Fishing Terms.

What are you talking about?
A guide and explanation of some common fishing terms.
 

A.

Anti-reverse
This is a feature on most reels that stops the handle of the reel from going backwards and releasing line from the spool. Used when fishing rod based indicators such as quivertips, swingtips, but swingers, that requires line tension

Arlesey Bomb.
This is a lead weight used as a leger. The weight itself is pear shaped and can be used in many conditions. Although not generally for use on moving waters as the round shape does not allow it to hold the bottom. You name the weight and you would be able to find it, still sold in ounces.

B.

Backing.
When you come to fill a new spool it can be very expensive to fill it all with line. Therefore by putting some backing on like tape, or heavier line you can make up this space.

Back Lead..
A weight with a ring attached which is clipped onto the main line and slid down the line to anchor it to the lake bottom. Used mainly in carp and pike fishing.

Bail Arm.
This is the half circle of rounded metal that guides the line onto the spool of the reel. It generally has too positions (cocked - open), in this position line is able to run off the reel freely. Surprisingly enough the other position is shut when retrieving line.

Bait Bands.
These take the form of a small rubber band with a small ring off the side. They are aimed at securing difficult to hook baits to the hook. For example the pellet would be inserted in to the small round band then the band attached to the hook. As the fish take the banded bait, the hook follows it into the mouth. They come in various sizes to accommodate the size of the bait.

Baiting Needle.
There are many designs of baiting needle, but they all do the same job of pulling the hair loop through the bait. Sizes vary, as long ones are required if fishing a stringer. Majority will have a mechanism for attaching to the loop whether it is like a small hook, or a pivot that hooks over the loop. The needle is then drawn back through the bait taking the loop and hair with it.

Bait Snatching.

Not really a term that is used all that much up here, but Southern anglers refer to this when catching live baits for use in catching predatory fish. You cannot use live bait caught at other waters as you would be in breach of Section 30 rules (stocking of fish). The predator angler will take a light float rod with the intention of catching small, roach, rudd, perch etc to use as livebait for the session.

Balling In.
This refers to the throwing in of groundbait into the swim.

Beta Light

A small plastic tube that glows in the dark. They are available inseveral different colours and can be fitted to float tips, rod tips, bite alarms as a means of giving a small visual indication in the dark. 

Boilies.
These are generally hard balls of bait that are primarily designed as a carp bait. They vary in size and fish of all varieties have been known to take them. There are almost an infinite number of flavours and colours with many anglers making their own secret recipe. They are generally high protein baits that are attractive to the carp, they smell often, and once in the water let off the flavour. The outer coating is generally hard, and is placed on a hair rig, secured in place using a boilies stop. As stated there are many types including, pop ups (they would float to the surface if allowed, but generally are popped up a couple of inches off the bottom to make them more attractive to passing fish). There are slow sinking, fluoro (bright colours), frozen, etc. Different flavours / attractants work better at different times of the year.

Boilie crumbs
These are boilies that have been crushed to attract the carp into the swim. Methods of crushing vary, easiest way is a kitchen blender. What the crumbs do is introduce the flavour of the boilies into the swim. Methods of getting it out vary from spods to bags of groundbait.

Boilie Stop.
Many people would say that us Yorkshire anglers would use a variety of things as boilie stops rather than spend money at a tackle shop for the commercially manufactured ones. A boilie stop is used to stop the hair rig pulling back through the boilie / meat or any other bait used. Bought ones come in many shapes such as small dumbbells or v shaped plastic slivers. Whatever design they should be small and inconspicuous so as not to spook the fish. That is why natural alternatives work just as well; a piece of grass can do the same job. One of the favourites is uncooked spaghetti, snapped off and placed through the loop.

Boilie drills.
Some of the harder baits such as nuts or boilies crumble when you push a needle through them, making the attaching of the hair impossible. A drill does what it suggests and drills a hole through the bait, allowing the loop to be passed through. Generally the drills are of low diameter and require the angler to do the twisting. There are some very good mechanical ones on the market.

Braid,
Braid has become very popular over recent years. When viewed, it looks very similar to thread. Braid, for its diameter is exceptionally strong. The better braids have breaking strains of 8lb for 0.08 mm diameter, with 12lb being only .12 mm. The drawback with braid is that it has zero stretch. With mono line you have quite a bit of stretch and therefore upon hooking a fish, the lunges are absorbed by the line and also the rod tip. With braid this is not the case, and can result in hook pulls. What braid does offer though is exceptional bite indication as any small movement of the bait is shown in the tip movement of the quiver tip. It is often recommended for longer range fishing as it really comes into its own. Mono will give you good indication and make landing the fish easier at closer work.

Baitrunner.
This is a patented/ copyright name of the Shimano Company. In its wider sense it refers to all reels that have a free spool facility. Mainly used in the specimen world, the bait is cast out and the bait runner engaged. This allows the reel to turn freely on the reel. Line can be wound in by circling the reel, but the main use is to release line to a fish that is taking the bait. The fish picks up the bait and moves off, the reel reverses and gives line. When the angler winds the reel, the Baitrunner is disconnected and the angler strikes, hopefully setting the hook in the process. The fish is then played in the normal manner.
It is used a lot in carp and pike angling.

