Glossary of Carp-Fishing Terms

Feel free to add posts with additional terms, better definitions, or both. I'd like to keep the definitions short and provide links to other sites for additional information.

Acronyms

• ACS: American Carp Society (www.americancarpsociety.com)
• ATC: Austin Team Championship (a CAG carp tournament)
• BCT: Big Carp Tackle (www.bigcarptackle.com)
• CAG: Carp Anglers Group (www.carpanglersgroup.com)
• ToC: Tournament of Champions
• TPWD: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/)

Carp and Related Fish

(See the TPWD web site for more information on Texas freshwater fish species.)

• Asian Carps: In the US, this term usually refers to certain carp species that have escaped from catfish farms into public waters, where they threaten native fishes:
• Bighead Carp: Has a large, scaleless head (see here).
• Black Carp: Feeds mainly on snails and mussels (see here).
• Grass Carp: See White Amur.
• Silver Carp: Known for jumping out of the water when threatened (see here).
• White Amur: Occasionally used to control aquatic weeds; often called a grass carp (see here and here).
• Common (European) Carp: Introduced from Europe in the 19th century, this is the most widespread type of carp in Texas; often reach 30 pounds or more (see here). Variants include:
• Ghost Carp, or Ghostie: A cross between a metallic koi and a common carp (see here and here).
• Koi: An ornamental Japanese carp (see here and here).
• Leather Carp: A smooth-skinned carp, though a few scales may be present near the dorsal fin (see here).
• Linear: A smooth-skinned carp with a row of large scales along the lateral line (see here).
• Mirror Carp: A carp with very large, irregular, and patchy scales (see here and here).
• Buffalo: Native to Texas, buffalo are actually suckers, not carp:
• Bigmouth Buffalo: Similar to smallmouth buffalo with a thicker body and a forward-facing mouth (see here).
• Black Buffalo: Closely related to the bigmouth buffalo, the black buffalo is darker and has a more horizontal mouth with thicker lips (see here).
• Smallmouth Buffalo: Most common buffalo in Texas; looks like a gray carp with large black eyes and no barbels (see here).
• Other Carps, Suckers, and Carplike Fish:
• Barbels: Small carp-like fish found in Europe and Central Asia (see here).
• Crucian Carp: A small member of the carp family found in Europe and Asia (see here).

Fish-Related Terms

• Barbels: The two whisker-like organs on the upper jaw of a common carp, used to find food in murky water (see here).
• Cloopers: Carp that are feeding on the surface.
• Coarse fish: A UK term for fish species that are not part of the salmon or trout families.
• Curtain: A flap of skin in the mouth of a carp. If the curtain is undamaged, it may indicate that the carp has never been caught before.
• Mudders: Carp that are feeding on the bottom and creating a cloud of mud.
• Rough Fish: A US term for fish species that are not commonly caught for food or sport.
• Shoal: A school of fish.

