Fishing terms starting with S

67 terms

Sac fry A life stage of young fish where the food sac has not been completely absorbed.
saddle A thin piece of land that extends out (sometimes an extended point) from the shoreline and connects to an island (sometimes underwater), reef or a hump.
salmon eggs A type of egg bait typically used for trout fishing.
San Juan worms A type of wet fly designed to look like a small aquatic worm that was popularized on the San Juan River in New Mexico, but is also used at Lees Ferry, the…
Sassy Shad A brand of soft-plastic lure that resembles a shad.
seine net A rectangular fishing net designed to hang vertically in the water, the ends being drawn together to encircle fish.
selective harvest Deciding to release or keep fish based on species, size, relative abundance, or culinary plans.
shad Any of several species of forage fish that have a rather deep body. In Arizona, the most common is the threadfin shad.
Shad Rap A brand name crankbait.
Shellcracker Common name for Lepomis microlophus (Gunther), also called redear sunfish and bream.
Shiner A member of the shiner family often used for bait. The most common in Arizona is the gold shiner.
shoal A submerged ridge, bank, or bar.
shore-fishing, shore-fish Fishing from the shore, as opposed to fishing from a boat or wading.
short strike When a fish hits at a lure and misses it.
Sight-cast, sight-casting, sight-fish, sight-fishing The technique of casting and fishing when the fish are spotted first.
size limit The legal length a fish must be is it is in possession (kept). Some fisheries have slot limits, where fish in the specified slot size range cannot be…
Size limits Fishing regulations which limits anglers to keep fish based upon size.
skipping A method of suing small lures and casting them hard and at a low angle to the water to make them skip, like a flat stone.
slack line The loose line from the tip of the rod to the lure. This can be a slight bow in the line to an excess of line lying on the water.
slip-float A float rigged with a tin stop or bead on the line to make it stop at a pre-determined depth.
slip-sinker A lead, zinc or steel weight with a hole through the center that allows it to slide freely up and down the fishing line.
slot A fishing size limit where the angler may keep fish shorter than a minimum length but longer than an upper length limit.
Slot limit Fishing regulation which requires release of fish within a listed size range (or slot).
Slough A long, narrow stretch of water such as a small stream or feeder tributary off a lake or river.
slow roll or slow rolling A spinnerbait presentation in which the lure is retrieved slowly through and over cover and objects. A trailer bait is often on the hook.
Slug-Go A brand of soft-plastic jerkbait.
slush bait A top-water plug with flat or pointed head.
smallmouth bass A black bass, primarily bronze in color, whose jaw does not extend beyond the eye and is found in clear rivers and lakes.
Smolt Life stage of anadromous fish; sub-adult salmon or steelhead ready to begin journey to ocean.
Smoltification Process of physical changes anadromous fish must go through which allows them to adapt to salt water environments.
snagging A method of catching fish by jerking an unbaited hook through the water. In Arizona, snagging is not legal except for carp.
soft bottom River or lake bottoms which are comprised of soft material, such as silt, mud, or muck.
sonar An acronym derived from the expression "sound navigation and ranging." Refers to the method or equipment for determining by underwater sound techniques…
Spawning Reproductive activity of fish; the act of releasing eggs into the water by female fish for fertilization by male fish.
Species Organisms in the same genus that have similar characteristics.
spider jig A type of leadhead jig with a skirt, much like the one on a spinnerbait.
spider trolling Trolling with several rods at once.
Spillway barrier A barrier to block the entry or escape of all fish through the spillway during periods of overflow.
spin-casting, spin-cast Sometimes called American spinning, or closed face spinning. Uses a fixes spool enclosed in a nose cone so the line leaving the reel's nose cone comes out…
spincaster A manner of fishing employing a push-button, closed-faced spinning reel or baitcasting rod; the reel is mounted topside on the rod.
spinnerbait An artificial bait consisting of a leadhead and one or two rotating blades and either a straight or a safety-pin style shaft dressed with material (often…
spinning A manner of fishing employing an open-face or closed-face spinning reel and spinning rod; reel is mounted on the underside of the rod and the rod guides…
Spinning reel A fixed spool reel, generally referring to open-faces spinning.
Split shot, split-shotting A style of finesse fishing employing a split shot weight up the line typically 6 to 18 inches above a small artificial worm, lizard, crawfish or grub…
spook Alarming a fish, such as making too much noise, movement or casting a shadow so fish become "spooked."
Sporting Showing good sportsmanship and ethics in pursuit of game fish.
stained A discoloration of the water usually occurring after a heavy rain or significant runoff.
Starboard the right side of a boat or ship.
stick bait A slender plug or topwater lure that is given action by the angler manipulating the rod and reel, sometimes making the bait go back-and-forth to resemble…
stickups Tips of trees and brush that "stick up" from the water and provide structure, primarily for bass fishing.
still-fishing, still-fisherman Fishing from one spot; primarily refers to shore-fishing from a single location.
stinger-hook An additional hook placed on a lure, spinnerbait or bait rig; also called a trailer hook.
stink bait Bait, such as chicken liver, that puts odor into the water, typically for catfishing.
Stocked Populating a body of water with fish reared in hatcheries.
stocking The practice of releasing hatchery raised fish into ponds, reservoirs, streams or rivers.
stragglers Bass that remain behind following a general migration.
Strain A genetic variant within a species.
Stratification Layering of a lake, by temperature, during warmer seasons.
stream A body of running water.
streambed The channel being occupied or formerly occupied by a stream.
striped bass A member of the true bass family along with white bass and yellow bass. In Arizona, they are found in the Colorado River chain of lakes such as Powell…
Structure Changes in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior.
Sunfish Any of a dozens of members of the sunfish family, including largemouth bass, bluegill, redear and crappie.
Super Duper A brand of lure typically used for trout fishing. It can be cast but is often trolled.
suspended fish Fish at mid-level depths, neither on the surface nor on the bottom.
swim bladder A gas-filled sac found in the upper part of the body cavity of many bony fishes.
swimming lures Sinking-type artificial baits designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. Such plus vibrate or wobble during retrieve and some have built-in rattles.