How-To

Ken’s 10: Bass Fishing to English Translations

If you're new to the sport, you're probably painfully aware that there's an awful lot of bass fishing jargon out there. Even when you think you know what anglers are talking about, there's lots of room for misinterpretation. Here are some common bass fishing phrases and what they really mean ... in plain English.

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<p>If you're new to the sport, you're probably painfully aware that there's an awful lot of bass fishing jargon out there. Even when you think you know what anglers are talking about, there's lots of room for misinterpretation. Here are some common bass fishing phrases and what they really mean ... in plain English.</p>
If you’re new to the sport, you’re probably painfully aware that there’s an awful lot of bass fishing jargon out there. Even when you think you know what anglers are talking about, there’s lots of room for misinterpretation. Here are some common bass fishing phrases and what they really mean … in plain English.
1. Uttered by an unsuccessful angler:
1. Uttered by an unsuccessful angler: “I just got here.” Translation: I’ve been pounding the water for hours with nothing to show for it but a wicked backlash, a broken rod tip and a rapidly developing case of carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. This angler has one bass:
2. This angler has one bass: “They’ll only hit a marmalade 6-inch Texas-rigged ribbontail worm with half the tail dipped in chartreuse dye scented with Peruvian coffee beans and lightly dusted with confectioners’ sugar.” Translation: I found one little suicidal bass, and that’s what he hit.
3. This angler is easing past as you fish:
3. This angler is easing past as you fish: “That’s a good spot you’re fishing.” Translation: You are nowhere near my favorite spot in this area. I recommend that you stay right where you are while I run around the point about a hundred yards and whack ’em like there’s no tomorrow.
4.
4. “You’re on my spot!” Translation: I just saw you catch one.
5. At a tournament weigh-in:
5. At a tournament weigh-in: “I lost a good one that would have made a big difference.” Translation: Actually, I didn’t lose that fish today … or even at this lake.
6. Arrogant local angler:
6. Arrogant local angler: “I taught that Aaron Martens a thing or two about fishing this lake.” Translation: The Natural now knows that if he sees my boat, there are no bass within casting range.
7. Aspiring hot shot:
7. Aspiring hot shot: “My best went a little less than 8 pounds.” Translation: Actually, that fish was probably about 2 pounds … and it was my only fish of the day unless you count the grass carp I foul-hooked.
8. Two anglers on a slow day:
8. Two anglers on a slow day: “We’re just out fun fishing.” Translation: We just dropped our last $100 to enter not one, but two pot tournaments. We are known all around the lake as “donors.” The real sticks out here love to see us coming. The last time we finished in the money … well, we’ve never actually finished in the money — unless you count the time we overslept and didn’t get to sign up or pay our entry fee. That was actually a good tournament for us!
9. An older angler who refuses your invitation to fish your club tournament:
9. An older angler who refuses your invitation to fish your club tournament: “I don’t want to take your money. I won more than my share of tournaments back in the day.” Translation: I think that day was a Saturday … about 35 years ago. Man, I got lucky that day! Since then … not so much.
10. Name-dropping local:
10. Name-dropping local: “When the Elites were here last time, I gave KVD some advice that pretty much handed him the win.” Translation: I told him not to eat at the truck stop just off the Interstate. It probably saved him a case of food poisoning that might have kept him off the water.

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