Back Cast

the backward motion of the rod and line in fly casting.

Backing

the reserve line that is connected to the main line on the spool of a reel for situations when greater line lengths are necessary.

Backlash

the tangle of line that develops on the spool of a revolving spool reel as a result of the differential between speed of the line moving through the rod guides and the amount of line being made available to follow the lure by spin imparted to the reel spool.

Backtrolling

refers to transom-first instead of bow-first trolling. It is a technique often used for advantages such as slowing boat speed, greater vessel control and less line interference with multiple anglers due to the boat motor and propeller in the “front” rather than in the rear. For more detail on trolling techniques, please refer to the Introduction to Trolling page.

Backwater

a quiet, still pool, lagoon or pond-like body of water on the side of a stream channel or river.

Bag Limit

same as creel limit; the number of fish taken, caught or killed during a specific time period.

Bail

an arm on a spinning reel also known as a pickup bail that gathers line for winding onto the spool.

Bait

generally refers to a natural, synthetic or processed food used to catch fish, not to be confused with a lure, generally manufactured to mimic or represent food. Bait can also be live, such as worms, leeches, frogs and shiners, for example.

Bait Casting Equipment

light to medium-light general fishing reel which is comprised of a revolving carriage which dispenses and retrieves the line.

Bait Dropper

a device lowered on a rope or fishing line to drop bait on the bottom of a water body.

Bait Fish

standard reference to any fish species used to catch fish. Depending on the species fished for, Bait Fish should typically represent natural prey to the predator game fish sought. Minnows are commonly used as Bait Fish, since they are such common forage to so many freshwater species. See also: Shiners.

Bait-and-Switch

a salt water angling technique where a trolled hookless teaser that has attracted fish is quickly removed from the water while a hooked lure, bait or fly is simultaneously presented.

Balloon Fishing

a little used method of fishing with live bait, in which a balloon is used on place of a float or bobber to ensure the bait maintains a particular depth. See also: Floats and Bobbers.

Bank Fishing

fishing or casting from the shore (or structure, like a dock) to a still body of water or a large river.

Barb

the sharp point extending backwards on a hook to prevent the release of the hook from the material in which it is embedded.

Barbel

a whisker like feeler on the snout of some fish that contains taste buds ad is used for touching and tasting food before ingesting it.

Barnacle

any of various marine crustaceans of the subclass Cirripedia that in the adult stage form a hard shell and remain attached to submerged surfaces, such as rocks and ships’ bottoms.

Basin

an area in which the strata dip from the margins toward a common centre.

Bass Bugs

floating lures generally used for fly fishing which mimic such rodents as mice, as well as insects, frogs and other natural creatures.

Bearing

the situation of a distant object, with regard to a ship’s position, as on the bow, on the lee quarter, etc.; the direction or point of the compass in which an object is seen; as, the bearing of the cape was W. N. W.

Belly Boat

an oval shaped self-propelled float tubes.

Big Game

a general term that refers to large and strong saltwater sportfish that are caught offshore.

Bight

a bay formed by an indentation or curve in a coastline.

Billabong

an Australian terms for a branch of a river flowing away from the main stream but leading to no other body of water; a blind or dead-end channel.

Bimini Twist

a double-line knot associated with saltwater fishing, which is common when using heavy leaders and big-game angling.

Biomass

the total weight or volume of a stock or of a component of a stock.

Boat Fishing

fishing or casting from a boat typically anchored in the water.

Bobber

a term describing some type of float to which line is attached acting as a depth control device for the delivery of the bait or lure as well as a strike indicator, due to the “bobbing” or bouncing action when a strike occurs. See also: Fishing Floats & Bobbers.

Bobhouse

a shack or shanty used for ice fishing.

Boilie

a small ball of processed protein bait made from milk and animal proteins that have been rolled together and boiled and is primarily used in carp fishing.

Boreal Forest

generally a northern forest, characterized by evergreen conifers and long winters, is found in the northern parts of North America, Europe, and Asia.

Boron Rod

a rod that uses boron in combination with another material in the construction of the blank. While many are labelled boron, most have very little boron.

Bounce Cast

a cast made with spinning or baitcasting tackle where a lure is made to bounce or skip over the surface to reach an object or area to be fished.

Bouys

a float moored in water to mark a location, warn of danger, or indicate a navigational channel.

Bow

the front or forward section of a vessel.

Brackish Waters

refers to waters with salt content, however, not containing salt levels as concentrated as ocean water. It is not uncommon for both freshwater and saltwater species to be found in brackish waters.

Breakwater

a man-made barrier to break the impact of waves or the current at the mouth of a river harbour or inlet.

Bream

many species of both freshwater and saltwater fish around the world are referred to as bream — it is a common term for panfish.

Broaching

a nautical term referring to an unplanned, sudden turning of a boat so that it is broadside of the waves and wind and in danger of capsizing.

Buck Tails

types of jigs and streamer flies generally tied with hair or fur. For more detailed information on flies, refer to the Fly fishing section.

Bug Taper

a type of eight forward fly line for casting large flies, deep hair bass bugs and fly rod poppers.

Buoyancy

the ability of a body to float or rise when submerged in water.

Burping

a technique for relieving the air bladder of a fish that has been retrieved rapidly from deep water and is to be released.

Buzz Baits

lures resembling spinner baits with propeller style devices on the upper arm, which is typically parallel to the lower arm. The buzz bait rotates and causes a noticeable attraction to fish. Many Buzz baits are also surface lures.

If you have a term or definition you think we should add, please Contact Us and we’ll include in our glossary.