Study guides · Stuff Every Fishing Scout Should Know
Practice facts for the Fishing merit badge. Not an official Scouting America credential. Grab a snack: this guide is the friendly version, with the answers explained and a groan-worthy joke waiting at the end of most cards.
Knowing Fishing Scout saves you money, time and the occasional embarrassment.
â–¶ Play the game About this deck
Short answer: Plan ahead and check conditions
Planning ahead helps you anticipate hazards before they happen.
Groan of the day: Don't let hazards hook you off guard!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: They can cause health problems
Insect bites are a health concern to prevent and treat.
Groan of the day: Don't let bugs bug you!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Rods and reels come in different types
Different rods and reels suit different fishing needs.
Groan of the day: Pick your outfit, not your outfit's outfit!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Releasing fish back safely
Catch and release means returning fish safely to the water.
Groan of the day: Catch the fun, release the fish!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It shows respect for others and nature
Sportsmanship means courteous, respectful behavior.
Groan of the day: Be a good sport, not a poor sport!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Fishing with a hook
Angling means catching fish with a hook.
Groan of the day: Angle for a great catch!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Blasting
Blasting is destructive and often illegal.
Groan of the day: Don't blow your chances!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Tackle at the end of the line
Terminal tackle includes hooks, sinkers, and floats at line's end.
Groan of the day: Get to the end of it!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Pleasure or competition
Recreational fishing is done primarily for pleasure or sport.
Groan of the day: Reel fun for everyone!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Releases juvenile fish into the wild
Hatcheries release young fish to support populations.
Groan of the day: Hatch a plan for healthy fish!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: It can harm fish populations
Overfishing threatens the long term health of fish stocks.
Groan of the day: Don't fish out your welcome!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Other wildlife caught in fishing gear
Bycatch is non target wildlife caught in fishing gear.
Groan of the day: Bycatch is a catch you don't want!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Hand gathering
Hand gathering is a listed fishing technique.
Groan of the day: Hands on for a catch!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: A boat or ship used to catch fish
Fishing vessels are boats or ships used to catch fish.
Groan of the day: Vessel be catching fish!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: High quality protein
Fish provide a major source of high quality protein.
Groan of the day: Fish is a big deal for meals!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: An artificial bait
Lures are artificial baits used to attract fish.
Groan of the day: Lure them in with a grin!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: To know the rules and why they exist
Reviewing regulations helps you follow rules and understand their purpose.
Groan of the day: Know the rules before you cast!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It helps protect fishing resources
Leave No Trace helps protect fishing resources.
Groan of the day: Leave no trace, keep the fish in place!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Entanglement and ingestion
Lost gear can entangle or be eaten by marine animals.
Groan of the day: Don't let gear get tangled in trouble!
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Get qualified first aid help
A lodged hook is a puncture wound. Get qualified supervision and first aid rather than yanking it out.
Groan of the day: This hook question really snagged our attention.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It prevents infection
Cuts and scratches are listed health concerns, so cleaning and treating them helps prevent infection.
Groan of the day: Don't let a small scratch become a big catch.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Being dangerously cold
Hypothermia is a cold related health concern listed for fishing, so know prevention and treatment.
Groan of the day: Cold water is no time to chill out.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Your body needs water
Dehydration is a listed health concern. Drink water and watch for signs while outdoors.
Groan of the day: Water is for drinking too, not just for fish.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Heatstroke is more serious
Both are listed health concerns, and heatstroke is the more dangerous condition needing urgent help.
Groan of the day: Don't let the heat reel you in.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Use sun protection
Sunburn is a listed health concern, so use sun protection and cover up while outdoors.
Groan of the day: Shade is a great catch.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Rod, reel, line and tackle
A fishing outfit is the rod, reel, line and tackle you use, and types differ in how they work.
Groan of the day: Outfits for fish, not fashion.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: To care for and use them
Identifying parts helps you understand how equipment works and how to care for it.
Groan of the day: Know your reel parts, reel well.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: To use equipment properly
Demonstrating proper use of equipment means practicing casting so you can fish safely and well.
