Fishing facts & stats

Question 1

What does a float or bobber do on a fishing line?

Accepted Answer

Holds bait at a depth and signals a bite. A float suspends bait at a chosen depth and dips or moves when a fish takes the bait.

Question 2

What is a sinker used for in fishing?

Accepted Answer

Adding weight to take the bait down. A sinker is a weight, traditionally lead but now often other metals, that carries bait or lure deeper.

Question 3

In fly fishing, what mainly carries the nearly weightless fly out when casting?

Accepted Answer

The weight of the fly line. Fly casting uses a thick, weighted line; the line's momentum carries the light artificial fly to the target.

Question 4

What does a fish's lateral line help it sense?

Accepted Answer

Vibrations and water movement. The lateral line is a row of sensory organs along each side that detects pressure changes and movement in the water.

Question 5

What does a swim bladder help many fish control?

Accepted Answer

Buoyancy. By adjusting gas in the swim bladder, many bony fish can hover at a depth without constant swimming.

Question 6

What is an anadromous fish, such as salmon?

Accepted Answer

One born in fresh water that lives at sea and returns to spawn. Anadromous fish hatch in rivers, grow in the ocean and migrate back up rivers to spawn.

Question 7

Scientists can estimate a fish's age by counting growth rings in which ear bones?

Accepted Answer

Otoliths. Otoliths, or ear stones, lay down yearly growth rings, much like the rings of a tree.

Fishing facts & stats

The basics