Fishing Glossary

Active Fish

Bass that are feeding. Many times in the fall of the year at Lake Sinclair you can see the exploding on the top of the water as they feed on schooling shad.

Backlash

Tangle of line on a baitcasting reel. Not much fun.

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. There are many popular baits specific to Lake Sinclair.

Baitfish

Small fish often eaten by larger predatory game fish. Lake Sinclair primary bait fish for bass is Threadfin and Gizzard shad.

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. Many Lake Sinclair anglers target bass on beds.

Bite

When a bass eats or touches bait so that the fisherman feels it.

Brushpile

Trees or sunken brush sunken to attract bass as cover.

Buzzbait

Topwater bait with large, propeller-type blades that churn the water during retrieve. Comprised of a leadhead, rigid hook, and wire that supports one or more blades. The Buzzbait is an excellent choice in low light conditions or when covering water.

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.

Channel

The bed of a stream or river.

Chugger

Topwater plug with a dished-out (concave or "cupped") head designed to make a splash when pulled sharply.

Clarity

Refers to the depth you are able to see an object (such as your lure) under the water.

Cold Front

A weather condition accompanied by high, clear skies, and a sudden drop in temperature.

Contact Point

The deepest position on structure where a bass angler can first effectively present his lure to bass as they migrate from deep water.

Count It Down

Timing a sinking lure to determine when it will reach a specified depth. This is accomplished by finding the rate of sinking of a lure in feet-per-second. Often used when fishing for suspended fish.

Cover

Natural or man made objects on a lake that influence fish behavior. Anything a fish can use to conceal itself. Examples include stick-ups, tree lines, stumps, rocks, logs, pilings, docks. Do not confuse with structure.

Crankbait

Typically, a lipped lure that dives under the surface during the retrieve. So-called lipless crankbaits are thin, minnow-like lures that sink at a rate of about 1-foot per second.

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. Lake Sinclair is loaded with crawfish. Jigs are a very popular lure at Lake Sinclair to imitate the crawfish.

Creature bait

A soft plastic bait with several appendages; most popular for flipping, pitching and Carolina rigging.

Culling

Refers to releasing a smaller fish and replacing it with a larger one you have caught once you have reached your limit.

Depthfinder

A sonar device, either a flasher unit or LCR recorder, used to read the bottom structure, determine depth, and in some cases actually spot the fish; also called a fishfinder.

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.

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.

Drop-Off

A sudden change in depth, created by small creek channels, land points, ledges and the general lay of the land. Lake Sinclair has many bluffs with ledges. These are an example of excellent places to fish with drop-offs.

Fan Cast

Making several casts to cover an area surrounding by the angler.

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.

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 an underhand cast while controlling the line with your hand.

Forage

Small baitfish, crayfish and other creatures that bass eat. Gizzard shad, Threadfin shad bluegill and crawfish are the main forage of bass at Lake Sinclair.

French Fry

Soft-plastic worm about 4 inches long. Resembles a crinkle-cut French fry. Used often on Carolina Rigs.

Front

Weather system that causes changes in temperature, cloud cover, precipitation, wind and barometric pressure.

GPS (Global Positioning System)

Electronic devices that use transmissions from an array of satellites to aid in navigation and to show precise position, usually on a chart or map.

Grub

A short plastic worm used with a weighted jig hook.

Guide Service

One who shows the way by leading, directing, or advising on how and where to catch Lake Sinclair bass. The service can be for a fun day fishing, pre fishing for a bass tournament, learning techniques, a relaxing day on the water, gaining knowledge and experience with a professional bass fisherman.

Hawg

Usually refers to a lunker-size or heavyweight bass weighing 4 pounds or more. Many hawgs are caught everyday on Lake Sinclair.

Hook set

The process by which the hook is driven into the mouth of a fish.

Horizontal Movement

The distance a fish moves while remaining at the same depth.

Hump

An area higher than the surrounding area. A submerged island might be considered a hump. There are many humps at Lake Sinclair that hold fish year round.

Ichthyology

The branch of zoology that deals with fishes - their classification, structure, habits, and live history.

Inactive Fish

Bass that are in a non-feeding mood.

