N

Nail clippers
A useful tool for neatly trimming the line close to knots.

Narrow-gaped hook
A hook with a narrow gape between point and shank. Narrow-gaped hooks are usually long-shanked and fine-wire, with a crystal bend, for use with small baits such as bloodworm.

Natal
Birth place.

Natal stream
Stream of birth.

Natural Mortality
Deaths in a fish stock caused by predation, pollution, senility, etc., but not fishing.

Naturally spawning populations
Populations of fish that have completed their entire life cycle in the natural environment without human intervention.

Net Increase (or decrease)
New body substance elaborated in a stock, less the loss from all forms of mortality.

Negative
Fish at the lowest feeding mood, usually stressed by one or more factors in their environment

Neutral
The middle stage of fish activity

Neutral buoyancy device
A plastic device for determining the exact amount of shotting needed to cock a pole float when making up pole rigs at home.

Nitrogen narcosis
A condition suffered by fish when taken suddenly from deep water to the surface, causing expanding gases by rapid decompression

Nominal catch
The sum of the catches that are landed (expressed as live weight or equivalents). Nominal catches do not include unreported discards.

Noodle rod
A special long, soft rod that can handle light lines

Nuts
Various kinds of nuts can be used to catch carp, but they must be soaked and cooked, otherwise they can swell up inside a carp's stomach and kill it.