Sportfishing Equipment Distributors and Wholesalers Key Terms

Learn key terms associated with sportfishing equipment

By Cathy Salustri

Sportfishing equipment distributors and wholesalers make their living by selling different types of sportfishing lures and other accessories to tackle and bait shops. Lures alone can confuse a novice; if your business is looking to carry sportfishing equipment, spend some time familiarizing yourself with the key terms associated with sportfishing equipment and distributors. One of the most important things you can do is learn the different types of lures that sportfishing distributors and wholesalers sell.

Sportfishing lures

Sportfishing lures come in a variety of types. They include lures that float along the water's surface, lures that sink partway and lures designed to sit on or near the bottom of the body of water. Some sportfishing lures have designs that allow them to move rapidly through the water, while others have designs to look like a lizard or snake on top of the water.
Try: WiseGEEK explains lures and their different categories.

Jigs

Jigs are a type of lure that contain either lead weights or a weighted hook. They have "tails" comprised of hair, feathers, bait or an artificial material.
Try: Vision Lures has more information about jigs.

Spinners

Spinners, also called spinning lures or spinnerbait, are a type of sportfishing lure that have parts which rotate around the hook. Spinners are a type of jig.
Try: Barlow's Tackle Shop has instructions detailing how to make different types of spinner lures.

Spoons

Spoons, made of shiny metal, emulate the look and action of a minnow or other bait fish.
Try: The Essortment explains spoon lures in greater detail, as does Outdoor World.

Surface lures

Surface lures are lures that stay on the surface of the water. These lures emulate the movement and/or look of small rodents, bugs, reptiles or tiny fish.
Try: Craig Sandell provides information about surface lures.

Crankbait

A crankbait is made of hard plastic or wood. Crankbaits dive under the water and move quickly through it.
Try: Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation explains what a crankbait does and how it works. Bass Pro Shops Outdoors Online explains crankbaits in greater detail and also includes photos of cranks.