Jerkbait

Jerkbaits resemble more of a minnow baitfish. The lure is fished by twitching or jerking the lure forward, hence the name. Many suspend at different depths depending on the type. One of the most popular winter and early spring lures at Lake Sinclair. Popular brands are Mega-Bass, Smithwick, Lucky Craft.

Jig

A leadhead poured around a hook and featuring a skirt of rubber, plastic, or hair. Another very popular lure at Lake Sinclair Many tournaments have been won using jigs.

Jig-N-Pig

Combination of a leadhead jig and pork rind trailer; among the most effective baits for attracting trophy-size bass.

Keeper

A bass that conforms to a specific minimum length limit established by tournament organizations and/or state fisheries department.

Laydown

A shoreline tree that has fallen into the water. There are many laydowns in the river arms of Lake Sinclair.

Ledge

An edge of a flat or gently sloping bottom that is cut by any channel or other feature so as to create a sharp drop-off. Ledges on bluffs are an excellent choice to fish in summer and winter at Lake Sinclair.

Limit

Restriction on the number of fish that an angler may harvest in a day.

Line Guides

Rod rings through which fishing line is passed.

Lipless Crankbaits

Artificial baits designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. Such plugs vibrate and/or wobble during retrieve; some have built-in rattles. Excellent choice for long fan casting to cover a lot of water on flats.

Livewell

An aerated tank in boats used to hold fish in water until weigh-in time so that they have a better chance of survival when released.

Logjam

A group of horizontal logs pushed together by wind or water flow to form an obstruction. In lakes, logjams are usually found in backs of pockets and in the backs of coves. After storms on Lake Sinclair the logjams will result of rising water levels.

Lunker

Slang term for large bass of any species. Lake Sinclair is loaded with lunkers. Many believe a bass over 4 pounds is considered a lunker.

Match the hatch

mimicking the size and color of insects, baitfish or other prey.

Micropterus Salmoides

Scientific term for largemouth bass.

Migration Route

The path followed by bass when moving from one area to another normally due to seasonal changes or spawning activity.

Mono

Short for monofilament fishing line.

PFD

Initials that stand for Personal Floatation Device; also called a life vest.

Pattern

A defined set of location and presentation factors that consistently produce fish. Water conditions such as depth, cover, structure, temperature, clarity, currents which attracts fish to a specific location.

Pick-Up

The act of a bass taking a slowly fished lure, such as a plastic worm, crawfish or lizard.

Pitching

Presentation technique in which worms or jigs are dropped into cover at close range with an underhand pendulum motion. A very popular technique used at Lake Sinclair with jigs.

Plastic worm

A molded soft plastic lure designed to imitate a worm. Plastic worms are manufactured in numerous sizes, shapes and colors. These are an excellent summer bait to use around docks and brush piles at Lake Sinclair.

Pocket

A small indentation of the shoreline. These are excellent spawning areas at Lake Sinclair.

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. During post spawn at Lake Sinclair many large bass can be caught off main lake points when there is medium to heavy generation.

Post Front

The period following a cold front; atmosphere clears and becomes bright; usually characterized by strong winds and a significant drop in temperature.

Postspawn

The time frame after bass have spawned for the year.

Presentation

A collective term referring to choice of type of lure, color, and size; structure targeted; amount of disturbance a bait makes when entering the water; and retrieval technique, speed, and depth used to catch fish. Example: Pitching a jig between the floats under a dock.

Prespawn

The period shortly before spawning begins when big bass typically invade shallow water and feed voraciously.

Pull Point

A high spot close to deep water that has current running on it. It’s not necessarily a point, but more so an area where the current is being sucked from the deepwater to the shallow water. It pulls the shad and other bait fish out of the deep water and forces them into the shallow water where bass can ambush much easier. The sweet spot is where you want to throw - like a rock, a stump, or a little ditch – something that is just a little subtle change they can behind from the current and ambush a bait fish. You want to pull your bait with the current or across the current, but not against the current if you can help it.

Reaction baits

Lures fished in a way that causes a bass to strike out of reflex or surprise; spinnerbaits, crankbaits and lipless crankbaits are frequently fished in a manner designed to generate reaction bites.

