Bobber – fishing float or cork designed to float on the water and keep bait or lure at a selected depth

Cane pole – long, slender fishing pole with no reel, made from the dried hollow stem of the river cane plant with fishing line attached to the end; ideal for fishing from the bank or in tight locations, especially for panfish; sometimes called a “bank pole”

Catfish – a group of fish without scales named for the long barbels around their mouths that look like the whiskers of a cat

Creel – a fish basket or personal fish carrier used to carry fish when fishing on or near the shore

Creel limit – number of fish (by species) that can be caught legally in one day

Fisheries management – management of fish populations through research, habitat manipulation, stocking, water quality control and regulations

Habitat – an arrangement of food, water, shelter or cover, and space suitable to animals’ needs

Hook – a curved or sharply bent device for catching fish either by impaling them in the mouth or, more rarely, by snagging the body of the fish

Lure – a decoy; any live or artificial bait used to fish or trap

Monofilament line – single, strong synthetic material used for fishing line, which is low-cost and available in all pound-test varieties

Natural bait – bait found in nature, such as insects and worms, and common to a fish’s habitat

Practice plug – weighted plug without hooks designed for practicing casting with a fishing rod

Rigging – setting up a fishing rod and attaching a bait or lure

Sinker – a weight that sinks and holds nets or fishing lines under water

Sportfishing – fishing for recreation, not for profit

Tackle – fishing gear