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Berkley Inanda Bass Classic Fishing Dictionary
By ken Ainslie
| Anal fin: | Fish fin positioned below and behind the anus. |
| Astro tables: | Same as solunar tables world wide
calculated feeding times relating to the moon and sun positions |
| Anvil: | The hard surface at the back of the bass mouth where food is crushed |
| Baitfish: | Small or young fish that bass predominantly feed upon |
| B.A.S.S.: | Bass Angler’s Sportsman’s Society |
| Bassmaster: | Member of B.A.S.S. Bass angler’s sportsman society |
| Barb: | Sharp rear pointing protrusion-locking hook into flesh |
| Barbless hooks: | Hooks that have no barb or hooks that have had the barb squashed flat |
| Back boated: | When back boat partner is so positioned
he cannot access prime fishing spots. |
| Bassing thumb: | The rough skin on an anglers thumb
after handling many bass correctly by lipping with thumb in the mouth. |
| Birds nest: | Resulting fishing line bunch up on reel spool after over wind. |
| Bilge pump: | Motorized pump used for removal of
water out of boat or circulating live well water. |
| Boated: | When a caught fish is brought on aboard |
| Braided line: | Special woven man made fibers of low
density and stretch with a high breaking strain. |
| Breakline: | A point where the depth of water
changes and drops away into deeper water. |
| Bridge: | Section separating spinning reel side plates “bridge” between side plates. |
| Bucktail: | Antelope hair used as skirts or to bulk up jigs as an attractant. |
| Bucketmouth: | Term for large bass. |
| Bulking up: | Changing to a larger heavier lure or bait. |
| Cavitation: | Air trapped in propeller vicinity causing lack of propulsion |
| Carbon fiber: | Strong fiber product used in the
production of fishing rods and fishing reel bodies |
| Carolina rig: | Method of rigging worm is positioned a
distance away from the weight by pegging the weight. |
| Caudal fin: | The tail fin used for propulsion in fish. |
| Caece: | Digestive organs in a bass stomach used to identify florida bass. |
| Ceramic: | Very hard glass type substance used to edge rod eyes and reel guides. |
| Chapter: | Name given to a bassmaster club. |
| Classic: | Major bass fishing tournament. |
| Colorado blade: | Name given to tear shaped spinner blade. |
| Combo: | Matched rod and reel outfit. |
| Comfort zone: | The water temp that bass find most comfortable 72 f 22 c |
| Cover: | Any object/structure underwater that affords bass refuge |
| Count down's: | Lures of heavier than water density
that sink at a given rate usually one foot per second. |
| Coffee grinder: | Type of reel that allows line to spool
off forwards and has a fixed stationary spool. |
| Cranking: | Term used for reeling in a lure or worm. |
| Crank bait: | Name for hard lures with one or two triple hooks. |
| Culling: | The releasing of smaller caught fish
for a larger specimen caught in tournaments or competitions. |
| De-gas: | Method of reducing bass swim bladder
pressure by injection into the air bladder to release the pressure in bass caught in deep water. |
| Dead-stick: | Leaving the lure or bait stationary on the bottom. |
| Deep cycle: | Name given to special boating batteries
that are designed for complete discharge during use. |
| Dorsal fin: | Bass fin positioned on top back of fish. |
| Drop off: | Sudden change in bottom level falling away ledge. |
| Drop shotting: | Rig with sinker at bottom and worm bait
jerked vertically to attract bass strikes. |
| Drag: | Reel spool drag setting allowing line to be taken whilst fighting large bass. |
| Duo lock: | Wire locking clip tied to line to attach lures. |
| Echo sounder: | Electronic fish finder. |
| Feather: | Term used when describing the gentle thumbing of the spool when casting. |
| Fish off: | A regional event hosting all the clubs in the region. |
| Fish finder: | Electronic devise which identifies fish
and other features below the surface of the water. |
| Fishing hole: | Name given to a fishing dam or river. |
| Flats: | The shallow area in a dam or on a river. |
| Flipping: | Method of fishing, underhand casting technique. |
| Florida bass: | ( micropterus salmoides floridanus.)