Bagging/ Bagging up.
A term used when an angler is catching really well, or to describe a venue that is fishing well.

Bagging Poles.
These poles tend to be much sorter than general poles and are often aimed at fishing in the margins. They are capable of taking strong elastics up to number 20 (largest available) and are capable of bullying big carp into the landing net.

Bait Dropper.
Bait droppers deposit free offerings into the swim on the river. The dropper is cast into the swim and when it reaches the bottom a small rod unhinges the bait dropper door resulting in the feed being deposited on the riverbed.
You can go to the tackle shops and pay a fortune for these if you wish. It is often much easier just to make your own. All you need is a tin with a lid on it. The Internet contains plenty of places where instructions are available to make your own

Beards.
A slang term for Barbel.

Bait Waiters.
These are generally a frame that can be attached to the seatbox or fixed to a bankstick. They generally have square or round holes suitable for placing your bait tubs into. They make it far easier for you to reach into the boxes, rather than scramble on the floor. A good idea, which makes your immediate fishing environment tidier.

Bait Gun.
Often owned by carp anglers. These are used in the making of boilies. What they do is convert the mixture into a long even sausage that can then be cut into shapes made to roll uniformed size balls.

Birds Nest.
A term used for describing a tangle in the line that is going to be difficult to unravel.

Bivvy.
A tent like shelter designed for use by long stay anglers who often fish overnight at the bankside.

Bite Alarm.
Often used by specimen/carp anglers in the main, it is a battery powered device that monitors the line that passes through either a roller or optical lenses. If the line moves either way, the alarm will give off a beep and generally a light will illuminate to warn the angler of a bite.

Bin Lids.
A slang term for large bream.

Bumped off.
This term is reserved for pole angling, whereby through the use of heavy tactics the fish once hooked is bumped off. This happens when the fish is not big enough to expand the elastic fully. This results in a lessened cushioning effect, and lost fish mainly through hook pulls or the hook coming free, more so if barbless.

Bubble Float.
These are clear, bulbous floats that can be filled with water to give extra casting distance. They are primarily used as a controller float for fishing float baits.

Breaking Down.
This doesn't refer to acts of self pity on days that have ended in no fish. It refers to the taking apart of the pole sections in order to land a fish or to re-bait.

Blank / Blanking.
The art of not having caught a fish, or in the process of not catching.

Bolt Rig
Bolt rigs were initially designed for the specimen anglers (mainly carp). A bolt rig is so designed that when the fish picks up the bait and the hook it will feel resistance against the lead weight (or feeder etc) and bolt, as the fish bolts the hook is pulled taught against the weight and the fish hooks itself. This type of rig is banned on a lot of waters as if you lose the fish they can become tethered and thus die. Free running weights do not cause this problem. The Method feeder is a type of bolt rig.

Bootlace.
The nickname for a small eel.

Bobbin.

Lightweight bite indicator that generally clips or is fastened to the main line between the reel and the first rod ring. A bit is indicated by the bobbin risinf or falling.

Balling in.
A term used to describe throwing balls of groundbait into the swim.

C.

Carp Sack.
Used predominantly by specialist carp / barbel anglers to store fish in to aid recovery and also used in order to allow photographic equipment to be readied. It is illegal to keep more than one fish in these sacks at any one time. They should be staked out to avoid the sack collapsing on the fish. They are short term measures, and should be out of direct sunlight.

Carp Net.
This is a carp friendly landing net, used on commercial fisheries and is designed to hold large numbers of carp during the match. They often feature anti snag mesh to avoid snagging the spike carp have at the front of the long fin on the top of their back.

Chop.
Chopped up worm feed.

Chop Chop Scissors.
See worm scissors.

Carp Puddle.
The term came about in the early eighties to describe the number of commercial fisheries that began to crop up around the country stocked with match sized carp. As many of the waters were quite small and newly dug, they got the name.

Catty.
Not a bunch of anglers talking behind each other’s back. Merely a shortened version of a catapult. A visit to a tackle shop will offer you a vast array of pults to choose from. Buy one that suits your purpose, whether it be for spraying maggots or putting groundbait balls into your swim.

Cupping Kits.
Generally interchangeable cups that are attached to the end of your pole section. Can be a difficult way of introducing feed into your swim, but in skilled hands there is not a more accurate method of getting your loosefeed right over your hook bait.

Cage Feeder.
A cage feeder is another version of the swimfeeder; it comes in a multitude of sizes and is used to deposit groundbait into the swim. Again circular in design, the size of the mesh varies, it is also open ended at both sides allowing the bait to disperse quickly once in the water. A great winter tool when targeting shoals of bream. Generally used for groundbait.

Cutting Back
This refers to cutting the end of the pole in order that the elastic can be fitted. The bigger the elastic, the more of the pole has to be cut back to allow the elastic to be pulled out freely

Caster.
The chrysalis form of the maggot. The stage prior to it turning into a fly. Very good bait for fish such as rudd and roach, but most fish will take a caster. Keep them in an air tight bag prior to fishing, and once on the bank cover them in water to stop them becoming floaters, unless you want them to.

