfinder" above.
• Flat - An area in a body of water with little if any change in depth. Small and large, flats are generally surrounded on at least one side by deeper water, the bottom comes up to form a flat area where fish will often move up for feeding.
• Flipping - The technique of placing a lure in a given spot precisely, and quietly, with as little disturbance of the water as possible using a short underhanded cast while controlling the line with your hand.
• Flipping Stick - Heavy action fishing rod, usually 7 to 8 feet long, used when practicing the "flipping" technique.
• Floater - Style of lure that floats rather than sinks at rest. Example wooden crankbaits.
• Floating Worm - Plastic worm used to catch spawning bass that actually floats on top of the water. Common colors include pink, yellow, and sherbert.
• Florida Rig - Very similar to the Texas Rig, the only difference is the weight is secured by "screwing" it into the bait. The worm sinker has a metal "cork screw" in the base so that the angler can screw it into the worm. This keeps the sinker and worm together and reduces tangles.
• Fluorocarbon Line - A type of fishing line that is often invisible below the water's surface because it has light refracting properties very similar to water.
• Football Head - Design refers to the shape of certain jigs that resemble a football mounted side ways. Normally used in very rocky locations. Click here to see an example of a football head jig.
• Forage - Small baitfish, crayfish and other creatures that predatory gamefish eat. May also be used to refer to the act of the predatory fish hunting for food (foraging).
• French Fry - Soft-plastic worm about 4 inches long. Resembles a crinkle-cut French fry. Used often on Carolina Rigs. Example: Luck "E" Strike Salty Elite Series French Fry
• Frog - Soft, tough plastic lure that swims on top of the water. Often used in thick, scummy areas. See example: Bass Pro Shops XPS Frog

G 

• Gear Ratio - Measure of a reel's retrieve speed expressed as the number of times the spool revolves for each complete turn of the handle.
• Grass - General term referring to underwater weeds and vegetation. Refers to green plants growing in the water. Bass are attracted to the grass, which is home to prey.
• Grub - A short plastic curl-tailed worm used with a weighted jig hook.

H 

• Hawg - Usually refers to a lunker-size or heavyweight bass weighing 4 pounds or more.
• Holding Area - Structure that habitually holds three to five fish.
• Holding Station - Place on lake where inactive fish spend most of their time.
• Honey Hole - A super fishing spot containing a number of big fish; also any place with a large concentration of keeper fish. When you find a honey hole, you'll want to keep the location to yourself or risk someone else catching all your fish!
• Horizontal Movement - The distance a fish moves while remaining at the same depth plane.
• Hump - An area on the bottom of a body of water that is higher than the surrounding area. A submerged dam or island might be considered a hump.

I 

• Inactive Fish - Fish that are in a non-feeding mood. Examples of typically inactive times: following a cold front; during a major weather change that causes a sudden rise or fall in water temperature, or when a rising lake level is abruptly lowered.
• Improved Clinch Knot - A simple yet very strong knot for tying hooks and lures to fishing line. For instructions on how to tie an improved clinch knot click here.
• In-line - Commonly refers to in-line spinners where the blade, body, and hook are all in a straight line. See example: Mepps Aglia Original Plain Spinner
• Indiana Blade - Refers to a teardrop shaped blade used on spinnerbaits. Click here to see an example of an indiana style spinner blade. This Red River F5 Series Spinnerbait features a double indiana blade design.
• Isolated Structure - A singular structure in a body of water that is not crowded or surrounded by other structures in the immediate area. These can be possible holding spots for fish. Examples include a single bush on a point, a midlake hump, or a large tree that has fallen into the water.