Tackle and Rigs

• Backlead: A small weight clipped onto the line after casting; helps to pin the line to the lake bed so fish are not spooked by bumping into it.
• Bolt Rig: A rig with a heavy, semi-fixed lead designed to automatically hook a carp when the leader tightens.
• Bomb: A large lead, or sinker.
• Chod Rig: A carp rig, similar to the helicopter rig, designed for fishing over gravel (chod).
• Circle Hook: A roundish hook with a point that is bent in at a 90-degree angle toward the shaft.
• Controller: A float used when surface fishing; adds weight for longer casts.
• Death Rig: Any rig that may leave a carp tethered to a lead if the main line breaks. Chod rigs and helicopter rigs are often incorrectly rigged as death rigs due to their "fixed" leads.
• Euro: An adjective referring to European fishing gear, baits, tackle, or techniques.
• Feeder: A plastic cage-like device attached to the line instead of a lead (sinker); groundbait is pressed into or molded around the feeder to attract carp to the hookbait.
• Fixed: Immovable; refers to leads or other tackle that cannot slide along the line and that do not come free when the mainline breaks.
• Float: A bobber, often long and slender, use to aid presentation and bite detection; much more sensitive than red-and-white plastic bobbers.
• Flying backlead: A sliding lead that "flies" backwards along the line (toward the angler) during a cast, or when it contacts the water; see Backlead.
• Greedy Pig Rig: A common name for three or more baits (some say four) on a single hair rig; often attracts the largest, "greediest" fish.
• Hair Rig: A rig with a small length of line (the "hair") extending from the shank of the hook; bait is attached to the hair, leaving the hook fully exposed.
• Hair Stop: Anything used to hold a bait on a hair rig; often a small piece of plastic shaped like a dumbbell.
• Helicopter Rig: A rig with a lead at the end of the line, and a leader extending sideways a few inches above the lead. The leader and bait rotate about the mainline during flight.
• Hooklink: See Leader.
• Hooklength: See Leader.
• Lead: A sinker; a heavy lead weight.
• Leader (UK): A length of heavy line (nominally 30 to 40 ft) between the mainline and swivel; can be used for abrasion resistance or to absorb the shock of casting a heavy weight.
• Leader (US): A short piece of line that is tied between the mainline and the hook; called a hooklink or hooklength in the UK.
• Ledger: A rig designed to be fished on the bottom.
• Line aligner: A short piece of heat shrink tubing that keeps the hook at a slight angle to the leader; helps to turn the hook for a better hookset.
• Method feeder: A wire or plastic cage for use with Method mix or packbait.
• PVA: Polyvinyl Alcohol, a plastic-like material designed to melt in water. Comes in bags, mesh tubing, and string, sometimes with flavors and attractants. Used to present freebies (loose bait) very close to the hookbait.
• Running Rig: A rig which uses a free-sliding lead, so a carp feel no resistance when it sucks in the bait.
• Semi-fixed: A rig that allows a lead to come free from the line if the mainline breaks or the lead is snagged.
• Shock leader: A length of heavy line (nominally 30 to 40 feet) between the mainline and the swivel; can withstand the force of a long cast better than the mainline.
• Sliding Ledger: See Running Rig.
• Snowman Rig: Common name for a rig with two boilies on a hair, one that floats (the pop-up) and one that sinks; resembles a two-part snowman.
• Stringer: Several baits connected by a string of PVA string or tape, to present freebies (loose bait) very close to the hookbait.
• Swan shot: Large split shot.
• Trace: See Leader.
• Waggler: A long, slender float, usually affixed to the mainline at the bottom.
• Zig Rig: A sliding ledger rig with a very long leader; the lead sits on the bottom and the bait floats high in the water column.

Baits

• Base Mix: Dry mix used in making boilies; often contains soy flour, semolina, corn meal, and other grains. Mixed with wet ingredients to form a paste or dough that is rolled into balls and boiled.
• Boilie: A round, hard bait, like a ball of dough bait that has been hardened by boiling.
• Chum: Bait (often grain, beans, nuts, or animal feed) that is thrown into the water to attract fish to the hookbait.
• Chum Mixer: A type of pet food sold in the UK. Often used for bait when float fishing.
• Donkey Choker: A very large bait; in particular, a large boilie (the size of golf ball or bigger). Used to target large fish.
• Dough Bait: A catch-all term for soft carp baits, often made with flour, corn meal, cereal, bread, and other grain-based ingredients.
• Floaters: Floating baits.
• Groundbait: See Chum.
• Hemp: Sterilized hemp seed used for chum (ground bait). That's it. Really.
• Hookbait: Bait that is put on a hook, or on the hair of a hair rig.
• HNV: High Nutritional Value; used of baits that are a nutritionally sound.
• Maize: Deer corn, boiled and used as bait.
• The "Method": A technique for catching carp that involves molding a ball of groundbait around a plastic cage (a "feeder") that is attached to the line several inches above the hook. The ball of bait attracts the fish to the area immediately around the hook and promotes competitive feeding.
• Method Mix: A semi-moist ball of bait, used when fishing the "Method" (see The Method).
• Packbait: Similar to a Method mix, often used at paylakes.
• Particles: Grains, beans, or nuts when used as hookbaits or groundbait.
• Paste: See Dough Bait.
• Pellets: Small chunks of manufactured, compressed animal food, normally used as groundbait (chum).
• Pop-up: A floating boilie.
• Ready-Mades: Boilies that are commercially made, rather than home made.
• Shelf-Life: Used of boilies that can be stored at room temperatures for many months.
• Snotty: Thick and sticky (see Tiger Nuts).
• Tiger Nuts: A small, wrinkled nut (actually a tuber) that often makes an excellent carp bait. Before use, they should be soaked in water, boiled, and left to stand to develop a "snotty" texture.