Cloud Bait.
This is a very fine groundbait that is designed to attract fish but not feed them off. The cloud can also pull fish into the swim, and disguise the line for shy biting fish.

Crack Off.
Often experienced when attempting to cast too heavy a feeder or leger weight. Crack offs can occur when trying to cast too hard with unbalanced tackle. The line should be strong enough to accommodate the weight.

Cocktail.
It is not sophisticated anglers drinking "sex on the beach" on the bankside. It refers to a hookbait that contains two types of bait. Popular ones are worm and maggot and corn and worm, which work well for bream.

Connector.

A small ptfe fitting fastened to the end of the elastic at the pole tip. The pole rig is attached to the connector.

D.

Delkims
A well known manufacturer of bite alarms.

Diamond Eye Threader.

A length of thin stainless steel with a diamond shaped eye at one end. Used to thread elastic through the pole.

Drag
Drag is a feature that allows the fish to take line off the reel when being played. It is designed as a fail safe measure when playing fish. The drag is manually set to release line off the reel just before the line reaches its breaking strain. Therefore when a fish makes a run, instead of breaking the line, it is allowed to take more off the reel rather than snap off. Anglers have different preferences when it comes to the use of the drag. Many of the cheaper reels have poor unreliable drags, resulting in lost fish. Other anglers prefer to take the anti reverse off the reel, thus allowing the handle to go backwards and therefore allowing more line to come off the reel. A competent angler learns how to read the fight and give line where necessary.

Draw.
A term used in match fishing to describe the "drawing" of pegs on the venue. Generally it will take place about an hour before the start of a match. The match anglers will then generally swear and take the Mickey a great deal, and shout across from one side to the other. Telling everyone what a crap peg they have got.

Deadbait.
This is the use of dead fish whether it be coarse fish or sea baits, for use in predator fishing.

Dumbell Boilies.
As the name suggests, boilies in the shape of dumbells. They are used on heavily pressured waters where the fish have become wary of the normal round boilies.

Dibber.
A stumpy little pole float for fishing tight to cover, usually at close range. Generally used when fishing very shallow water such as the margins.

Dropper.
The last shot before the hook, also known as the "Tell Tale" as this is the first shot to move when a fish takes the bait.

Drop Back.
A bite that causes the quiver tip or bite indicator to go backwards.

E.

Elastic.
These are lengths of latex elastic that are inserted into the top sections of poles and attached at the bottom and top, When a fish is hooked, the elastic is stretched from the tip of the pole. The elastic acts as a shock absorber and assists in tiring the fish. Elastics are rated from 1 to 20, 1 being the smallest. The larger the number the higher breaking strain it will have. By fitting an elastic that is too heavy, it has the potential to damage the pole, but can lead to lost rigs if set too heavy for the breaking strain of the mainline. A heavy elastic can also result in hook pulls or bumped fish, as the size of the fish is too small to make the elastic stretch from the pole, and there is no absorption of the lunges the fish makes. Small fish up to 6 oz are best targeted with elastics up to number 3. Carp in double figures are best targeted with elastics from 16 to 20. All poles have a recommended elastic setting and will generally say up to 18 elastic or similar etc.

Elastication Kits.
Poles bought from mail order shops will often have an Elastication kit supplied. These are elastics for the pole, bungs, stonfo's etc, and if you are lucky, instructions. Tackle shops are often experts at elasticating a pole for you, they may cost more, but this service alone is worth it.

Electro Fishing.
This is a means of surveying the fish in a particular water. An electric current is passed through the water, which temporarily stuns the fish, causing them to float to the surface. There has been a lot of concern voiced of this method over recent years, as there is a mortality rate associated with the method.

Enquiry.
A small indication on the tackle suggesting a fish is interested.

F.

Feature.
This is something in the swim that makes it a place that may hold fish. It could be an island, a tree, a drop off point in the water, a gravel bar etc.

Fighting Drag (see also Drag)
A number of reels have the conventional drag fitted, but also feature this device, that is on a slider and in effect tightens the drag by smaller amounts than the conventional drag control

Flick Tip.
A flick tip is the last section on the whips or on poles that are very soft and are aimed at speed fishing to hand for smaller fish. Used where the chance of hooking a larger fish is not that likely. You will see plenty of these poles / whips on the canal matches during the winter months.

Fishing to Hand.
This is a technique mainly aimed at silver fish. The pole line is set at a length that ensures that when a fish is caught it can be swung directly to hand when the pole is lifted from the water. Especially in matches, speed is important and breaking down the pole to the land fish can waste time.

Fish O'Mania.
This is a yearly event sponsored by Sky Sports, from Fina Hayfield Lakes, Aukley at Doncaster. Winner takes all prize of £25,000.

Floating Pole.
The bait is suspended from a short piece of line maybe 1 to 2 feet. The pole is then laid flat on the surface of the water (Poles float). Loosefeed is then sprayed at the end of the pole. Fish come up to take the loose offerings and take the hookbait and hook themselves against the weight of the elastic and pole. (Like a bolt rig). As the angler sees the tip of their pole dip under the water they lift into the fish and play it.

Flying Back Lead.
Used mainly for specimen fishing. A lead is attached to the main line after casting a couple of feet from the rod tip. This then effectively anchors the line to the bottom. This action stops the fish being spooked by line passing through the water from reel to the hook.

