K to O

Lure – An artificial bait used in motion to attract fish to strike. Can be made of wood, plastic, rubber or metal. Examples include Redgills, jellyworms, plugs and spinners.

Lugworm – Probably the most common bait used in the UK and Europe. Found in sand and clean mud it lives in burrows and throws up sand casts as it digs. There are at least two species of lug worm found around the European coastline, blow or common lug and the larger black lug.

Low water mark – The lowest point along a coastline that any given tide recedes to.

Low pressure area – In an area of low pressure the air has a tendency to rise. This general upward motion means that there is less pressure from the air pushing down on the earth, in other words there is low pressure. As air rises, it cools and if there is enough water vapour it may condense to form clouds and rain.

Live-well – A special compartment on a boat that keeps fish alive so they can be released at a later date. See aeration tank.

Live bait – Living fish, crustaceans, worms etc used to entice fish.

Littoral zone – The region of land bordering the sea which extends below the low water mark and above the shoreline.

Line capacity – The length of line which can fit on to the spool of a reel. Manufacturers usually list this by breaking strain and / or line diameter.

Lever drag – an multiplier reel with an adjustible drag which is operated by a lever as opposed to a star drag.

Level wind – The part of a multiplier reel which oscillates along the front of spool laying the line evenly.