J 

• Jerkbait - There are two types: soft and hard. The soft style is similar to a baitfish profile and rigged with a large worm hook. Example of a soft jerkbait: Lunker City Slug-Go. Hard jerkbaits resemble more of a minnow baitfish. Examples are a Rapala or Smithwick Rogue. Both style lures are fished by twitching or jerking the lure forward, hence the name.
• Jig - A type of lure featuring a weighted lead head poured around the top of a hook which can then be rigged with a soft plastic body or skirt, and other attractants such as spinner blades and/or trailers of plastic, pork rind, or hair.
• Jigging - Working a jig. That means popping the rod tip up and cranking in some line with the reel, making the jig dart through the water. Very attractive to most fish species.
• Jig 'N Pig - Combination of a leadhead jig and pork rind trailer; among the most effective baits for attracting trophy-size bass.
• Jitterbug - Old wooden-body topwater lure with large metal lip. Makes a gurgle-type commotion when retrieved.

K 

• Keeper - A fish that meets a specific minimum length limit established by tournament sanctioning organizations, state fisheries departments, and/or private lake rules. Any fish that you catch that does not meet the minimum lenth limit may not be kept and must be released immediately.
• Kicker - Larger, heavier bass that really helps out the total weight of a tournament angler's catch. Example: "I had a limit of 2-pounders, but was lucky and caught a 5 pound kicker."

L 

• Laydown - A tree or log that has fallen into the water. Also known as "falldown".
• Leadhead - Bare leadhead jig that is normally used to rig a grub body onto. Photo:
  
• Limit - The maximum number of bass, or other fish, you are allowed to keep per state law or tournament rules. Tournaments normally use a limite of five bass per angler per day.
• Line Guides - The rings mounted to a fishing rod through which fishing line is passed. Guide diameters typically go from larger to smaller as you move up the rod from the reel to the tip. Guides are also sometimes called "eyes".
• Lipless Crankbaits - A type of crank bait that is made without a lip. The line attaches to the top of the lure. These artificial baits are designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. Such plugs vibrate and/or wobble during retrieve; some have built-in rattles. Also called swimming baits. Example: Rat-L-Trap
• Livewell - An aerated water tank in boats used to hold keeper fish and keep them alive until such time as the angler returns to shore.
• Lizard - Soft plastic lures similar to a salamander. Used for Carolina Rigs, and fishing shallow water in the spring.
• Locators - Common nickname for depthfinders since they will often display images of fish as they pass over them.
• Loose-Action Plug - A lure with wide and slow movements from side to side.
• Lunker - A big or large size bass, normally weighing 4 pounds or more. Also known as a "hawg".
• Lunker Lure - Original designer of the buzzbait. Many anglers still refer to all buzzbaits as "Lunker Lures."
• Lure retrievers - Heavy devices designed to knock loose or retrieve snagged fishing lures.

M 

• Mono - Short for monofilament fishing line.
• Monofilament Line - A type of fishing line made from a single strand of nylon.
• Mojo Rig - Technique similar to a Carolina Rig except that it is rigged on a spinning rod. Thus it is a finesse-type method. The sinkers are cylindrical or pencil-shaped to come through rocks without snagging.

O 

• Organizers - Clear plastic tackle boxes that can be taken out or added to a boat or tackle bag. Example: Plano StowAway boxes.