Foul Hooked.
A foul hooked fish is a fish that has been hooked anywhere else on the body apart from the mouth. A foul hooked fish does count in matches as long as the angler has not deliberately attempted to foul hook the fish. Anglers in the past have not claimed British records, as the fish in question had been foul hooked.

Fry Feeder.
When pike are striking out at fry, it is often the case that they won't bother with larger offerings as such scale you bait down.

Feathering.
Slowing down of the line off the reel on the cast, generally by gently touching the spool rim with the index finger. Useful for preventing overcastting and also helps to ensure the end tackle lands in the water in a straight line.

G.

Gape.
The gap between the shank and point of the hook. When fishing with pellets or sweetcorn use wide gape hooks.

Gear Ratio.

The rate at which the bail am revolves around the spool of the reel for evry turn of the handle.

Glug.
A concentrated attractant usually in the form of a liquid. It is used to dip your hookbait into, in order to make it stand out more from the loosefeed. There are literally thousands of these attractants on the market. Boilies work well if you store them in the glug prior to fishing. Different glugs work best at different times of the year, fruity during the warmer months and spicy during the colder ones.

Gobbie.
The nickname for the gudgeon.

Guest Chair.
For those on long sessions, a spare chair is taken along for other anglers or friends to sit on when visiting their swim.

Graphite Spray.
This spray can be used on rods, but mainly used on poles to protect the joints between the sections. Sprayed evenly on new poles they can protect the joints for months at a time.

Groundbait.
Initially ground bait referred to a mix of bread crumbs that was added to a swim to attract fish into it and to stay there and feed. The mix of bread gradually evolved over the years, and today's variety of mixes would take you a good year and over of fishing everyday before you would have tried them all. See baits section for use and mixing instructions.

Groundbait punch.
A tool used to ensure that all your groundbait balls are made up of the same amount of feed.

Gozzer
A maggot that has been specially bred to be larger than normal, they are soft skinned and sink quite slowly.

H.

Hair Rig.
A hair rig is generally a piece of line that extends beyond the point of the hook off the shank. On the end of the length of line is a small loop. A Baiting Needle is passed through the bait which can be a boilie, meat, bread etc and the small loop is inserted into the baiting needle and the bait pulled onto the hair (line), the bait then sits on the shank of the hook and is secured in place by a boilie stop. Hair rigging soft baits like lumps of meat prevents the bait flying off during casting.

Hair Spike.
This is a new breed of hook accessory that allows anglers to press a small spike that hangs off the hook into the bait. When mounted (for example - a pellet) it sits on the shank of the hook similar to a hair rigged bait, but much less fiddly and quicker. The bait will fly off though if cast very hard.

Helicopter Rig
This is a rig used for specimen fishing. It is given its name as the hook revolves around the main line on a boom with the casting weight at the bottom. It is designed so as not tangle on casting.

Hemp.

A seed well known for its' roach and carp attracting qualities, also a good bait for tempting barbel.

Hook Link / Length
A hook link is generally a line of lower diameter than the reel line used by the angler. As a rule the only thing placed on the hook length is a dropper shot. By using a lighter breaking strain line here, it ensures that if the line is snapped by a fish, it is generally the hook length that breaks. The angler would not then lose the float / swim feeder / leger and all the other shot. More importantly it ensures that the fish is not dragging around a lot of tackle, which could potentially tether the fish causing its starvation and subsequent death. The majority of fish can expel hooks after a short while.

Hook pulls.
A hook pull occurs when you have hooked a fish and can feel the tension from rod to the fish. A hook pull is when the hook looses the hold on the fish. Many species of fish can have soft mouths and excessive pressure can see you pulling out of the fish. It occurs regularly with inexperienced braid anglers until they get used to playing a fish on this no stretch line.

Hook Up.
Simple device to keep your hook to the side of the rod or pole when not in use or moving elsewhere. A circular piece of elastic generally that is attached to the rod or pole with a ring on which the hook is placed inside.

Hydrolastic
This is an expensive elastic for poles. As the name suggests, it is filled with a water based substance. Apparently it is supposed to be stronger than conventional elastics.

I.

Indicator.

A weighted and usually brightly coloured attachment fitted to the main line between the reel and first rod ring after casting. Generally used in conjunction with bite alarms and give a visual indication of a bite. 

J.

Jack.
A small pike, usually less than 3lb in weight.

Jaffas.
Groundbait balls the size of Jaffa oranges.

K.

Keep Net.
A net that holds the caught fish until they are released, generally after match weigh ins. Generally 10ft in length although longer keep nets are available.

Knot Picker.
A device for unravelling tangles in the line. Generally a narrow cone shaped pointed end fixed into a plastic handle. The pointed end is useful for gaining access into tight knots, which are common when using mono.

L.

Leam.
An ingredient added to groundbait to make it bind better. Important if balling in big balls that you want to breakdown on the bottom rather than up in the water. If using on a river a groundbait ball that breaks up in midwater would probably end up baiting your neighbours swim.