Groan of the day: Cast practice makes perfect.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Tying a hook to line
The improved clinch knot is one of the knots used to attach tackle such as a hook to line.
Groan of the day: A good knot holds the whole story together.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Attaching line to a reel
The arbor knot is listed among fishing knots and is used to attach line to a reel arbor.
Groan of the day: Arbor knot: a reel good start.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Joining two lines
The uni to uni knot is a listed fishing knot used to join lines together.
Groan of the day: Two lines, one happy union.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Something fish eat
Natural baits are real food items fish eat, while artificial lures are man made.
Groan of the day: Natural bait is the real meal deal.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It can harm ecosystems
Releasing baitfish illegally can harm local waters, so baitfish should not be released.
Groan of the day: Baitfish belong in the bucket, not the wild.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It guides respectful outdoor behavior
The Outdoor Code guides respectful behavior outdoors, which supports good fishing resources.
Groan of the day: Code of the outdoors, cool.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It helps fish populations
Catch and release supports fish populations when fish are handled and released properly.
Groan of the day: Catch the fun, release the fish.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Handle it gently in water
Proper release means handling the fish gently and returning it safely to the water.
Groan of the day: Gentle hands make happy fish.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Fishing on private land without permission
Anglers should respect property laws and avoid trespassing on private land.
Groan of the day: No trespassing: that's the boundary line.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: It harms places and wildlife
Littering is bad sportsmanship and harms outdoor places and wildlife, so pack out trash.
Groan of the day: Litter bugs nobody's friend.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: Identify it
Identifying your catch is part of responsible fishing and helps you follow regulations.
Groan of the day: Name that fish!
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: To learn food skills
Cleaning and cooking a fish teaches useful food skills when regulations and health concerns permit.
Groan of the day: Fillet good about this skill.
Sources: Scouting America: Fishing
Short answer: A fishing technique
Trawling is listed as a fishing technique used to catch fish.
Groan of the day: Trawl's well that ends well.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: A fishing technique
Longlining is one of the fishing techniques listed alongside trawling and jigging.
Groan of the day: Long line, long story, good catch.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: A fishing technique
Jigging is a listed fishing technique used to attract and catch fish.
Groan of the day: Jiggle, jig, catch.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: They damage ecosystems
Destructive methods can kill fish stocks and damage habitats, so they are often illegal.
Groan of the day: Poison is no fish's friend.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Rod, reel, line and hook
The most common recreational fishing uses a rod, reel, line, hooks, and bait or lures.
Groan of the day: Rod and reel, that's the deal.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Fishing from boats for large species
Big game fishing is done from boats to catch large open water species such as tuna and marlin.
Groan of the day: Big game, big fun.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: The challenge of the catch
Sportfishing is recreational fishing where the main reward is the challenge of finding and catching fish.
Groan of the day: Sporting chance, sporting fun.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Raising fish in tanks or enclosures
Fish farming raises fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food.
Groan of the day: Farm raised, fish praised.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: To meet demand for fish
Fish farming offers an alternative to wild fishing as demand for fish increases.
Groan of the day: Farming fish is a fine dish.
Sources: Fishing
Short answer: Lost gear still catching wildlife
Lost or abandoned fishing gear can keep catching marine life, a problem called ghost fishing.
Groan of the day: Ghost gear is a real scare.
Sources: Fishing
The whole guide on one screen. Screenshot it, print it, stick it on the fridge.
Think of your answer first, then peek.
Plan ahead and check conditions. Planning ahead helps you anticipate hazards before they happen.
It can harm fish populations. Overfishing threatens the long term health of fish stocks.
It prevents infection. Cuts and scratches are listed health concerns, so cleaning and treating them helps prevent infection.
Joining two lines. The uni to uni knot is a listed fishing knot used to join lines together.
A fishing technique. Trawling is listed as a fishing technique used to catch fish.
Read a chapter, then play the deck and see how much stuck.
This guide covers the 50 free cards. The other 3 are in the game for members.
â–¶ Play Stuff Every Fishing Scout Should Know Find another deck Founding Members: spots are open
Teacher or trainer? It's free for teachers, and you can embed this deck on your own site.