P 

• Palomar Knot - The palomar knot is easy to tie, exceptionally strong, and very popular with bass fishing pros for tying on jigs and worm hooks. It's somewhat awkward to tie when using lures with treble hooks, but it is the recommended knot for braided lines. For instructions on how to tie a palomar knot click here.
• Pattern - A defined set of location and presentation factors that consistently produce fish. Example: If you catch more than one fish off a pier or stick-up, then your chances of catching more bass in such places are excellent. This is commonly called "establishing a pattern".
• Pegging - Method of worm fishing where the slip sinker has an object like a toothpick stuck into it to keep the sinker from sliding up the line.
• Personal Flotation Device (PFD) - A safety device that will keep someone afloat if they fall or are thrown overboard. Example: life jacket
• Pitching - Presentation technique in which worms or jigs are dropped into cover at close range with an underhand type cast resembling a pendulum motion, using a 6-1/2 to 7-1/2 foot baitcasting rod. The act of pitching a bait into a pocket or under tree limbs. Similar to flipping, but requires less stealth and usually done from further distances.
• Pocket - A small indentation of the shoreline.
• Point - A finger of land jutting into the water; deeper water is usually found just beyond the exposed tip and along the length of both sides. Fishing on and around points is often exceptionally rewarding. They almost always hold fish.
• Polarized Glasses - A very necessary part of a fisherman's kit. By virtue of a "grille" of tiny bars sandwiched between two layers of glass, polarized glasses eliminate glare reflected from water and allow a fisherman to see into the water.
• Popper - Topwater lure that makes a popping, or spitting commotion when retrieved. See example: Rebel Pop-R
• Popping Cork - A Styrofoam cork with the top shaped to make it gurgle when yanked. The noise is supposed to imitate sounds of fish feeding on top, thereby attracting the attention of gamefish.
• Pork Chunk - Trailer for jigs or spinnerbaits made originally from pork rinds.
• Presentation - This refers to the circumstances and manner (speed and direction, etc.) in which a lure is presented to a fish. A collective term referring to choice of color, size, and type of lure; structure targeted; amount of disturbance a bait makes when entering the water; and retrieval technique, speed, and depth used to catch fish.
• Professional Overrun - A polite term for backlash. See also "backlash" and "bird's nest".
• Prop - Common term for the propeller of a trolling or outboard motor.
• Prop Bait - Topwater lure with a metal propeller on one or both ends. See example: Luhr Jensen Woodchopper
• Pumpkinseed - Light brownish color used often in soft plastic lures. Very natural hue.

Q 

• Qualifier - A fishing tournament or a series of tournaments that must be fished in order to make it to a fish-off. Example; B.A.S.S. Invitational tournaments are qualifiers for the BASS Masters Classic.

R 

• Rat-L-Trap - Original type of lipless crankbait. Thus, most anglers refer to all similar lures by this name.
• Rattles - Glass or metal noisemakers added to lures in order to help bass find the lure easier.
• Reflex Strikes - Drawing a bite from fish that have no intention of feeding. Example: by bumping the crankbait into the stump (where the bass was hiding) the angler triggered the fish into a reflex strike even though it had just eaten a crawfish.
• Reservoir - Artificially created place where water is collected and stored; also called an impoundment.
• Re-spool - To replace the old line on a reel with new line.
• Revolving-Spool Reel - Another term for baitcasting reel. The spool turns during casting, unlike the spool of a spinning or spincasting reel.
• Ribbon Tail - Style of plastic worm that has a long ribbon type tail that ripples when the worm is retrieved. See also "Culprit" above.
• Ring Worm - Brand of plastic worm that features rings or ribs over the outside of the body. The texture is believed to feel soft and lifelike to fish.
• Run 'N Gun - Method of fishing where the angler is only attempting to catch those aggressive fish that will quickly strike the lures cast. Then the angler "runs" or motors to the next spot and quickly fishes it, repeating the process numerous times.

