Learn
Glossary.
The words you will hear on the beach and in the tackle shop, in plain language.
B
- BacklashAlso: Bird's nest
- A tangle of line on a reel, usually caused by a cast that goes too fast for the spool.
- Bail arm
- The wire arm on a spinning reel that guides line onto the spool. Open it to cast, close it to wind.
- BaitcasterAlso: Casting reel
- A reel that sits on top of the rod and pays out line as the spool turns. It gives close control for lures, and is the usual choice for bass. Bass gear
- BaitrunnerAlso: Free-spool
- A reel setting that lets a fish take line with very little resistance while the reel stays engaged and ready. Browse reels
- Boilie
- A round, hard bait made from fish meal or a milk-protein mix. The standard carp bait. Bait guide
- Braid
- A line woven from several strands. It does not stretch much, so you feel bites well, but it needs a leader. Line types
- Breaking strain
- The weight a line is rated to hold before it breaks, usually in kilograms or pounds. It is a test figure, not a guarantee.
C
- Cast weight
- The range of sinker weight a rod is designed to throw, often shown in grams and ounces.
- Circle hook
- A hook with the point turned in. It usually sets itself in the corner of a fish's mouth when the line comes tight. Hook guide
- Crankbait
- A hard-bodied lure with a diving lip that swims at a set depth on a steady retrieve. Lures
D
- Drag
- The brake on a reel that lets a fish pull out line instead of breaking it. It is set before you cast.
- Drop-shot
- A rig where the weight hangs below the hook on a tag end, so the bait floats just above the bottom. Drop-shot rig
F
- Free-spool
- A reel setting that lets line run off with no drag, so a taking fish can pull line without feeling resistance. Often called baitrunner on carp reels.
G
- GapAlso: Gape
- The distance between the point and shank of a hook. It decides how well a hook sets and holds.
- Gully
- A deeper channel between sandbanks where fish often feed. You can usually spot one as a darker strip of water.
H
- Hair rig
- A rig where the bait sits on a short hair behind the hook, rather than on the hook itself. Hair rig
- Hooklink
- A short length of line between the hook and the main rig, sometimes called a hook length.
L
- Leader
- A length of heavier line tied between the main line and the hook. It resists abrasion from teeth and rocks. Line and leader
M
- Method feeder
- A cage or flat feeder packed with groundbait around the hook bait. It draws fish to the hook. Method feeder rig
P
- Pulley rig
- A rig where the sinker slides on the line and the bait is dragged against it, popular for kob and sharks. Pulley rig
R
- Reel size
- A number such as 4000 or 6500 that shows how big a spinning reel is. Bigger reels hold more line. Check a setup
- Rip current
- A strong channel of water flowing out through the surf. It can pull swimmers out and shift sinkers.
- Rod action
- How much of a rod bends under load. Fast action bends near the tip; slow action bends along its length.
S
- Shock leader
- A heavy length of line tied to the main line so it can handle the strain of a powerful cast. Line and leader
- SinkerAlso: Weight
- A weight that carries your bait out and holds it in the surf. Pyramids, grapnels and bombs all hold in different ways. Sinker guide
- Spinning reel
- A reel where the spool stays still and the line spools off the front. It is the most common reel for beginners.
- Spool capacity
- How much line of a given thickness a reel can hold. Surf casting needs enough line for long casts and a running fish.
- Surf zoneAlso: The wash
- The strip of water where waves break. Many surf fish feed in the gullies between the sandbanks.
- Swivel
- A small metal joint that lets the line turn without twisting. Used at joins in the rig.
T
- Test curve
- A carp rod rating in pounds. It is the weight that bends the rod to a right angle, so 3.5 lb is a stiffer rod than 2.75 lb.
- Texas rig
- A soft plastic worm with the hook buried in the body and a bullet weight sliding above it. Nearly weedless. Texas rig
- Trace
- A short section of line that carries the hook, often with a swivel at the top end.
U
- Unhooking mat
- A padded mat that protects a fish when you unhook it on the bank. Standard for carp fishing.