by Scott T. Starbuck , January 24, 2016

Anyone who wades, rows, or motors here quickly learns Pacific NW anglers speak a colorful language fraught with clouded meanings and misdirections for those unfamiliar. Only insiders know the secret code, learned over many years. It is vital to decipher these words to avoid confusion, hurt feelings, and embarrassment.

Always – Sometimes

Armstrong Motor – Oars

Artist – Unemployed fisherman

Backlash or Bird’s Nest – What happens when a newbie uses a level wind reel.

Bait Stealer – Sculpin, “Rat fish,” or cheap neighbor

Baptized – Fell in river

Big Un – Fishing buddy’s lost fish

Broom Stick – Rod too heavy for intended fish

Character Building – frozen fingers, nose, or ears; hook in various body parts; holes in waders

Chromer – Ocean-bright salmon or steelhead



Coffee Grinder – Large spinning reel

Custom Rod – Was once a fishing rod, but now pieced together with thrift store guides and electrician’s tape

Dead Head – Submerged dangerous log or other nautical danger

Different – Unusual fishing technique or person

Dragging – Trolling

Early – A relative term, ranging from the night before to 7 a.m.

Essential – Preface for any angling or boating purchase

Expert – Yeah, right

Fish Widow – Wife abandoned for fishing

Flasher – Rectangular metal or plastic device used to attract ocean salmon

Fred Meyer – Store used as a cover for fishing when you’re not supposed to be fishing

Gaffed – Man kept from fishing by an attractive woman

Grand Slam – Catching a limit of fish in two states or countries the same day, or limits of multiple species

Hell – More than a day’s drive from salmon or steelhead fishing

Hollywood – Angler with expensive gear and/or clothing

Holy Day of Obligation – First day of fishing season

Horse – Reel in a fish too fast which may result in a torn out hook or broken line

John Law – Game warden

Lawyer – Person who understands fishing regulations

Mush – Pink salmon left un-iced too long

Nate – Short for native fish with adipose fin

Never – Maybe

No – Maybe

Once – Never

Orca Flute – Hollowed zucchini with holes allegedly to scare away orcas, but actually to make the user the butt of a joke

Outlaw – One who repeatedly ignores fishing regulations

Pond – Ocean

Priest – Rock or stick to mercifully kill a fish

Reefer – Angler who sets hook so hard, the fish ends up in a tree, on a roof, or in the next county

Rock Fish – Maybe rock, maybe fish

Rough Fish – Carp or sucker

Scored – Caught a fish

Secret Lure – Last lure a guy caught a fish on, and maybe the only lure, and only fish

Small Un – Lost fish of indeterminate size

Smoker – Dark almost inedible fish that tastes like a boot, but smoking will flavor

Snoopy Rod -- Rod too light for intended fish

T & A – Tuna belly and anise scent

Throw – Cast

Tuna Belly – Actual slice of tuna used for salmon fishing

Wango Curve – Sudden or unexpected change in fishing tactic or location

Wedding Ring – Small spinner for catching kokanee

Yes – Maybe

Yesterday – Like a board stretcher, not to be believed

Your Car -- Nearly impassable or impassable road

Z-Ray – Out of production lure or practical joke

Scott T. Starbuck’s blog Trees, Fish, and Dreams is at riverseek.blogspot.com His fishing articles and poems have appeared in Yale Anglers´ Journal, Salmon Trout Steelheader, The Sunday Oregonian, Talking River at Lewis-Clark State College, Cascadia Review, and The Raven Chronicles in Seattle. His book of fishing poems, River Walker, in local libraries, sold out in less than a year. His next book of fishing poems, Lost Salmon, is forthcoming from MoonPath Press in Kingston, WA, in 2016.