techniques
Fishing Terms: 265 Words, Slang and Acronyms Anglers Use
A glossary of fishing terms: tackle, lures and rigs, techniques, fly fishing, fish anatomy, water, rules and records, plus angler slang and acronyms.
fishing.info
Fishing, explained properly.
Species, techniques, lures, bait, gear and the rules in every state. Written from the sources, compared on the numbers, and kept up to date.
Species
Every fish worth chasing: how to identify it, where it lives, when it bites.
Techniques
Rigs, knots, casting, and the disciplines from fly to ice to surf.
Lures
Crankbaits to soft plastics: how each one works and when to throw it.
Bait
Live, cut and prepared bait, how to rig it and how to keep it.
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Gear
Rods, reels, line, hooks and electronics, compared on the numbers.
States
Licenses, seasons and the best water, state by state.
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How fishing.info works
- One answer per question. Every page is built to be the best answer to the question in its title: what the fish is, what to throw, which rod, what the rules say.
- Sources, not opinions. Articles are written from state agencies, records bodies, manufacturers' specifications and the anglers who fish for a living, with the sources listed at the bottom of every page.
- Honest about how it is made. Research-driven, drafted with AI assistance, reviewed before it goes live. We never claim tests we have not done. About this site and its author.
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techniques
Fishing Knots: Which Knot for Which Line and Job
The fishing knots that matter, sorted by job and line: hook knots, braid-to-leader knots, line-to-line joins, loops and the spool, with strength-test numbers.
species
Smallmouth vs Largemouth Bass: How to Tell Them Apart
Smallmouth vs largemouth bass: the jaw, the stripe and the dorsal fin settle the identification in seconds. Then habitat, size, records and how each one fights.
species
Splake: The Brook Trout and Lake Trout Hybrid
Splake are a hatchery cross of lake trout and brook trout. How to tell them apart, whether they can reproduce, the 20 lb record and how to catch them.
gear
Best Braided Fishing Line: The Reviewers' Picks Compared
The best braided fishing line from the 2026 reviews and bench tests, compared on strands, diameter, abrasion and price, with a pick for every job.
species
Trout: The Types of Trout and How to Tell Them Apart
The types of trout anglers catch, from rainbow and brown to brook and lake trout (two are chars): the marks that identify each, spawn seasons, records.
gear
Fishing Rod for Beginners: The One Setup, and Eight Combos That Deliver It
A fishing rod for beginners is a 6 ft 6 in to 7 ft medium spinning combo. Eight combos from the 2026 guides compared on rod, reel, price and verdict.
gear
Best Fishing Rods: The Reviewers' Picks by Technique and Budget
The best fishing rods from the 2026 reviews, sorted by what you fish: all-round casting, spinning, budget, crankbait and catfish rods, with specs for each.