Fishing terms starting with D

30 terms

  1. dabbing Working a lure up and down in the same spot a dozen or more times in a bush, or beside a tree or other structure.
  2. Daily catch and possession limits Daily catch limits is the amount of fish, by species, that can be caught in one day.
  3. damselfly A small member of the dragonfly family.
  4. dapping A method of fly-fishing in which the fly is allowed to skip or dance on the water while line and leader are held above the water from a high rod.
  5. Dardevle A trademark for a brand of spoons typically used for trout and northern pike fishing.
  6. deadfall A tree that has fallen into the water.
  7. deer-hair bug A floating fly-rodding lure made from hollow deer hair and used principally for bass and panfish.
  8. depthfinder, depth recorder, or depth sounder A sonar device used to read the bottom structure, determine depth, and in some cases actually locate fish. Also called a fishfinder.
  9. desert sucker A native Arizona fish typically found in rivers and streams that can weigh over four pounds.
  10. Devle Dog A trademark for a brand of fishing lure.
  11. die-off Refers to having many fish die at the same time, quite often baitfish; also referred to as a fish kill.
  12. dillys A type of small earthworm popular for catching sunfish and trout.
  13. dink A small bass, usually under 6 to 8 inches long (also called a subcatchable).
  14. dip bait A smelly paste-type bait primarily used for catfish.
  15. dip net A net with a handle used to capture baitfish.
  16. disgorger Device for removing hooks deeply embedded in the throat of fish.
  17. dissolved oxygen The amount of free (usable) oxygen in water. Usually designated in parts per million.
  18. dobsonfly A large aquatic insect, the larva of which is the popular hellgrammite bait.
  19. doll Fly A trademark for a brand of chenille-bodied, hackle-wrapped jig.
  20. doodlesock or doodlesocking A method of cane-pole or long-pole fishing in which a lure or bait is repeatedly dipped and dragged through likely fish structures.
  21. dorsal fin A median fin located along the back of a fish. It is usually supported by rays, which sometimes gives the fin a fan- or sail-like appearance.
  22. doughball A ball of bait made from bread or specially prepared dough used for bait-fishing. Commonly used for carp.
  23. downlake, downriver, downshore, and downstream, downcurrent All terms referring to directions.
  24. Downrigger A fishing device used on boats that allows a troller to fish a lure at a constant specific depth.
  25. Drag Device on fishing reels that allows line to pay out under pressure, even though the reel is engaged; set correctly, it ensures against line breakage.
  26. Drawdown Lowering a lake level for a specific purpose.
  27. drift-boating, drift-fishing Techniques used to fish by drifting with the current, sometimes in a drift boat.
  28. drop shot A tackle rigging technique employing a hook tied to the line from four-inches to four-feet above the sinker.
  29. drop-off A sudden increase in depth, often created by washes, small creek channels, canyons, pinnacles, and other submerged topographic features.
  30. dry fly A fly which floats on the surface of the water by means of hackle (feather) fibers. An angler employing this technique is said to be dry-fly fishing.