Think you know your wasps from your wafters? Here’s a guide to some of the terms today’s anglers love to use...
Carp Angling Terms
Noddy
Derogatory term for a special breed of angler who is generally careless, clueless or only fishes once or twice a year, opting for the peg nearest the car park during a heatwave. Tell-tale signs include an abysmally shotted float, washing-line thick mono and the use of a towel as “fish care”. Also known as ‘Neds’, ‘Deggies’ or ‘Planks’.
WANT TO NOT BE A NODDY? CHECK OUT THESE TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR CARP FISHING.
Snotty
A common bream, owing to the thick layer of slime that the species often has. Depending on your angling style, they are either welcome match winners or the last thing you want to see at 3am.
Pub Chuck
A supremely casual cast, delivered without any specific accuracy or purpose other than to get the bait in the water, so that the angler can crack on with more important tasks such as talking rubbish or rolling a fag. This style of cast has been popularised thanks to heavily stocked fisheries where fish get everywhere. Can even be used as a verb, as in “just pub it out there, Dave, anywhere will do.”
Bank Rat
An extreme long-stay angler. Someone who appears to virtually live on the bank of a lake, sustained mainly by Pot Noodles, super- strength lager and a lack of gainful employment. Often described as those who “bore the fish into submission” through endless spare time, rather than any degree of skill.
YOU NEED THE RIGHT KIT TO BE A 'BANK RAT'. CHECK OUT OUR GUIDE TO BEST BIVVIES.
Lump
A particularly coarse word for an impressively large, thickset fish, particularly a big carp caught in the margins. Also known as ‘Beast’, ‘Munter’, ‘Unit’ or ‘Zoo Creature’.
Match Angler Terms
Barney Rubble
Not Fred Flintstone’s mate, but rhyming slang for a ‘double’ – any fish of 10lb or more. “Just the one fish so far, but it was a Barney.”
WANT TO KNOW HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR MATCH FISHING? CHECK OUT THESE TIPS AND TACTICS.
Going nowhere fish
Tiny fish caught in a match which, even by the hundred, tend to be as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.
Pinging
The act of feeding small amounts of pellets regularly by catapult. The noise of them hitting the water is what can draw summer carp into your peg.
Splodger
Descriptive word for the Method feeder, owing to the sticky groundbait and less than subtle sound of one landing on the cast.
Blades
Tiny fish, typically roach. Also known as ‘Blips’, ‘Going Nowhere Fish’, ‘Pairs of Eyes’.
Skimbob
Another word for a young bream or ‘skimmer’, yet to turn bronze.
The seed
The alternative name for hempseed – an especially deadly bait for roach.
HEMP IS A FANTASTIC PARTICLE BAIT. LEARN HOW TO PREPARE HEMP IN THIS ARTICLE.
The shell
The match angler’s slang for that classic bait, the caster, owing to their crispy outer layer. Should the angler miss a bite and reel in just the skin, you might even hear them say they’ve been “shelled”.
Wasp
Not a stinging insect or B-list 1980s hard rock band, but a rather small perch. Because of the species’ black stripes, anglers refer to these runts as Wasps, while any feature that boasts an endless supply of them is a Wasp Nest.
Pleasure angling terms
Mudpig
Derogatory term for a carp at one of our more intensively stocked fisheries. Derived from their habits of eating anything vaguely edible and stirring up the bottom so that the water becomes the colour of chocolate Nesquik.
Carrot
Another term for golden orfe.
FANCY CATCHING A WEIRD AND WONDERFUL SPECIES LIKE THIS? CHECK OUT OUR WHERE TO FISH GUIDE.
Slab
A term still in fairly widespread use for a ‘proper’ sized common bream of around 4lb-plus. Owing to the fact they are big and flat, and often hang around in the sort of numbers you could complete a patio with.
Snig
Slang for an eel, and a phrase that’s especially popular in the Midlands. Other favourites include Grinner and Snake.
Snagatha Christie
A mysterious, unseen snag that even an elderly super sleuth could not have detected until they were stuck fast. Possibly a bit of lead piping from somebody’s study.
Sh*tter
Derogatory term for any number of sickly, stunted or downright unhealthy fish caught completely by accident and of little desirable value. Common candidates include microscopic roach, paper-thin skimmers, bleak or even tiny perch.
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