Fishing Terms Glossary and Definitions
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• Saddle - A thin piece of land that extends out from the shoreline (it can be a visible point or not) and connects to an underwater island or hump. This thin piece of land will dip down in depth before it meets with underwater island where it will again come up in depth thus giving it the name "saddle". On a topo map, the contour lines will appear like an underwater point coming from the shoreline. Out from the shoreline, the lines on each side of the point will get closer and then start getting further apart until they reach the hump or island.
• Sanctuary - Deep-water fish habitat.
• Seine - A fishing net designed to hang vertically in the water, the ends being drawn together to encircle fish.
• Selective Harvest - Deciding to release or harvest fish, based on species, size, and relative abundance.
• Serial Spawning - Spawning in bursts or pulses more than once in a spawning season in response to an environment stimulus.
• Shad - Any of several cluepeid fishes that have a rather deep body.
• Shoal - A submerged ridge, bank, or bar consisting of, or covered by, unconsolidated sediments (mud, sand, gravel).
• Size Limit - The legal length a fish must be if it is in possession.
• Slip Sinker - A lead, zinc or steel weight with a hole through the center. Threaded on line, a slip sinker slides freely up and down.
• Slot Limit - Dictates that fish within a specified mininum and maximum size range which must be released immediately.
• Slough - A long, narrow stretch of water such as a small stream or feeder tributary off a lake or river.
• Slow Roll - Spinnerbait presentation in which the lure is retrieved slowly through and over cover and objects.
• Slush Bait - Topwater plug with flat or pointed head.
• Smallmouth Bass - A black bass, primarily bronze in color, who's jaw does not extend beyond the eye and is found in clear rivers and lakes; also called bronzebacks, brown bass, river bass, and smallies.
• Soft Bottom - River bottoms which are comprised of soft material such as silt, mud, or muck.
• Sonar - An acronym derived from the expression 'sound navigation' and ranging; the method or the equipment for determining by underwater sound techniques the presence, location, or nature of objects in the sea; a system for determining distance of an underwater object by measuring the interval of time between transmission of an underwater sonic or ultrasonic signal and return of its echo.
• Spawning - Release or deposition of spermatozoa or ova, of which some will fertilize or be fertilized to produce offspring; fish reproduction process characterized by females and males depositing eggs and sperm into the water simultaneously or in succession so as to fertilize the eggs.
• Spincaster - A manner of fishing employing a push-button, closed-face spinning reel and baitcasting rod.
• Spinnerbait - A type of artificial lure that consists of one or two rotating blades and either a straight or safety-pin style shaft dressed with material.
• Spinning - A manner of fishing employing an open-face or closed-face spinning reel an spinning rod; reel is mounted on the underside of the rod; rod guides are on the underside of the rod.
• Split Shot Sinker - A small ball of lead of varying weights that is split open on one side and can be placed directly on the line.
• Spaghette - Another term for backlash. Also called Professional Overrun.
• Spook - The act of alarming a fish in a negative way. Examples: excessive noise, casting a human shadow.
• Stained - A discoloration of the water usually occurring after a heavy rain.
• Starboard - The right side of a boat or ship.
• Stick-Up - Stationary structure - stump, limb, section of pipe, fence post - that protrudes above the surface of the water.
• Stizostedion vitreum - The Latin term for Walleye.
• Stocking - The practice of releasing artificially reared fry or fingerlings into ponds, reservoirs, or open waters.
• Stragglers - Bass that remain near shore following a general migration.
• Strain - In fish, a strain is a group of related individuals that was created though selective breeding and that is genetically different from other strains of the same species.
• Stream - A body of running water.
• Streambed - The channel being occupied or formerly occupied by a stream.
• Structure - Changes in the shape of the bottom of lakes, rivers, or impoundments, especially those that influence fish behavior. Examples include manmade cribs, flooded roadbeds, humps, ledges, and drop-offs.
• Suspended Fish - Fish at mid-level depths, neither near the surface nor on the bottom.
• Swim Bladder - A tough-walled gas-filled sac lying in the upper part of the body cavity of many bony fishes just beneath the vertebral column; its principal function is to offset the weight of heavier tissue such as bone. In some fishes used for sound production or respiration.
• Swimming Lures - Sinking-type artificial baits designed to resemble a swimming baitfish. Such plugs vibrate and/or wobble during retrieve; some have built-in rattles. Also called lipless crankbaits.