Gear

• Bait Spoon: A shovel-like scoop on a long handle that an angler uses to throw loose bait into the water to attract fish.
• Baiting Needle: A small needle with a hook on the end (like a knitting or crochet needle), used to put baits onto the hair of a hair rig.
• Baitrunner: A spinning reel with two drag systems; the main drag is used when fighting the fish, and the baitrunner (secondary) drag keeps slight tension on the line after a fish takes the bait (also called a "bait feeder").
• Bank Stick: A metal or plastic stick that is pushed into the ground and used to support a rod holder or bite alarm.
• Bed Chair: A high-tech cot, used for sleeping during long fishing sessions.
• Beta light: See Isotope.
• Big Pit Reel: A spinning reel which holds a large amounts of line (300 yards or more) for making long casts to reach fish far from shore.
• Bite Alarm: An electronic device that alerts an angler to a bite; the fishing line is laid through a slot and the alarm makes a loud beep when the line moves.
• Bivvy: A tent that is open in the front; allows an angler to quickly leave the tent to fight a fish.
• Bobbin: See Dangler.
• Boilie Stick: See Throwing Stick.
• Brolly: A large umbrella, used as a shelter for camping while fishing.
• Buzzers: See Bite Alarm.
• Carbon: Graphite.
• Carp Net: A very large net, often triangular in shape, with a long handle.
• Carp Rod: Often 12 to 13 feet in length, carp rods are designed for casting heavy leads 100 to 150 yards, then gently playing a carp near the net without tearing the hook out of its soft mouth.
• Carryall: A piece of soft-sided luggage, specialized to carry an angler's gear.
• Catapult: A sling shot designed to deliver bait.
• Centerpin: A fishing reel similar to a fly reel; often very expensive, they are ideal for river fishing.
• Clicker: See Baitrunner.
• Clutch: The drag system of a fishing reel.
• Dangler: Something hung on a fishing line to indicate a bite.
• Holdall: A bag for carrying rods, reels, a net, bank sticks, and other equipment.
• Indicator: Any device that visually shows line movement.
• Isotope: A small radio-isotope that can glow for several years; they are attached to fishing rods, bite alarms, or indicators to help an angler find them in the dark.
• Keep sack: A large mesh bag used to store a caught fish until it can be photographed or weighed.
• Mainline: The fishing line that is spooled onto a reel.
• Method Blaster: A cup rigged to cast Method balls with a rod (see here).
• Monkey climber: A bite indicator that is attached to a fishing line; movement of the line causes the indicator to move up and down a wire mounted vertically in the ground; resembles a monkey climbing a tree (sort of); works especially well in the wind. (http://carp.net/faq/cfaq_3.htm#c3_5_3).
• Multiplier: A baitcasting reel.
• Quiver: A bag used to transport fishing rods and reels.
• Remote: A wireless device that makes a sound when a fish pulls on a line.
• Rod Pod: A rod holder; can be set up on concrete or rock in addition to soft ground. Some can hold 3 to 5 rods, and are often used with bite indicators.
• Spod: A bait delivery device that looks like a small, hollow rocket (sometimes called a bait rocket). The spod is filled with groundbait and cast out on the end of a fishing line; when it lands on the water, it tips upside down and empties its payload into the water.
• Swinger: A bite indicator that hangs from a fishing line, usually between the reel and the first guide, to indicate a bite when the line moves.
• Test Curve: A European measurement of a rod's strength, the "TC" is the amount of force needed to bend the tip of a rod 90 degrees.
• Throwing Stick: A plastic tube designed for throwing boilies into the water to attract carp; capable of reaching 100 yards or more.
• Unhooking Mat: A padded mat onto which a fish is laid after being caught; protects a fish (especially its eyes and scales) from damage.
• Weigh sling: A bag with handles that is used for weighing fish; the fish is weighed within the bag, and the weight of the bag (the "tare") is subtracted to obtain the fish's weight.