Large species of bass now introduced to s.a. waters. |
| Gape: | Term given to distance between hook point and shank. |
| Gilling: | Term used for fish gills moving showing breathing, |
| Ginger: | Used to describe water colour discoloured |
| Gps: | Global Positioning System by satellite. |
| Grayline: | Feature on lcg fish finder that allows one to see fish on or near the bottom. |
| Graphite: | Product used in the production of fishing rods and fishing reel bodies. |
| Gut hooked: | Bass hooked in the stomach. |
| Hot spots: | Areas on water where bass are feeding. |
| Hookups: | When lure or bait becomes snagged on obstruction. |
| Hung up: | Same as hookups. |
| Igfa: | International Game Fish Organisation. |
| Indiana: | Spinner blade cross between willow and colorado blade. |
| Jackplate: | Devise between boat transom and engine
to lift or lower the motor to enhance performance and power. |
| Jigs: | Name given to a variety of weighted hooks with skirts and plastic worms. |
| Jigging: | Term used for jerking bait up and down. |
| Kill switch: | Safety switch attached by cord to belt
or clothing that turns off the engine if driver leaves his seat. |
| Lactic acid: | Debilitating chemical build up in a fish organs and muscles after capture. |
| Lateral line: | 6th sense somewhere between vibration and hearing. |
| Launch: | Meaning to slide or float boat on to the water. |
| Lcd: | Liquid Crystal Display. As found on fish finders and GPS’s. |
| League: | On going weekly or monthly competition. |
| Livewell: | Specially constructed tank in the boat
filled with water to keep bass alive and in good condition for live release after weighing in. |
| Limit: | Amount of fish allowed to be weighed at a tournament. |
| Lip: | Front section of lure that determines the depth a lure reaches on retrieval. |
| Lippless lures: | Flat bodied lures without protruding lips. |
| Lipping: | Correct method of holding the bass by the lower lip. |
| Living rubber: | Strands of rubber bound together on
spinner baits as skirts that flutter and attract attention. |
| Log: | Record diary of daily events and timings. |
| Locker: | Compartment in boat for the storage of fishing tackle or rods. |
| Lockjaw: | When bass are inactive and refuse to feed or attack a lure. |
| Lunker: | Term used for a large sized bass. |
| L Serine: | Odor measurement on humans hands obnoxious to bass. |
| Marker buoy: | Anchored marker to demarcate anglers
fishing spot other anglers to stay away. |
| Migrating: | Bass moving from holding area to
feeding area sometimes via a set route or to deeper / shallower waters. |
| Mono: | Abreviation for monofilament fishing line. |
| Monofilament: | Fishing line of singular nylon construction. |
| Mojo: | Tubular lead weight threaded on line and pegged above terminal tackle. |
| Murkey: | Used to describe water colour discoloured muddy. |
| Naala: | Natal Artificial Lure Angling Association. |
| Northern bass: | ( micropterus salmoides. ) Most common of all bass in S.A. waters. |
| Nsc: | National Sporting Congress. |
| Oklahoma: | Spinner blade, shaped between a willow leaf and colorado blade. |
| Patch: | Cloth fishing badge. |
| Pattern: | The fishing method that appeals to fish at that time. |
| Pectrol: | Side fins on either side of the bass body. |
| Pelvic fin: | Underneath in front on chest of bass. (two of) |
| Pistol grip: | Rod handle with trigger to facilitate good grip and good sensitivity. |
| Pitch: | Term used to determine angle of motor prop blade. |
| Pitching: | Method of fishing similar to flipping. |
| Plankton: | Part of the very small food chain in the water. |
| Plastic bait: | Lifelike soft plastic worm or grub used to catch bass. |
| Popping the knot: | Pulling a not tight with a jerk (not correct procedure). |
| Points: | Pointed bank corners or protrusions often holding bass. |
| Polorised: | Special dark glass lenses that protect
your eyes and allow better vision in sunny conditions. |
| Popper: | Bass lure fished on surface of the water. |
| Porpoise: | Boat undulating movement due to incorrect motor trim. |
| Post-spawn: | Period after bass spawning. |
| Pop: | To jerk the lure in a short sharp manner. |
| Prop baits: | Bass lure with propeller in front or rear. |
| Pre-spawn: | Period before bass spawning. |
| Pro: | Bass angler who fishes professionally. |