Leap Frogging.
This is a term used mainly in predator fishing. If fishing with a friend on a stretch of water, you can cover more water if you fish a stretch for a while with your friend at your side. After a period of time you go to the far side of him and continue fishing. After another period your friend then overtakes you. This way you cover large amounts of water.

Leger.
A weight generally made from lead that is used as a casting weight to get the bait out some distance. It is also used to hold the hooklength down on the bottom of the water. Similar to an Arlesey bomb.

Liquid Molasses
Is an uncrystallized syrup, produced as part of the sugar refining process. Used as a food additive and in the production of rum. In fishing it is a brilliant additive when mixing groundbait. Bream are particularly keen on it.

Line Bites.

False indications of bites usually caused by fish brushing against the line.

Line Clip.
Can mean the same as a reel clip, but can also refer to clipping the line to the rod when fishing for the likes of Pike on a free line. A homemade version can be crafted by using a matchstick taped to the rod by gaffer tape fairly tightly, the line is then secured under this and the bail arm left open. As a fish picks up the dead bait the line is pulled from the matchstick and the fish can run until the angler is ready to strike. If the bail arm is just left open, you get line being blown off etc, leading to snags and the like.

Line Marker.
A device or something to mark the line to ensure that each cast goes out to the same spot. Can be a different line, tippex etc.

Loafer float.
A cigar shaped balsa float, is quite similar to shorter chubber designs. Also made from plastic nowadays.

Long Lining
This is fishing with a long length of line between the pole tip and the pole float. It allows you to fish at a further distance, alternatively hold the pole higher if spooking fish with the shadow. Can prove useful for fishing in windy conditions as it allows good presentation. The opposite is short lining.

Long head Swivel.
This is a swivel that has one of the swivel rings longer than the other. A swivel is used in many areas of fishing rigs. By placing a swivel on the hooklength you can prevent line twist when retrieving the bait. A long head swivel has a bigger resistance and causes a slower sink in the water.

Lunker Tackle
This refers to very heavy gear used to tackle big fish.

Lube
Shortened term for lubricants. Used mainly for reels after a wet session or after the winter layoff. Also refers to a spray or liquid used to lubricate the pole elastic whilst in use.

Livebait.
This is used in predator fishing and involves the hooking of live small fish, in order to tempt the bigger fish. The anti angling lobbies dislike this practice intensely. You must also be careful not to break section 30 rules.

Laccy / laggy.
Slang term for pole elastic.
 

M.

Maggot.
The best all round fishing bait there is. The maggot is the larval form of the common bluebottle fly and is available in many different colours such as white, bronze, red and pink being the most popular.

Match Rod.
Many of the rods you see in a tackle shop will be labelled as such. There are some very good ones at keen prices that will cope with all manner of fish. The majority are designed for one style of fishing, whether it be silver fish or commercial carp. Advice on which to buy can be gleaned from the tackle shop, angling magazines and the Internet, and that includes this site too!

Mitchell Match.
This is a fishing reel that will always have a place in angling history. There is now a modern equivalent with the 300x. The original reel had engineering beyond its time and was a firm favourite on the match scene.

Margin
This is an area nearest the bank of most fishing waters. Design of many recent fisheries will have an area that can be described as a margin. In general terms it is an area that has a shallower depth than that of the main water. Apart from providing a place for fish to spawn, it's an area that is worth targeting first thing in the morning and last thing at night, as fish will search the margins for any food that has been blown or towed into that area.

Method Feeder.
This innovative method of fishing involves the squeezing of groundbait around a cage feeder or coil. To the bottom of the feeder you attach your short hook length and bait it with your chosen hook bait. This is then placed at the side of your ball of groundbait on the feeder and cast into the swim. The fish then nose at the groundbait ball to feed. The idea being that the fish finds the baited hook, takes it with confidence and moves off causing a bolt rig effect.

Mending the Line.
A term used to refer to straightening the line between rod tip and float. Generally used whilst stick float fishing on rivers. It prevents large bows of line forming which would make striking not as effective.

Monkey Climber.
A bobbin indicator used with a bite alarm, as the fish takes the indicator rises up along a pole.

N.

Nut Drill.

A very small hand drill used to form a hole in hard baits such as pellets and nuts which enables them to be hair rigged. 

O.

Octoplus.
A well known manufacturer of seat box accessories such as independent levelling leg systems, pole arms, brolley arms etc. Designed to make fishing sessions more comfortable for the angler.

Olivette
A pear shaped weight used to weight floats. Most popular with pole rigs.

Open Bail.
You would leave the bail arm open when you are attempting to catch fish that set off at a rapid pace, such as carp or pike, or when you do not want the fish to feel any resistance. By turning the reel handle, the bail arm will close and the hook will be set open. This tactic is generally used with either a visible or audible alarm of some description.

P.

Parrot Cage Swim.
A good one this. Generally these swims feature overhanging branches that make casting tight to the bank difficult. Or if the angler is sat beneath obstructions which make it difficult for the angler to cast out. They can often be full of fish, when the weather is bright or when fish congregate to collect insects that fall from the trees into the water.