About Carp Angling

• Chumming: Putting baits into the water to attract fish.
• Backwind: When fighting a fish, to wind the reel backwards instead of relying on a drag system.
• Blank: To catch no fish; also, the "pole" part of a fishing rod onto which the handle and guides are attached.
• Drop Back: When a fish bites and swims toward the rod, causing the line to become slack.
• Feeding: See Chumming.
• Fish-In: An open-invitation gathering of anglers for fishing and socializing.
• Line Bites: When fish bump into the fishing line while roaming or searching for food.
• Margin: The edge of a body of water.
• Paylake: A small, man-made pond in which anglers pay to fish, often while participating in for-cash competitions.
• PB: Personal Best. An angler's biggest fish of a particular species.
• Peg: A pre-marked fishing spot on the bank from which angler fishes during a tournament.
• Pit: An old gravel pit that has been converted into a fishing lake.
• Plumbing: Dragging a heavy lead across a lake bed to feel for weeds, gravel, silt, etc. Sometimes a float is raised from the lead to determine water depth.
• Pre-baiting: Putting groundbait into the water one or more times during the day(s) before the day one actually begins to fish.
• Run: When a fish bites a hook and swims steadily away, pulling line from the reel.
• Screamer: A fish that bites and causes the line to "scream" from the reel; results in a single, solid tone on a bite alarm.
• Session: A fishing trip; may last from several hours to several weeks.
• Specimen: A very large fish; a "lunker" or "trophy" fish.
• Specimen Angler: Someone who tries to catch very large fish (i.e., specimens).
• Stalking: Walking around a lake and looking for fish to cast to.
• Swim: The place in the water where an angler fishes.
• Take: A bite or run (when a fish "takes" the bait).
• Venue: The body of water where one fishes, especially as in a tournament.
• Watercraft: The ability to understand a body of water and discern where fish are likely to be.
• Whacker: See Specimen.

I anxiously await definitions of some of the more enigmatic terms
"screamer"
"monkey climber"
"method blaster"

How about those little R/C boats that drive baits way out to drop off. Do you guys ever have little sea battles with them while waiting on carp to show up?

Sounds like fun.

Screamer: Bite that causes a single, solid tone on the alarm until rod is picked up. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepppppp!

Method Blaster: Catapult cup rigged to cast method balls with a rod rather than a catapult. Can be soft particle type cup, or hard plastic. http://www.bigcarptackle.com/store/product.php?productid=16874&cat=255&page=1

Monkey climber: Bite indication with similar purpose as the swinger, hanger, butt banger, etc.. yet a different design. Used to keep line tight, indicate soft bites and indicate drop backs. http://carp.net/faq/cfaq_3.htm#c3_5_3

Specimen: Also known as a "Trophy" fish. Any in the upper range for the geographic area.

Specimen Angler" An Angler always on a quest for a larger fish. Most specimen anglers do not look for numbers, but prefer to weed out the smaller fish in favor of the large.

Backlead: A small weight put on the line after casting to pin the line to the lake bed in an attempt to hide the line from the fish and protect it from weeds, passing boats and water movement.

Flying backlead: Backlead rigged on the line designed to "fly" back on the cast/on contact with the water to pin the line down closer to the business end.