Reservoir

Artificially created place where water is collected and stored; also called an impoundment. Lake Sinclair is a Reservoir lake.

Riprap

A man-made stretch of rocks or material of a hard composition that usually extend above and below the shoreline; Rip Rap can be found along the dam and some of the bridges on Lake Sinclair.

School

A group of bass or other fish congregated in a small area. During the winter at Lake Sinclair you can find bass schooled around bluffs, bluff ends, the middle of creeks and main lake points.

Shad

A prolific baitfish that serves as the primary food fish for bass in reservoirs and rivers. Lake Sinclair had both Threadfin and Gizzard Shad. Lake Sinclair sits at the furthest north point where Threadfin Shad can survive.

Shaky head

A special leadhead jig designed for rigging a worm weedless and used in the shaking technique.

Short Strike

When a fish hits at a lure and misses it. Many times this happens with a Zara Spook, Pop-r and other topwater lures.

Sight fishing

Targeting bass that are visible to the angler, usually during the bass spawning season in clearer water.

Slip Sinker

A lead weight with a hole through the center. Threaded on line, a slip sinker slides freely up and down. The slip sinker is used in both Carolina and Texas rigging, 2 very popular techniques at Lake Sinclair.

Slow Roll

Spinnerbait presentation in which the lure is retrieved slowly through and over cover objects.

Sonar

An acronym for SOund, NAvigation and Ranging, the technology which makes depthfinders/fishfinders possible. At Lake Sinclair this is a must when locating baitfish, humps, points, channels transitions and water temperature.

Spincaster

A manner of fishing employing a push-button, closed-face spinning reel and baitcasting rod; reel is mounted on topside of rod.

Spinnerbait

A leadhead lure similar in shape to an open safety-pin with a hook; other features include a rubber, plastics, or hair skirt, and one or two blades of various shapes and sizes.

Spook

The act of alarming a fish in a negative way. A large splash when your lure hits the water. Load trolling motor. Too much talking.

Stick-Up

Stump, limb, section of pipe, fence post - that extends above the surface; a favorite casting target of bass fishermen.

Structure

Changes in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. This is probably the most misunderstood word in bass fishing. Structure is a feature on the bottom of the lake. Some examples of structure at Lake Sinclair are creeks, humps, depressions, roadbeds, ledges, and drop-offs, points, flats.

Suspended Fish

Condition used to describe bass that are holding at some point in the water column between the surface and the bottom. During the winter and early spring at Lake Sinclair the bass will suspend over channel banks and points. Many gigantic bass are caught this time with suspended jerkbaits

Swimbait

Any of a loose group of lures that emulate baitfish and are frequently characterized by their large size in relation to other bass lures; swimbaits may be soft or hard lures, lipped or not lipped and one piece or jointed.

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 - worm, lizard, crawfish, so that the hook is weedless. A 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.

Topwaters

Floating hard baits that create some degree of surface disturbance during retrieve. Exceptional lures to use early and late in the day at Lake Sinclair. Many bass are caught on topwater lures here.

Trailer Hook

The extra hook, or cheater hook added to a single-hook lure, such as a spinnerbait or buzzbait.

Transition

The imaginary line where one type of bottom material changes to another. These transitions can be seen on your depth finder and occasionally by looking at the change in the bank or shoreline.

Treble Hook

Hook with single or bundled shaft and three points.

Triggering

Employment of any lure-retrieval technique or other fishing strategy that causes a bass to strike.

Trolling Motor

A small electric fishing motor, typically mounted on the bow, that is used as secondary boat propulsion, for boat positioning, and to maneuver quietly in fishing areas.

Tube bait

Any of a variety of soft plastic lures with a hollow cavity.

Turnover

The period when the cold water on the surface of a body of water descends and is replaced by warmer water from below.

Umbrella Rig (A-Rig)

An array of four or more artificial lures or baits (with or without hooks) cast or trolled by a single rod and reel combination and attached by a wire or other harness; a popular trolling rig for striped bass and other pelagic species. This has become a very popular lure used in late winter and early spring, many large bass have been caught contributing to tournament wins.

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