Pole.
The very early poles on the market allowed anglers to fish at 10 metres plus, as long as they had the physique of Geoff Capes. The early poles were very heavy, and a 10 metre pole at full length would weigh in excess of 2000 grams and take elastics up to a number 8. Today's technology allows the manufacture of 17m poles that weigh a little over 1000 grams. Poles of this length are more commonly used by match anglers who get the use from their high outlay. There are many types of pole available to the angler such as competition poles, carp poles and all rounders. Generally the pleasure angler normally fishes with an all rounder as it can be used in a variety of angling situations.
A pole is constructed from very advanced carbon combinations and is designed to be fished with a pole rig. The pole tapers down in size to a tip that contains elastic. Attached to this elastic is the pole rig, the rig is then shipped out over the water and sections of pole are added to the end to extend the rig out to the required distance. The angler then generally holds the pole, when a bite is indicated the pole is lifted and the hook is hopefully set. When the fish is on the pole is broken down in order to allow the fish to be landed.
The pole offers anglers the chance to present delicate baits in difficult places, such as under trees, which would make casting a running line difficult.

Pole Rig.
These are lengths of line that have the float, weights and a hook attached, and are designed to be fished from a pole. When it is packed away on a winder it can be used again at a later date, knowing that it is already set up for that style of fishing or that particular peg. It is wise to re-tie the rig at least once a year as the line does degrade over time.

Pole Winders.
Pole winders come in a variety of designs but are designed so that the pole rig can be wound around the plastic winder. All have a hole that the hook is attached to, under slight pressure the rig is wound around until you reach the end and you are left with the loop that attaches to your pole. This is either slipped into an elastic pole anchor, which is attached to a hook on the end of the winder and the whole rig kept neat and tidy.

Pasties.
A term used to describe match sized carp on the commercial waters. Generally pasties weigh anything from 6 oz to 2 ½ lb.

Plummet.
A device used for determining the depth of the water in which you are fishing. There are many designs of plummet. Basically they are a lead weight with a cork insert into which you fix your hook. They are then cast into the swim you intend fishing. You would then adjust your float to a greater depth if you wish to fish on the bottom. If the float doesn't go under the surface then you are fishing too deep, so you should move the float closer to the hook.

Plumb Up.
A term used to determine the depth of the swim you intend fishing.

Pole Roller.
A device used to support the pole when shipping backwards or to support the pole whilst unhooking a fish on a broken down section. There are many designs, but all are designed to support the pole as it is pushed backwards.

PVA Bag / String/ Tape.
PVA is a white material that dissolves when it comes into contact with water. It is used to get loosefeed near to your hookbait. By bunching bait together, it is easier to get into your swim, and by attaching them with PVA, and then attaching it to your hook you know that the loose offerings are close to your hook bait. PVA is available in bag form, mainly used for pellets, groundbait, and boilies. It is available as string, used for tying up the necks of PVA bags. Tape for making stringers which are a number of baits threaded onto a length of PVA bags.  Can be very fiddly.

Pre Bait.

To put bait into a swim to attract fish before fishing the swim.

Predatory Fish.
This terms refers to fish that are present that survive by preying on other fish. The main predatory coarse fish are pike, perch, zander (none in Yorkshire) and to a lesser extent chub and trout.

Paste.
This is a mixture of ingredients that are formed together into a paste. The paste is then attached to the hook. There are a few varieties of pastes that you can make yourself on the baits page. But there are many commercially available ones on the market.

Pults.
See catty.

Pop Ups.
This is a bait designed to pop up off the bottom. They generally refer to boilies but can be any type of bait if you can get them buoyant, air injected worms are one such example.

PolyBall
These are polystyrene balls of varying sizes that are used in fishing. The smaller ones can be used to mould paste around to create a pop up. Larger ones can be used to suspend dead baits off the bottom for predator fishing. They have also been used as marker floats for long distance fishing.

Puddle Chucker.
Small plastic clear wagglers, used to cast a distance on carp waters

Pinkies.
The larvae of the green bottle fly. Small, very lively and great as a loosefeed on stillwaters and canals or as a hookbait for smaller fish.

Punch.
A small pellet of fresh bread used as a hook bait.

Pegs.
Marked out areas from which to fish. On many commercial fisheries these are platforms or gravelled areas to encourage you to fish from.

PTFE Bush.
A smooth attachment that fits inside or outside the pole tip. It provides a smooth bore at the tip of the pole for the elastic to run through.

Pudding.
A very heavy, stodgy groundbait.

Pies.
A groundbait that contains a high feed content.

Q.

Quivertip.
This can either refer to a rod designed specifically as a quiver tip rod, or to an insert fitted to a rod tip. A quiver tip is the end section of a rod made of either carbon or fibreglass that is designed to show when a fish has taken the bait. The rod is set at an angle to the line and bait, when a fish takes the bait then an indication is given on the quiver tip by the line tugging on the tip of the rod. It may pull round towards the water, or drop back if the fish is moving towards the bank.

Quiver.
This is an open topped rod holdall favoured by specimen/carp anglers and caters for rods that are ready made up to fish. Used mainly by anglers with two piece rods, they have pouches, which means that you do not have to detach the reel from its seating.
 

R.

Reel.
The workhouse of the angling setup. The history dates back almost as far back fishing itself. In the modern day there are more variations of the reel than ever. In it's simplest form it is the device that allows line to be played off, and gathers it back in, in a form that allows it to be used again.

