Glossary

Plain-language definitions for the fishing and water-data terms used across LurePassion — each one honest about what it measures and cited to its source.

CFS (cubic feet per second)

The unit for streamflow — the volume of water passing a gauge each second. Rising CFS after rain usually means higher, faster, more stained water; falling CFS a settling, clearing flow. Compared against the day-of-year seasonal norm to judge whether flow is high, normal, or low.

Source: USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), discharge parameter 00060

Clarity

How far light penetrates the water, which drives lure color and presentation choices. LurePassion buckets clarity into Clear, Stained, or Muddy from a gauge's turbidity reading; with no turbidity sensor nearby it reads Unknown rather than guessing.

Source: Derived from USGS turbidity (FNU); banding per LurePassion methodology

Gauge height

The water-surface elevation at a streamgage, in feet above the gauge's local datum. It is a stage reading, not depth of the lake or river, and is only comparable to that same gauge's own history — useful for spotting a rise or drawdown.

Source: USGS NWIS, gage height parameter 00065

GNIS ID

A permanent numeric identifier the U.S. Geological Survey assigns to every named natural feature, including lakes and streams. LurePassion keys each waterbody to its GNIS ID so a lake stays citable even if its URL slug changes.

Source: USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS)

Outlook (Prime / Fair / Tough)

LurePassion's plain-language read on how favorable conditions are for biting, derived from water temperature versus seasonal norm, clarity, pressure trend, and the solunar day rating. When no live gauge feeds a waterbody the outlook reads NO GAUGE — it is never guessed from nothing.

Source: Computed by LurePassion (lib/outlook); inputs are cited per waterbody

Pre-spawn

The period when fish stage near spawning areas and feed heavily as water warms toward their spawning temperature — for largemouth bass roughly the upper 40s into the mid-50s °F. A widely fished window because feeding is aggressive and predictable, though exact timing varies by latitude and year.

Source: General angling reference; timing varies by species and region

Put-and-take

A stocking strategy where catchable-size fish (commonly trout) are released for anglers to harvest, with little expectation they survive or reproduce long-term. It contrasts with fingerling or fry stocking aimed at establishing a self-sustaining population.

Source: State fish & wildlife agency stocking programs

RIDB ramp

A boat launch or access point sourced from the federal Recreation Information Database, the system behind Recreation.gov. LurePassion uses RIDB facility records to place nearby ramps on a waterbody's map so you can plan access.

Source: Recreation Information Database (RIDB), Recreation.gov

Seasonal norm (P10–P90)

The typical range for a value on a given calendar day, built from about ten years of that gauge's daily history. P10–P90 is the band between the 10th and 90th percentiles: readings inside it are normal, outside it are notably low or high. This is the baseline behind phrases like "warmer than typical."

Source: Computed by LurePassion from USGS daily-value history

Solunar

A theory that fish and wildlife feed most actively during major and minor periods tied to the moon's position (overhead/underfoot transits and moonrise/moonset). LurePassion computes these periods and a day rating from the waterbody's latitude/longitude and date; treat them as a timing hint, not a guarantee.

Source: Solunar theory (J.A. Knight, 1926); periods computed by LurePassion

Stocking

The release of hatchery-raised fish into public waters by a state or federal agency to support recreational fishing or restore a population. Each event records the water, species, count, and date; LurePassion normalizes and de-duplicates these reports and links every one back to its agency source.

Source: State fish & wildlife agency stocking reports

Turbidity (FNU)

A measure of how cloudy water is, in Formazin Nephelometric Units — higher FNU means more suspended sediment and murkier water. LurePassion reads FNU from a gauge's optical sensor and maps it to Clear, Stained, or Muddy; a gauge without the sensor reports no value rather than an estimate.

Source: USGS NWIS turbidity parameter 63680 (FNU)