Death rig: Any rig where the lead will not release in the case of a main line breakage. Chod rigs/helicopter rigs are often incorrectly rigged as death rigs due to the "fixed" lead.

Fixed: Not moveable. In the case of a lead, the lead is attached in a way as not to move on the line unless snagged or unless the main line breaks and then only under some force.

Greedy pig rig: A common name for 3 or more baits on a single hair rig. Some say 4 or more baits.

Hair Stop: Anything used to hold a bait on a hair in a hair rig. Often specialized plastic shaped like a dumbell.

PVA: Polyvinyl Alcohol, a substance designed to melt after being in water a short time. Commonly used in bags, mesh tubing and string and sometimes including flavor and attractants.

Readymades: Boilies made from a shelf life formula that can be stored to be ready for use on short notice rather than freshly made.

Snowman rig: Common name for a rig with one floating bait (pop-up) and one bottom bait presented with the pop-up above the bottom bait. Normally slightly suspended above the lake bed. Killer specimen bait presentation.

Stringer: Any number of baits connected on a string of PVA string or tape to present freebies very close to the hook bait.

Base Mix: Dry mix used in making boilies. Often containing Soy Flour, Semolina, Corm meal and other grain meals. When wet ingredients are added it forms a paste or dough that is then rolled and boiled.

HNV: High nutritional value. Baits that are a nutritionally sound food product.

Pop-up: A floating boilie.

Baiting Needle: A small needle, much like a knitting or crochet needle use to put baits on the hair in a hair rig. Barbed or gated types are available.

shart


when it turtle-heads on ya when the wind is broken.

Thanks, Mark.

Sorry lads - I don't see "Blank" Blanked

"Blank" is defined. What are you referring to, Paul?

He's just refering to a Big English fishing secession. LOL

Ouch, lmao.

In support of our sponsors I think each tackle item should have a link to where to look at/buy one. Would this be too blatantly commercial?

I can add links to their sites at the bottom of the post. I don't want to decide which vendor gets the link for each tackle item, and then try to keep the links up to date over time.

Sounds like it needs to be a database driven page where maybe vendors can submit their own links? Again am I getting too commercial? Seems like a way to give back to the vendors.

That's a little below the belt mate - but you are the same as me - you haven't seen your belt for years

Come back.

And yes I have blanked a few times - but I don't fish half as mush as you guy's.

Scott - take a look at this mate - This guy could be your brother mate.... click on the link and scroll down mate

http://p207.ezboard.com/ffatcarpfrm30.showMessageRange?topicID=77.topic&start=181&stop=200

Here's another one.

http://p207.ezboard.com/ffatcarpfrm30.showMessageRange?topicID=77.topic&start=121&stop=140

Sorry I have hijacked the thread.

Hey Oh!

Please don't take offence Paul, just taking the mickey M8.

I'll have you know that I see my belt daily when I remove it at bedtime. LOL

Finally, I only wish I could catch fish like the ones that my English brother is catching.

Some quality looking fish there mate.

i thought a floater was what i left in the toilet this morning

Seem like a serious complication of what once was a simple sport.

Shallow cove on Lake Travis. Throw out a few handfulls of sour corn. Bait up with dough balls. Chunk it out and wait a few minutes til the line started to move. Set the hook and the battle was on.

Fished one weekend on Travis with two "free" spinning reels I ordered out of the back of a magazine for $5 s & h.

I wore those two reels slap out. Drag gone, busted gears. Cheap junk to start with but what a ball catching 5 to 15# carp.

The carp fishing methods described in this thread were developed in Europe for catching highly pressured, extremely wary fish. Over there, you don't just put some corn on a hook if you expect to catch fish of any size or with any regularity (in some places, one carp every couple days is a respectable result).

European carp fishing techniques are certainly not necessary in the U.S., but they can be a lot of fun to use and they often produce bigger fish than traditional American methods.

Sounds like a load of carp to me.