Reel clip.
On most modern reels you will have a small piece of plastic that can act as a clip for the reel line. It has a couple of uses, firstly when you are bottom fishing and accuracy is required, i.e. putting a cage feeder out with groundbait. You want all your loosefeed in one area. By casting out to the required place and then putting the line through the line clip, you can ensure that on the next cast the line will not go any further out. You have to ensure the direction of the next cast is accurate and there is enough power on the cast for the line to go out to the clip. It should then fall in the same place. If big fish angling, then you have to be careful, if a fish pigs up the bait and makes a run, the line clip can, and does cause snap offs, leaving the fish tethered to a lot of line and potentially a feeder or ledger.

Rig.
In coarse fishing terms, the float, line, shot and hook.  The end tackle that you use to catch fish. Mainly used for specimen fishing describing the lead weight and hook designs.

Rig Glue.
Glue is placed on the knots of a rig to ensure that there is no movement once tied. Used generally with rigs used for specimen fish as the diameter of the lines tend to be larger and more prone to slippage. There are specialist glues on the market but superglue works just as well.

Rod Pod.
A rod pod is a device for holding your rod up off the ground, most are frames that are capable of holding 3 rods together with screw attachments to secure the bite alarms and rod butt rests.

Rotor.

The part of the reel containing the bale arm and line roller. The part that spins when the reel handle is turned.

Running Line.
Running line refers to fishing with a rod and a reel compared to pole fishing.

S.

Screamer.
This refers to a take from a fish, on a free spool or bait runner reel, where the amount of line taken of the reel is great. Generally you shouldn't miss these bites, but they do happen.

Stret Pegging.
This is the stopping of the float as it passes down the river swim. It causes the bait to rise up and then move on, inducing bites - hopefully.

Squatts.
The smallest of the maggot family. The squatt is the larvae of the common housefly and is the least liveliest of the grubs which makes them ideal for adding to groundbait as they do not break up the balls whilst being introduced to the swim.

Slabs.
A slang term of big bream.

Spods and Spod Rod
Spods are rocket shaped plastic containers that are used by carp anglers to introduce loose feed to swims at distances that would make throwing or catapulting difficult. They resemble an upside down rocket. The loosefeed is contained within, and when the spod hits the water it capsizes and the loosefeed is deposited into the water. When full they weigh quite a bit and therefore you need a substantial rod in order to propel them some distance. A spod rod is used to achieve this, they generally have test curves in excess of 3lb.

Stringer.
A term used in carp and barbel fishing, to describe a group of baits presented in a line generally on PVA tape. It may be boilies, nuts, and meat in groups of up to 10 that are attached near to the hook bait. The PVA tape allows the freebies to be cast very close to the hookbait to attract the target fish into the area.

Stringer Hooks.
Used in predator fishing, it is a hook that is suspended behind lures for when the predator fish are not striking effectively at the lure / deadbait.

Spool.
This is the round part at the top of the reel in which the line is kept on. When buying a reel always try to get spare spools as it allows you to change lines easily for the type of fishing you are doing. Thus the reel becomes multi purpose.

Stink Bag.
A waterproof and sealable bag that carries keepnets or landing nets. Stops the smell escaping.

Stripeys.
A slang term for Perch.

Swimfeeder.
There are literally hundreds of designs for swimfeeders on the market. Each design for different fishing circumstances. Originally the swimfeeder was designed as a method of introducing maggots into the swim next to the hookbait. Cylindrical in design with a hinged cap at one end for introducing the loosefeed, the remainder of the feeder has holes from which the bait escapes or is forced from by the water into the current or lake.

Section 30 Rules.
A set of rules which govern the movement and introduction of fish into waters. Issued by the Environment Agency the penalties for not having one if you are caught stocking or moving fish are quite harsh.

Swingtip.
Not as popular today as the quivertip, which now reigns supreme, the swingtip is attached via a screw to the end of the rod and a rubber tube attaches the screw to the tip. Line passes through 2 loops on the tip, which averages about 6 inch in length. The rod is pointed at the bait, and the line tightened so that the tip rises up under tension. As the fish takes the bait the tip either rises as the line is put under additional tension or drops back if the fish moves towards the angler. They are not very effective in windy conditions.

Seatbox.
The workmanship on these boxes varies from terrible to the masterful. They are an evolution of the large plastic tackle boxes, which were themselves an evolution of the wicker fishing creels. The more expensive boxes have plenty of features and plenty of drawers to store pole rigs, floats and all the other associated tackle. You may see some seats with a split padding, one for each cheek, this is so that poles can be sat on, without the fear of them crushing.

Stormproof brolly.
A bit misleading this, as in my opinion, none are, a good gust of wind and they are a tangled mess. This type of brolly has a skirt around the edge that hangs down from the brolly to the floor stretching around 270 degrees. It turns it into a mini tent, with the front open for you to fish from. Good idea as long as you peg them down right, quite expensive, expect to pay over £50.00.

Strung Shot.
By stringing out a number of smaller shot rather than fewer bulky ones, the bait will fall more slowly through the water, allowing fish to intercept it on the way, down.

Spoon net.
A landing net that is shaped like - you guessed it - a spoon. Very popular these days on commercial fisheries.

