GLOSSARY OF FISHING TERMS 



Tapered lines. This is a line made of three different sizes, all 

 spliced together. The heaviest size is used next to the leader, 

 followed by the next heaviest, and then the lightest— the idea 

 being to give the angler more line on his reel, with the heaviest 

 end doing most of the work, as this is naturally the portion which 

 the fish is caught on. Tapered lines have been barred by the 

 I.G.F.A. and, if a fish is caught on one of them, it will be recorded 

 as having been taken on the heaviest part of the line. 



Line markers. In most instances these are pieces of thread or 

 light fishing line, placed at one-hundred-foot lengths on the 

 angler's line, to show him how much of it the fish has out. 



Outfits. The 3/6 outfit originally consisted of a 6-ounce 

 rod, including the butt. Under present-day rules the tip is limited 

 to 4 ounces, and any size butt can be used. This change was made 

 so the angler would not fish with a 5-ounce rod and a very tiny 

 butt made of some light wood or metal. This outfit is 6 feet 

 in length over all and is used with 6-thread line, and, as it used 

 to weigh 6 ounces in its entirety, hence was, and still is, called 

 the 3/6. This is the lightest outfit in regular use today, although 

 some anglers are using 3 -thread line with a 2- to 3 -ounce rod tip 

 for certain species of fish after they have become well acquainted 

 with 3/6. 



Six-nine consists of a 6-ounce rod tip, exclusive of the butt, 

 and a 9-thread line. Other terms commonly heard are 8/1 2, 10/15, 

 12/18, 14/21, and 16/24. I^ ^1^ of these the first figure refers 

 to the weight of the tip and the second figure to the thread line. 



Rod weight. The weight of a rod includes its tip, guides, 

 ferrule, grip, varnish and wrappings. 



Gaff. A htrok made of steel and attached to a wooden handle 

 usually from two to eight feet in length. It is used for lifting the 

 fish into the boat after it has been brought alongside. 



275 