S 

• Saddle - A place in a body of water where the gap between structures narrows before widening again.
• Scatter Point - Position along structure where fish start to separate or scatter; often found in shallow water, at or very close to a breakline.
• Scent - Liquid attractant added to lures to increase strikes or to allow the fish to smell a natural odor thus hold onto the lure longer.
• Shad - Natural baitfish prey of bass. Common throughout the U.S.
• Short Strike - When a fish hits at a lure and misses it.
• Sight Fishing - Method of angling, where fishermen can actually see the fish they are attempting to catch. Requires clear water.
• Skirt - Silicone, rubber, or plastic material fashioned around a spinnerbait or similar lure to create the body.
• Skunked - To catch zero fish or keepers. A bad day on the water.
• Slack Line - The loose or limp line from the tip of the rod to the lure. This can be a slight bow in the line to an excess of line lying on the water.
• Slack Tide - No tidal movement, usually that period between incoming and outgoing tides. Not a good time to fish.
• Slicks - Bass not long enough to meet tournament standards; typically less than 14 inches. Such fish also are called "nubbins", "throw backs", "popcorns", "babies" and "dinks".
• Slip Sinker - A lead weight with a hole through the center. Threaded on line, a slip sinker slides freely up and down.
• Slow Roll - Spinnerbait presentation in which the lure is retrieved slowly through and over cover objects.
• Slush Bait - Topwater plug with flat or pointed head.
• Smallie - Nickname for smallmouth bass.
• Spawn - n. The period when fish are reproducing; v. the act of reproducing
• Spike-it - Liquid lure dye available in several colors. Simply dip plastic lure into jar, remove, and lure now has chartreuse or other color tail.
• Spincaster - A push-button, closed-face spinning reel mounted on the topside of a baitcasting rod. This type of reel is very easy to cast with very minimal chance of backlash. Many novice anglers and kids start out with a spincast reel before graduating to spinning reels and baitcasters.
  
  
• Spinnerbait - A leadhead lure, usually skirted, that features one or more spinning blades usually offset from the lure. The blades spin as the lure is retrieved and act as an attractant.
• Spinning Reel - An open-faced reel mounted on the underside of spinning rod. The reel features a non-revolving spool that is mounted parallel to the rod. A wire bail revolves around the spool during retrieve and acts to wind the line onto the spool. Spinning rigs are less difficult to master than a baitcaster but typically cannot support heavier line and lures like a baitcaster.
  
  
• Split-Shotting - Another method of finesse fishing. This technique involves pinching a small lead split shot sinker a foot or more above a small worm, then slowly dragging this on the bottom.
• Spook - Topwater lure formally known as a Zara Spook. Resembles a cigar.
• Spoon - A metal lure resembling a kitchen spoon. Used for catching fish out of deep water.
• Square Bill - Style of crankbait known for their small square diving bills. Excellent lures to retrieve through trees, stumps, rocks. Example; Bagley B-III or Luhr-Jensen Speed Trap.
• Star Drag - First used in the late 1950s, this was a major improvement in fighting fish. Still in use today. The star-shaped device, behind the reel's handle, is tightened by advancing it clockwise. When not in use, the drag should be loosened, as it tends to flatten the plastic washers inside.
• Stick Bait - Hard-plastic lure that imitates an injured minnow. Lures may float or suspend depending on construction. Example; Rapala Husky Jerk.
• Stick-Up - Stationary structure that extends about 5 feet or less above the surface of a body of water; a favorite casting target of fishermen. Examples include tree stumps, limbs, dock pilings, & submerged fence posts.
• Stringer - A method of keeping fish alive after they have been caught. A string or small nylon rope is threaded through the mouth and gills of a fish and is then tied off to the boat or dock allowing the fish to remain overboard in the water but preventing them from swimming away. With the advent of livewells and other more modern methods of keeping fish, stringers have become nearly obsolete, but can still be quite handy when fishing from the bank of a pond. The term "stringer" is also used by anglers to indicate the size of their catch for the day (10-pound stringer = 10 pounds of fish).
• Structure - Physical features and shapes of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. Some examples of structure are humps, depressions, sandbars, ledges, and drop-offs. Some examples that are not structure: a stump, tree, or brush pile (these are cover).
• Suspend - When bass are neither relating to the bottom of the lake, nor actively feeding near the surface. The fish are staging in the middle zone of water. This happens frequently in summer, when fish get inactive. Also describes lures that are made to stay in or at a certain depth when the retrieve is stopped.
• Suspended Fish - Fish at midlevel depths, neither near the surface nor on the bottom. See also "suspend".
• Swim Bait - Soft plastic lure that resembles a baitfish. Normally a life-size copy of a bluegill, shad, or trout. Example; Castaic lure.
• Swimming Lures - Sinking-type artificial baits designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. Such plugs vibrate and/or wobble during retrieve; some have built-in rattles. See also lipless crankbaits.

