“Everything that can be said, can be said clearly.”
This quip from philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein should be taken to heart by politicians, lawyers, and anglers. A great gulf exists between common linguistics and the semantics needed in the tackle aisle at the local sporting goods store. And not even Merriam-Webster can help a beginner fisherman decipher what the overly-read enthusiast says when asked “what are you using to catch them?”
The Angler’s Glossary from Mike Klimkos is a great resource for wading through the language of fishing. The book is an illustrated collection of terms relating to fishing and the science behind it. An essential part of the formation and development of the Pennsylvania Rivers Conservation & Fly Fishing Youth Camp (the first Trout Unlimited teen camp), Klimkos has had a vested interest and role in teaching fishing for generations. Growing from a project seeking to systematize the complex terminology around hooks, he expanded his efforts to create The Angler’s Glossary.
A book like this functions at three important levels:
First, it introduces new anglers to a foreign vocabulary.
Hook throats, terrestrial flies, and rod dampening; you might be familiar with these terms, but you didn’t learn them in elementary school. Pertinent concepts are often picked up piecemeal. And while the internet is certainly useful, the aforementioned necessity of clarity isn’t always easy to find. Perusing The Angler’s Glossary gives a beginner everything she needs to make heads and tails of a catalog or an instructional video.
Second, it is a resource for anyone that reads or interacts within the culture of angling.
Language has the benefit of functioning in context. This allows us to get a sense of something without perfectly grasping all the component parts. If you are reading technical literature, relying upon context alone won’t yield the fulness of meaning intended in scientific (or even fly fishing industry) writing. This book concisely defines “dissolved solids,” varieties of fish measuring formats, and “iteroparous species.”
Third, it is a useful tool for the purpose of teaching angling.
You might be able to explain the differences between emergers and duns to your fishing buddy or your child. But can you do so clearly? Whether your teaching is the casual kind that we all engage in, or you have some sort of formal education capacity, quick and clear definitions of important angling terms are helpful. At a bare minimum, The Angler’s Glossary gives you a focal point as you communicate the core concepts of fishing.
I had the privilege of reading a review copy of The Angler’s Glossary. It is a simple, useful, and well-thought out resource that I’ll heartily recommend for all three purposes I’ve outlined above.
Pick up a copy of The Angler’s Glossary online. Better yet, ask your favorite fly shop to consider stocking a stack of this useful book.