Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are unwanted animal species whose introduction causes (or is likely to cause) economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. AIS are one of the largest threats to our freshwater ecosystems and include plants, animals, and pathogens.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) are unwanted animal species whose introduction causes (or is likely to cause) economic or environmental harm or harm to human health. AIS are one of the largest threats to our freshwater ecosystems and include plants, animals, and pathogens.

The small animal you put on a hook to catch a fish. You can hook live or dead fish, crabs, crayfish, worms, eels, insects, mussels, clams, cut bait (fish), chicken livers, corn kernels, dough balls, squid, and shrimp to name a few.

Setting up your “fishing advance team” by releasing live or dead bait and scents into the water to attract fish to your hook or lure.

What the fish bite when they are attracted by your bait or lure. Hooks are usually “J” shaped with an opening or “eye” at one end to tie the line and have a point at the other end to catch the fish. Other hooks have more points and different shapes.

A type of lure also called a “bucktails”. It has a weighted-body (often lead) and is molded on special hooks and has a hair tail or soft plastic skirt or worm and designed to mimic the movement of real prey when pulled through the water.

A method of dropping a lure into the water over a fishing site and moving it – “jigging it” – up and down to attract fish. Done from a pier or boat.

A length of monofilament, wire or other stranded material tied between the end of the line and the lure or hook. Leaders provide extra strength or abrasion resistance from the rough mouth and teeth of fish (pike, barracuda, sharks), scales (sharks), gill covers (tarpon and snook), blows from tails (tuna).

It’s the clear “string” used for fishing. Nylon monofilament line is the most popular. Other lines are made of different materials, and FLY LINE is made of a colorful plastic coating on a core, and often tapered (changing diameter) for fly fishing.

This is bait when it is artificial which is included with hooks. They come as flies, hard plastic or wood lures, soft plastic imitations, lead-head lures (jigs), bladed lures, spinners, spinnerbaits and many others.

The part of a fishing rod that holds and spools the fishing line. The reel releases or casts the line and retrieves in around the spool. A brake on the reel stops the line from coming off the spool.

You use this long stick to catch fish. Usually made of fiberglass, graphite or composite materials and are made for different types of fishing. Most rods can hold a reel and have rings (or guides) for threading fishing line.

A weight used to drop the fishing line lower into the water to catch bottom-feeding fish.

A small device similar to a dog leash snap, tied to the line making it easy for the angler to swap out hooks, rigs and lures.

When a fish “hits” your bait or lure.

A box or bag with special compartments and features to hold fishing gear.

When you want to cover a lot of water to find fish. A method of slowly running a boat while trailing lures or bait.