| Presentation: | Lure placed in a position as to be appealing to bass. |
| Rattles: | Small ball bearings in plastic tubes
when shaken make rattling sound used in lures and worms. |
| Rigged: | Term given to a rod and reel fully assembled with lure. |
| Ripping: | Term used to describe fast lure retrieval. |
| Rip – raps: | Shallow area with sunken rocky outcrops. |
| Rig: | Bassing boat. |
| Rod locker: | Space or compartment that stores fishing rods on bass boats. |
| Running lights: | Illuminating lights used on boats that are traveling at night. |
| S.A.B.A.A: | South African Bass Anglers Association. |
| S.A. Bass: | Our top South African monthly bass magazine. |
| S.A.F.A.L.F: | South African Federation of Artificial Lure and Fly Anglers. |
| S.A.A.L.A.A: | South African Artificial Lure Angling Association. |
| Schooling: | When bass or bait fish gather together in large numbers. |
| Secchi disc: | Water clarity measurement devise 30 cm round black & white disc. |
| Bass senses: | Bass have 5 known senses, sight, smell, sound, taste, and lateral line. |
| Shock: | Resulting emotional reaction in a fish after being caught. |
| Shank: | The straight back section of the hook. |
| Skirts: | Rubber or plastic strips that conceal hook usually on a spinner bait. |
| Stringer: | Number of fish secured to a keep chain
or rope (unacceptable practise, damages & kills bass) |
| Slapping: | Bass hits at lure with its tail but refuses to bite. |
| Slipway: | Concrete ramp into water to launch boats from. |
| Small mouth bass: | (Micropterus Dolomi) one of the 4 species of bass not often caught. |
| Sneaker: | Silent electric motor to propel boat while fishing. |
| Solunar tables: | World wide calculated feeding times relating to the moon and sun positions. |
| Sow: | Term for large female bass. |
| Spawning: | Bass laying of eggs. |
| Spinner bait: | Type of wire bass lure with skirts and spinning blades. |
| Split shot: | Small split lead weight used for adding a light weight to terminal tackle. |
| Split ring: | Steel split ring used for connecting hooks to lures. |
| Spooked: | When a fish is alerted or scared of the lure or angler. |
| Spotted bass: | (Micropterus Punctulatus) One of the lesser caught species in S.A. waters. |
| Stick: | Fishing rod. |
| Structure: | Any object or cover underwater that affords a bass cover. |
| Strike zone: | Proximity that bass will strike at lures and baits. |
| Suspended: | Bass that hold their position at a certain depth. |
| Sweet spots: | Good fishing spots. |
| Swivel: | Anti line twisting devise attached on the line above the lure. |
| Tap tap: | Term used to explain the bite felt on a plastic worm. |
| Terminal tackle: | Relates to everything at the end of the
fishing line used for attracting bass to strike. |
| Texas rig: | Method of rigging plastic worms (weight up against worm). |
| Throat: | Bottom curve and depth in hook. |
| Thermocline: | Depth position in water where water temp differs. |
| Toledo: | Name given to type of spinner blade, short tear drop shaped blade. |
| Tournament trail: | Major bass competitions and tournaments
held around the country usually attracting the avid and keen angler. |
| Tossing blades: | Throwing or using of spinner baits. |
| Trim: | Motor angle to boat for correct efficient propulsion. |
| Trim & tilt: | Hydraulic devise electrically operated to alter motor angle to boat. |
| Triple: | Triple hooks three hooks fashioned into
one 120 degrees spaced used on all lures. |
| Transom: | Rear section of boat that motor is fixed to. |
| Trailer hook: | Extra hook threaded on existing hook to improve chance of hooking. |
| Trailering: | Meaning to retrieve or winch boat back on to the trailer. |
| Transducer: | Unit on depth finder that transmits signal to the bottom. |
| Trolling motor: | Silent electric motor to propel boat while fishing. |
| Urea: | Crystalline chemical waste discharged from a fish. |
| Weed guard: | Angled deflector that protects the hook
point from catching and fouling on obstructions. |
| Weedless hook: | Hooks with wire deflector over barb
eliminating snagging and fouling on obstructions. |
| Willow leaf: | Spinner blade, long narrow leaf shaped blade. |
| Walking the dog: | Term given to manipulating a lure on the surface usually a zara spook. |
| Worm oil: | Special mineral oil usually scented to preserve plastic worm baits. |