Pronunciation Question

[BrookTroutLover]

Embarrassing question from an incurable Pennsylvanian like me:

Gemmie: hard or soft G?

And what is the derivation? Like they are little “gems?”

What part of PA is this common?

My Western Pennsylvania ears never heard this until I started reading the Board 20 years go.

 

[jifigz]

The "G" should sound like a "J," just like in the word "gem."

What's the root of it? Beats me, but I use the term.

 

[PennKev]

What part of PA is this common?

It's not common in actual conversation.

My Western Pennsylvania ears never heard this until I started reading the Board 20 years go.

That's because it's an internet phrase and is now often used to mock the way some people fuss over tiny native trout.

 

[jifigz]

It's not common in actual conversation.

That's because it's an internet phrase and is now often used to mock the way some people fuss over tiny native trout.

As far as I know, gemmie was coined on this board, right?

 

[poopdeck]

As far as I know, gemmie was coined on this board, right?

This is the only place I’ve ever heard or seen it used. I just call them itty bitty super easy to catch fish that I have no desire to fish for. Maybe I should just call them gemmies for short.

 

[foxfire]

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gem

In our case - a precious fish.

 

[Swattie87]

Gemmie (Jem-ie). Noun. A small and precious (gemstone like) native Pennsylvania Brook Trout caught or pursued by an angler on PAFF. Originally coined on the online fishing message board paflyfishing.com by migratory Brown Trout proponents as a tongue in cheek reference to the small size and relatively poor fighting quality of Brook Trout, and later affectionately embraced by the “blue line” angling crowd.

Related - Gemmie Fries. Noun. Frying whole sublegal flour dredged Gemmies in peanut oil. Traditionally stream side in a cast iron vessel over an open fire. Commonly served with a Busch Light.

 

[troutbert]

As far as I know, gemmie was coined on this board, right?

Yes, I'm pretty sure that it is correct.

And I never heard or read it anywhere but here.

 

[wildtrout2]

What part of PA is this common?

It's use is only common here on PAFF. I've never used that term, but I have referred to certain streams as gems.

 

[gfenlikestolosepasswords]

Embarrassing question from an incurable Pennsylvanian like me:

Gemmie: hard or soft G?

...sweet Jebus didn't we start this as a joke like 20 years ago? Are people actually using this now? Am i now a cultural zeitgeist?

What part of PA is this common?

My Western Pennsylvania ears never heard this until I started reading the Board 20 years go.

Hopefully just in places where brook trout anglers are being mocked for calling brook trout "gems."

Also applicable to users of "brookies" and to a lesser extent "smallies," although for that you can always use the counterpoint of "largies."

 

[albatross]

Good use of AI for this one:

Hey Google Gemini:
Where did the word gemmie arise in reference to native brook trout?

Response:
The term "gemmie" (or "gemmies") originated as tongue-in-cheek fly fishing slang on regional online angling message boards—most notably the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing forum (PAflyfish.com).

The moniker evolved through community banter between two distinct angling camps:

• Mocking overly reverent descriptions: Fly anglers targeting native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) frequently described them in literature and trip reports in elevated, poetic terms—calling them "precious gems," "living jewels," or delicate treasures of cold mountain headwaters.
• The brown trout angler counter-narrative: Anglers focused on hunting large wild brown trout began using the diminutive term "gemmies" playfully (and somewhat derisively) to tease brook trout purists. It poked fun at the fish’s typical small size, aggressive/naive feeding habits, and status as mere forage for apex brown trout ("gemmie-eaters").
• Adoption and affection: Over time, the term was embraced more broadly across the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian fly fishing community, shifting from mild internet forum snark into an affectionate, widespread regional slang term for small, vibrant headwater natives.

 

[Swattie87]

Good use of AI for this one:

Hey Google Gemini:
Where did the word gemmie arise in reference to native brook trout?

Response:
The term "gemmie" (or "gemmies") originated as tongue-in-cheek fly fishing slang on regional online angling message boards—most notably the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing forum (PAflyfish.com).

The moniker evolved through community banter between two distinct angling camps:

• Mocking overly reverent descriptions: Fly anglers targeting native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) frequently described them in literature and trip reports in elevated, poetic terms—calling them "precious gems," "living jewels," or delicate treasures of cold mountain headwaters.
• The brown trout angler counter-narrative: Anglers focused on hunting large wild brown trout began using the diminutive term "gemmies" playfully (and somewhat derisively) to tease brook trout purists. It poked fun at the fish’s typical small size, aggressive/naive feeding habits, and status as mere forage for apex brown trout ("gemmie-eaters").
• Adoption and affection: Over time, the term was embraced more broadly across the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian fly fishing community, shifting from mild internet forum snark into an affectionate, widespread regional slang term for small, vibrant headwater natives.

That’s great Alby.

I swear on a Gemmie’s life I did not AI that before my response above. It is kinda cool it originated here, IMO.

 

[wildtrout2]

Good use of AI for this one:

Hey Google Gemini:
Where did the word gemmie arise in reference to native brook trout?

Response:
The term "gemmie" (or "gemmies") originated as tongue-in-cheek fly fishing slang on regional online angling message boards—most notably the Pennsylvania Fly Fishing forum (PAflyfish.com).

The moniker evolved through community banter between two distinct angling camps:

• Mocking overly reverent descriptions: Fly anglers targeting native brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) frequently described them in literature and trip reports in elevated, poetic terms—calling them "precious gems," "living jewels," or delicate treasures of cold mountain headwaters.
• The brown trout angler counter-narrative: Anglers focused on hunting large wild brown trout began using the diminutive term "gemmies" playfully (and somewhat derisively) to tease brook trout purists. It poked fun at the fish’s typical small size, aggressive/naive feeding habits, and status as mere forage for apex brown trout ("gemmie-eaters").
• Adoption and affection: Over time, the term was embraced more broadly across the Mid-Atlantic and Appalachian fly fishing community, shifting from mild internet forum snark into an affectionate, widespread regional slang term for small, vibrant headwater natives.

We have a data center to thank for that info. Build baby, build. Sound familure? 😉