Fishing terms starting with C

32 terms

caddis fly an aquatic insect of major importance, along with the mayfly and stonefly, for the trout fly-fisherman.
California rig or California-rigged A method of deep-water fishing in which a plastic worm is placed at the end of a leader trailing behind a sinker.
cane pole A pole of natural cane, often made from Calcutta or Tonkin bamboo, used for fishing. No reel is used; the line is tied to the pole.
Carolina rig or Carolina-rigged A special rig in which an exposed or hidden hook is used with a soft plastic lure placed 2 to 3 feet behind an egg or barrel sinker and swivel.
carp A member of the minnow family, introduced to the United States in the late 1800s.
Carrying capacity The theoretical maximum weight of fish that can be maintained in a pond without depleting the food supply.
cartop or cartopper - Refers to a boat small enough to be carried on the top of a car and hand-launched, especially at fisheries with limited or no boat…
Catch and release Refers to catching a fish and immediately releasing it. Many anglers practice catch-and-release as a way to help conserve the resource.
catfish A term for any of the many species of catfish, including black, blue, flathead, channel and yellow species.
Channel The bed of a stream or river. This can also refer to a submerged stream or river channel in a reservoir.
chugger Topwater plug with a dished-out, concave or cupped head designed to make a splash when pulled sharply.
chum To throw chum (typically cut up pieces of bait fish or other bait) overboard to attract fish.
clarity Refers to the depth you are able to see an object, such as your lure, under the water.
clearwater Describes a lake or stream with good visibility.
cold front A weather condition accompanied by high, clear skies, and a sudden drop in temperature.
coldwater fishery Refers to waters typically in the higher elevations that can be predominately trout fisheries.
Core trench A trench dug into the soil at the base of dam site and later filled with clay to bond the above-ground portion of the dam to the subsoil of the pond…
cosmic clock The sun's seasonal effect on water and weather conditions relating to barometric pressure, wind, and cloud cover.
cove An indentation along a shoreline. A very small indentation a few feet or so across is often referred to as a "pocket cove."
cover Natural or manmade objects on the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior.
cowbells A flashing, multi-bladed lure that resembles a small school of bait fish that is commonly used to troll for trout.
crankbait Any of a wide number of hard plastic or wooden lures that dive when retrieved (cranked with a reel) through the water.
crappie or crappies Two species, white and black, are popular game fish. In Arizona, white crappies are only found in Lake Pleasant.
crayfish or crawfish A small crustacean found in freshwater. Crayfish are not native to Arizona. Also called crawdads.
Creel A fish basket or personal fish carrier used to carry fish when fishing on or near shore.
creel limit The daily number of fish an angler can keep in possession as set by state regulations.
Crickhopper A brand of plastic lure resembling a grasshopper commonly used for trout and sometimes, for smallmouth bass.
Cube' powder Powdered root of a shrub of the legume family. The powder contains rotenone which is used to kill fish.
culling A method of removing and releasing lighter-weight fish from a livewell so the heaviest or tournament limit is retained.
Curly Tail A trademark for a brand of curved-tail soft-plastic lures.
curly-tailed grub A curved-tail soft plastic bait often fitted on a jighead.
cutthroat trout or cutthroat A species of salmonid characterized by a red or orange slash under the throat. They are stocked in Big Lake in the White Mountains and are not native to…