Spoonpluggers Glossary

 Buck Sez - Spoonplugger’s Glossary (1972)

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— This list of terms appearing in one of Buck Perry’s earliest articles for Fishing Facts magazine (1972) ran for years. 

It was added on to a short while later when Ron Lindner created/defined  a bunch more terms. Of interest, Buck defined this original set of terms in his early booklets (Spoonplugging for fresh water bass, Spoonplugging Lesson) which predated this article by nearly a decade. The terms pointed out with the emoji are newer terms that were not listed in those original booklets. —

“ We must be sure, also, that the words or terms used in talking about the different subjects are fully under-stood. For only in this way can the basic information be expanded. The Spoonplugger's Glossary which follows will explain the terms used. Study these terms so that we can be on common ground and speak the same language. At first, some of the terms may not be fully understood, but before the subject is finished you will know what they mean.”

BOW — Excess line, in the form of a curve, which occurs between the rod tip and lure.

BREAK IN STRUCTURE - Where structure is no longer uniform due to dips, or a quick drop in depth; rocks, stumps, etc.

👉 BREAKLINE - A line on structure where there is a definite increase in depth, either sudden or gradual; weedline, brushline; edge of channels or holes; where two bodies of water meet which differ in temperature and/or color.

👉 BRUSHLINE - The deep-water edge of a line of brush.

CHECKED - When an area has been thoroughly fished correctly.

👉 CLEAN BOTTOM - Bottoms free of debris, muck, moss, etc.

COLD FRONT - A weather condition. (Description and position obtainable from daily weather maps and reports.)

👉 CONTACT POINT - The position on structure where contact is first made by FISH on their movements/migrations from deep water.

CONTROLS - Factors to be considered and used for successful fishing.

CONTROL - To present lures in an orderly and correct manner.

DEEP WATER - Water that has a depth greater than eight to ten feet. 

👉 DIRTY BOTTOM - Bottoms covered with debris, muck, moss, etc.

DROP-OFF - The place on structure where there is a sudden or rapid drop into the deepest water, such as a hole or channel.

ELIMINATED WATER - Water that has been fished correctly and has produced no action.

FAN CAST - A series of casts that covers the water in an arc.

FREE SWIMMING LURE - A lure moving or swimming through open water.

GAME FISH - Any fish considered worthy of pursuit, either for its pugnacious disposition or for its flesh.

👉 HARD BOTTOM - Bottoms with a firm condition, usually associated with sand, clay, rocks, gravel, etc.

HOME - The deep water areas where fish spend most of their time.

HOT-SPOT - An area where fish are caught consistently when fish are said to be 'biting'.

👉 JUMP LURE - Normally, weighted lures used for bottom work, whose speed and action is obtained by rod or reel movement in the form of a jump or jerk.

MIGRATION - Movement of fish from one section of water to another. Normally used when speaking of a depth change.

MIGRATION ROUTE - The path fish take as they move from deep water to shallow water, or vice versa.

MOVEMENT - Closely associated with migration, but also meaning when fish become active (opposite of dormant.)

OPEN WATER — Water free from vegetation growth, and away from shoreline.

POINT - An extrusion in the shoreline that extends into and under the water.

SANCTUARY - The section of water, in the home area, where fish spend most of their time.

SCATTERPOINT - The depth, on the bottom, where fish start to separate and scatter during ther migrations, and are no longer grouped together.

SCHOOL OF FISH - A number of fish that are grouped close together.

SCHOOLING - A school of fish feeding on the surface, visibly tearing up the water.

SHALLOW WATER - Water less than eight to ten feet in depth.

SIZE OF LURE - Normally, the length in inches rather than by weight.

👉 SOFT BOTTOM - Bottoms covered with soft silt, mud, muck, marl, etc.

SPOOKED - Fish which have become alerted or have become scared. Their reaction is to drop into deeper water or to become very inactive.

STRAGGLERS - An occasional fish, which is usually found apart from the others. These are the fish most shallow, bank-and-dock casting anglers will catch (Yearlings are often in this category.)

STRUCTURE - The bottom of the lake extending from shallow water to deep water, with some unusual features that distinguish it from the surrounding bottom area.

TRAFFIC - The amount of fishing pressure, or water skiers, large boats and motors, and fast boats in a given area.

WALKING OR BUMPING - A lure moving along the bottom and actually coming into contact with it in this manner.

👉 WATER COLOR - The degree of clarity.

👉 WEEDLINE - The deep-water edge of a line of weeds.

YEARLINGS - One to three year old fish.