Fishing Terminology

By Staff - Jun 15, 2003

Beek: Canadian version of a cracker....our version loves a spinning reel and camo waders

Bonk:To kill a fish.

Boondogging: Drifting your boat at or about the same speed as the current so one cast runs the entire length of the run.

Boot: Opposite of chromer. An old salmon or Steelhead. Well past edible, although often seen in the hands of a beek, claiming "this ones for the smoker".

Birdnest: A tangle that can occurr using a level wind,a newbies nightmare

Brats: Hatchery raised Steelhead

Bullet: Same as a chromer

Buck: Male fish

Chromer: A bright, fresh fish

Choked: Busted of a fish or did somethin dumb to lose your fish

Coffee Grinder: Spin cast reel

Doe: Hen Steelies/Salmon

Flossing: Using really long leaders to float thru lots of stacked up fish, trying to hook the fish on the outside of the jaw

Gong Show: Also known as the"gong". A term that refers to a spot where fisherman stack up, usually close to the road - lines are getting tangled and there is a disportionate amount of anglers wearing camo getups.

Guts: Roe, eggs

Hawg: A really big fish

Hen: Female fish

Hog line: Boats or bankies stretched across a river in a line

Horse: To force a fish in too fast..."he really horsed that one".

Kelt: A spawned out Steelhead on the way back to the Ocean, also known as a dropback, downriver

Lowholed: When someone steps in front of you as you move down a drift, or sets up their boat in front of you or your boat.

Meat Hole: A spot where "fisherman" gather because the fishing is so good, even the biggest fool can get fish at the "meat hole". Usually lots of guys ripping sides trying to snag fish.

Milk: To play a fish too long

Nates: Native steelhead, not of hatchery origin

Pool cue: Stiff action rod, undesirable

Ripper: see screamer

Ripping Sides: Purposely seting the hook every ten feet during your drift with the intent of snagging a fish by the belly/ass/fin.

Screamer: Hard fighting fish, makes your reel "scream"

Schmeg: The stuff a bait (roe) fisherman gets all over his waders, rods, reels, vest, rocks around him, trees around him, and all over the boat.

Skunked: Failure to produce any fish on a given day

Slinky: Parachute cord filled with buckshot, used for weight.

Snagger: Can't get one the fair way, loves to set the hook at the end of every drift.

Snakes: Pink rubber worms

Sweet Jigging: Same as ripping sides

Tyee: Chinook over 30 pounds

Weekend Warrior: They dress the part and flock to the rivers in their new waders and Sage rods on the weekends to 'escape' from the everyday stresses of a crappy office job, usually gettin skunked. (edit - the webmaster of this website has assumed this role over the past 18 months, minus the waders and nice gear :)

Zipperlip: Secret fishing hole.

Email this article