Bass Fishing Glossary

Bass Fishing Glossary

Bass fishing has its own language, and knowing it makes you a sharper angler before you ever tie on a lure. Terms like "wacky rig," "burning a spinnerbait," or "thermocline" get thrown around at the boat ramp and in tackle shops as if everyone should just know them. This glossary breaks down the real meaning behind the jargon so you can read a fishing report, follow a pro's advice, or talk shop with confidence. Pick a category below to start building your bass fishing vocabulary.

  • Lure Types: definitions for every bait style, from crankbaits and jerkbaits to swimbaits and topwater, so you know what you are grabbing and why.
  • Rigs & Setups: how anglers rig soft plastics and other baits, covering Texas rigs, Carolina rigs, drop shots, and more.
  • Techniques & Retrieves: the actions behind the words, like walking the dog, twitching, dragging, and burning a bait back to the boat.
  • Tackle & Gear: rods, reels, line, and the equipment terms that describe what is on your boat or in your box.
  • Fishing Knots: the knots bass anglers rely on and when to use each one for strength and confidence.
  • Bass Behavior & Seasons: how bass react to weather, water temperature, and time of year, and what that means for your presentation.
  • Water & Structure: the cover, contours, and features that hold bass, from points and ledges to grass lines and laydowns.
  • Species & Basics: the fundamentals on largemouth, smallmouth, and the basic concepts every bass angler should know.

Once you have the terms down, put the knowledge to work. Browse all tackle to find the lures, rigs, and gear built for the way bass actually feed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does "flipping" mean in bass fishing?

Flipping is a short-range, pitch-style presentation where you swing or lob a jig or soft plastic into heavy cover like mats, laydowns, or docks with minimal line movement to avoid spooking fish. It relies on a long rod, 20-25 lb fluorocarbon or braid, and a controlled underhand swing rather than a cast. Anglers use it to get baits into tight spots a normal cast can't reach without a lot of splash.

What's the difference between a Texas rig and a Carolina rig?

A Texas rig has the weight pegged or sliding right against the bait's nose, so the whole rig falls at one rate and works well in cover since it's compact and weedless. A Carolina rig separates the weight from the bait with a leader and swivel, letting the weight hit bottom first while the bait floats up behind it, which covers water faster and works better for probing open bottom or points. Most anglers keep both tied on since they solve different problems.

What does "thermocline" mean and why does it matter for bass?

A thermocline is the layer in a lake where water temperature drops sharply between the warmer surface layer and colder, often oxygen-poor water below. Bass and baitfish generally hold above or right at this layer because water below it can lack enough oxygen to support life, which is why understanding depth and thermocline location helps narrow down where fish are stacking in summer. A good electronics unit or thermometer can help you find it, especially on deep highland reservoirs.

Does Glenmore ship bass fishing gear internationally, and is shipping really free?

Yes, Glenmore ships to the US, Canada, UK, EU, Australia, and New Zealand with free shipping on all orders, no minimum required. Orders typically process within a day or two, and international customers should check their own country's import duty thresholds since those are handled separately from our shipping cost. Tracking is provided on every order so you can follow it door to door.