What’s a jack wagon?

Stephen Browning did some name-calling directed at a relatively small bass yesterday, calling it a “jack wagon.” You might hear it again today, as Browning, who starts the day in 5th place, has a Bassmaster LIVE camera in his boat.

So in the interests of keeping our readers up-to-date on all things B.A.S.S., including L.A. fishing slang (lower Arkansas), there was this explanation from Browning yesterday, “It’s a word we’ve always used back home for uncooperative fish.”

There’s some history in that usage. From The Urban Dictonary, there’s this: “Slang term derived from the freight or chow wagons used in the late 19th century. These were often the last wagons in a wagon train, making them the least favorable to drive due to the dust, waste, and debris from the front of the train. When used as in insult it refers to one’s lack of intelligence, implying the insultee is capable of no more than operating a chow wagon.”

Browning is searching for the bass driving the wagon train today, not those bring up the rear. No jack wagons on Sunday, please.

(Note to self: When upset from now on, refer to the person upsetting you as a jack wagon, rather than the four-syllable profanity you currently prefer.)