T 

• Tail Spinners - Compact, lead-bodied lures with one or two spinner blades attached to the tail, and a treble hook suspended from the underside of the body; designed to resemble a wounded shad; effective on schooling bass. Smaller versions are also effective on panfish.
• Take - When a fish eats a bait or lure.
• Taper - An area in a body of water that slopes toward deeper depths.
• Terminal Tackle - Angling equipment, excluding artificial baits, attached to the end of a fishing line; examples include hooks, snaps, swivels, snap-swivels, sinkers, floats, and plastic beads.
• Texas Rig - The method of securing a hook to a soft-plastic bait, such as a worm, lizard, crawfish, so that the hook is weedless. A bullet-shapped slip sinker is threaded onto the line and then a hook is tied to the end of the line. The hook is then inserted into the head of a worm for about one-quarter of an inch and brought through until only the eye is still embedded in the worm. The hook is then rotated and the point is embedded slightly into the worm without coming out the opposite side.
• Thermocline - Depth of lake where the lowest level of useable oxygen and cooler water temperatures meet. Bass will rarely be found below this level.
• Tight-Action Plug - A lure with short, rapid side-to-side movement.
• Tiptop - Line guide at top of fishing rod.
• Topwater Baits - Floating lures that create some degree of surface disturbance during retrieve. Examples are buzzbaits and topwater plugs.
• Trailer - Soft plastic creations that are added to enhance a lure's appearance. Also, trailer hooks are added to lures to catch short striking fish.
• Trailer Hook - An extra hook, sometimes referred to as a "cheater hook", added to a single-hook lure, such as a spinnerbait or weedless spoon.
• Treble Hook - Hook with single or bundled shaft and three points.
• Trolling Motor - A small electric fishing motor, typically mounted at the bow of a boat, that is used as secondary boat propulsion, for boat positioning, and to maneuver quietly in fishing areas.
• Tube Baits or Tub Lures - Soft plastic lures that are hollow inside the body. The end of the lure is like a soft skirt with tentacles. Used on light lead head jigs and with a slip sinker.

U 

• Utility Boxes - The clear plastic tackle boxes that have become popular recently. Example: Plano StowAway boxes.

V 

• Vegetation - Fishermen refer to any underwater plant as vegetation or "grass."
• Vertical Movement - Up and down movement of fish. Can also be movement of a lure such as a spoon (vertical jigging).

W 

• Wacky Worm - Rigging method for straight body worm, where the hook goes through the middle of the worm and is left exposed. Looks stupid but works well on spawning fish.
• Walk the Dog - Retrieve method used for fishing topwater lures. Accomplished by twitching the rod tip downward several times. Used mostly with spook lures.
• Weedguard - A stiff plastic or metal wire that protects the jig or lure from becoming snagged.
• Weedless - A description of a lure designed to be fished in heavy cover with a minimum amount of snagging.
• Weedline - Abrupt edge of a weedbed caused by a change in depth, bottom type, or other factor.
• Wide-Gap Hook - Refers to a hook with a large opening or gap between the shank and point. This enables the angler to hook a bigger percentage of fish.
• Willowleaf - A blade design used on spinnerbaits that resembles a half moon.
• Wormin' - The act of fishing with a plastic worm, lizard, crawfish, or similar bait.

Z 

• Zipper Worm - New style of plastic worm that features a flat body with ridges that look similar to a zipper on clothing. Very popular on the west coast.

Drop Me A Line! 

Webtasticplus hey sewjr24, Bring your 5-star lens buy http://squidoo.com/groups/bowfishing I've been looking for an A to Z for all the begenniners in fishing Posted July 23, 2008

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