Fly Fishing, like all great sports/hobbies/obsessions, is littered with its own collection of words and phrases that have evolved to describe specific circumstances or a particular event or item.
I found this, “Alternative Fly Fishing Dictionary” featuring some different interpretations of some of our best known words and phrases at www.Deneki.com
The Alternate Fly Fishing Dictionary
Trout Bum – An unfortunate affliction that only seems to target guides who sit in a drift boat all day
Mending the fly line – A flat-fisher’s nightly ritual after casting around coral heads and mangroves all day
Scuds – What you get if you drink the wrong water in Mexico
Belly in the line – an impedance to casting often caused by lodge meals or locally, bacon cheese burgers.
Wide Gape – The fully extended positions of your upper and lower jaws after losing that 10lb steelhead/insert your own disaster
Arbor – That place where the boats are parked
FishPimp – The guide in the 70’s flares and floral shirt
Single-haul – A destination that is only one flight away
Double-haul – What do you think?
Deceiver – That guy who sold you his leaky waders as “nearly new”
Tippet – A small financial reward for services rendered
Weakfish – The runt of the litter
Gink – The sound made by a bead-head hitting your fly rod
Pescador – What you must pass through to go fishing in Mexico
Crazy Charlie – What you get for turning up late when they allocate the guides
Bonefish – Any species that elicits a strong physical reaction from male fly anglers
Tarpon – See above: as in if an angler shouts “I’ve got a tarpon” you’d better hope he’s wearing loose fitting pants
Weight Forward – Typical mid-Western angler with a centre of balance issue
Spey – Self-castration by constant immersion in icy water
Alaskan Speak
Here’s a guide to Alaskan Fishing speak also from www.Deneki.com
There are applications here in Northern California,
Tiddler – noun. A particularly small fish. “I tried to get my flesh fly in front of Walter [see below], but a tiddler grabbed it first.”
Blub – verb. To briefly break the surface of the water, as done by a big steelie “I knew I was about to hook up when I started seeing all those fish blub.”
Mega – adj. Big, many, or extremely. “That king was mega!” “There were mega silvers stacked up at Zoo Bar.” “Billy was mega frustrated when his brother kept catching fish behind him.”
Gagger – n. A big fish.
Slab – n. A big fish, particularly one with big shoulders.
Pig – n. A big fish.
Choker – n. A big fish.
Toad – n. A big fish.
Hawg – n. A big fish.
Torpedo – n. A big fish.
Gack – n. A gross, slimy substance. ”I need to get this gack off my hands before dinner.”
Walter, Jerry, Jethro, et al – n. A specific particularly large fish, usually a rainbow trout, or a mythical giant fish. “I know that Walter lives down by Puppy Bar, and I’m going to try to catch him today.”
Tumbler – n. A spawned-out salmon tumbling downriver. ”I got gack all over my waders when I got hit by that tumbler.” See also Chumbler.
Chumbler – n. A spawned-out chum salmon tumbling downriver. “There were chumblers everywhere– flesh flies worked good.”
Critter – n. A resident fish (e.g. trout,). “My arms are tired – let’s go fish for some critters.”
Critter – v. To move with stealth. “I crittered my way along the high bank, looking for Big Jerry.”
Crittery – adj. Shaky, unsure. “He must have had a rough night – he looked awfully crittery on the river this morning.”
Farm – v. To lose a fish once hooked, usually due to angler error. “I can’t believe I farmed Jethro this morning.”
Grocery Hole – n. The gaping mouth of a giant protein-fed rainbow trout. “You should have seen the grocery hole on the choker that ate my mouse yesterday.”
Got any additions and I’ll add to the list.