Stick Float.
A running water float attached to the line with three small pieces of silicon tubing. A stick float differs from most freshwater rod and line floats in that it does not have a bottom eye to pass the line through. Originally designed for use on rivers, there is an art to trotting one down through a swim. Made from every conceivable material these days, traditional ones such as an 'Avon' were made wholly from wood.

Shotting Patterns.
Refers to where you place the shot on the line between the float and the hook. By experimenting with placement and sizes you can make the bait fall through the water either quickly or slowly depending where the fish are. A common pattern you may try is 'shirt button' this is where the shot is spread out evenly down the line. This gives the bait a natural fall through the water.

Shipping the Pole.
This refers to pushing the pole out over the water, and also bringing the pole back - as opposed to sending it abroad on a container ship.

Silver fish.
A collective term for fish, such as roach, rudd, bream, dace, ide, perch.

Snags.
The bane of an angler’s life. Snags are those features in your swim that are likely to cause you problems whilst fishing. They can also be fish holding features such as lilies, overhanging trees, sunken branches, shopping trolleys etc. A place to avoid once a fish is hooked.

Shot.
This refers to the small weights that are added to your line to make the bait sink and also to cock the float. Logic is reversed when it comes to size in numbers, the higher the number the smaller the shot. Lead shots have been out of circulation for a long time since they were deemed responsible for poisoning wildlife.

Skimmers.
Bream that are under 1lb in weight.

Strap Leads.

An additional lead weight that can be attache dto a swimfeeder to give extra casting distance and hold bottom in a powerful river.

Styls.
These are small cylindrical weights for weighting down a float. More in use with pole rigs, as once on the line, you cannot generally get them back off. Came from the continent, and styl tweezers are the easiest way of getting them attached to the line.

Swim.
This is the area of water in which the angler chooses to swim.

Scratching.
This is the process of struggling to catch fish, i.e. "scratching for bits"

Snag Pit.
A swim that is full of obstacles that are likely to lose you a fish.

Shell.
Another term for the caster.

Slop.
A very wet groundbait designed to cloud the water.

T.

Tow.
This is distinctly different to a current as it appears on still waters rather than on rivers. Predominantly found on large waters and can be affected by changes in water temperatures and also wind directions. The opening and closing of locks on a canal can have the same effect. What happens is that the water appears to be flowing in certain direction. The tows can also be at different levels in the water, making bait presentation difficult. This can be countered with different shotting patterns.

To Hand.
The act of catching fish so that when the rod or pole is lifted, the fish conveniently swings to your hand, speeds up the process when fishing for smaller fish.

Test Curve.
Test curves for rods are measured in pounds generally, but quiver tip test curves are normally measured in ounces. The test curve refers to how much weight the rod will take to extend the rod to a 90 degree angle.

Trotting.
This refers to running a float through flowing water, allowing line to peel from the spool.

Trundling.
A term used for allowing the hook bait to move across the river swim. Many of the river fish will happily take a moving bait as it comes towards them.

Ton Up
Catching the magical 100lb of fish.

Topper.
Another name for an Avon river float, named after Topper Hoskins.

Top Kit.

The thinnest sections of a pole that contain the elastic. Most poles come supplied with match and power top kits.

Tommy.
The nickname for the Ruffe (fish).

U.

Ultrabite.
Ultrabite hit the market in a blaze of glory in late 2000 and was promptly withdrawn due to problems with it not lasting on the shelves too long. What Ultrabite claims is that it will stimulate the sensors in the fiThere are varieties for a number of different fish.sh to feed. It can be introduced to the hook bait or in pellets or groundbait.

Unhooking Mat.

A soft padded mat used to safely unhook fish.

V.

Vitalin.
Primarily a dog food which carp anglers have found makes a good feed bait. Given a good soaking it transforms the dry dog food into a potent carp pulling mix.

W.

Worm scissors
A relatively new invention. They are a pair of scissors that have numerous cutting blades. They look like 3 scissors joined together. They are used generally to prepare worms for chop fishing. When a worm is cut the worm releases juices that attract fish very successfully. Chop as it is known is introduced into a swim as an attractor. These scissors prepare the messy chop a lot quicker than a single pair of scissors.

Whip.
This is a scaled down version of a pole. The whip is generally used for fishing to hand for silver fish. Line is attached directly to the end of the top section, which is very flexible and the lunges of the fish are cushioned by this soft action (A whippy top refers to the motion of the tip when moved quickly.)

Whiskers.
A slang term for Barbel.

Winder.
See pole winders.

Waggler.
A float attached to the line on the bottom end only. This creates a “waggle” effect as it moves in the water. This is a float, generally made from man made materials such as plastic.

Wagg.
Shortened name for the waggler.

Wraparound.
This term refers to when the line wraps around your rod / pole end. If wrapped around a fine glass topped quiver rod, they can snap the rod if you try and strike at a fish.

Weeded.
This refers to when a fish is hooked and seeks sanctuary within a weed bed. Use pressure to pull the fish out, if this doesn't work let the line go slack and sometimes the fish will come out of it's own accord.

Whopper Dropper.
A groundbait catapult.

X.

Y.

Z.