AU2007250538A1 - Fishing casting weight with the specific gravity of water - Google Patents

Description

WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 1 FISHING CASTING WEIGHT WITH THE SPECIFIC GRAVITY OF WATER Technical Field This invention relates to an improved fishing rig and in particular to a lightweight fishing rig and a casting weight for use therewith. 5 Background Art Generally in all fishing situations, it is preferred to use the lightest weight rig as possible to increase the chances of catching fish. In fishing rigs using light tackle with a rod and reel, heavy sinkers usually lead shot are required on the line to enable an angler to cast a baited fishing hook a required distance. To increase the cast distance, the line is 10 required to be provided with additional lead shot and/or the weight of the lead shot is required to be increased. This is required whether the line carries a float or not. When the line carries a float, the hook or hooks are suspended from the float at a suitable distance depending upon the depth at which fishing is required with a larger float being required to supported an increased weight of the lead shot on the line. If the line carries 15 heavy lead shot with or without a float, a fish on biting at the baited hook will feel a heavy resistance on the line and will tend to release the bait and thereby will not be caught. To overcome the above disadvantages and to enable a baited hook to be cast or positioned at a substantial distance from where a fisherperson is located, fiberglass whip 20 rods have been introduced as well as fiberglass poles and carbon fibre reinforced poles. The fishing poles typically comprising a plurality of interconnected rod or pole sections and rather than casting the line, a pole is used to place a baited hook at a distance determined by the length of the pole. Because of weight and wind factors, a pole of this type is limited to a practical maximum length of approximately 16 metres. An advantage 25 of pole fishing however is that it allows an angler to fish at a substantial distance from water's edge whilst allowing him or her to fish as light as possible thereby increasing the chances of catching fish. Use of a pole of extended length in fishing however has some disadvantages. In particular, difficulties arise in manipulating or holding the pole in adverse wind conditions which often necessitates reducing the length of the pole. 30 Furthermore, time is lost in assembling and disassembling the pole. In addition, if there is a steep bank behind the angler it is difficult to assemble and disassemble the pole. Summary of the Invention The present invention aims to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages or at WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 2 least provide an alternative to the known fishing rigs. The present invention in particular aims to provide a fishing rig having terminal tackle which provides for an increased casting distance without excessively loading the fishing line when in water. The present invention in a further aspect aims to provide a fishing rig which permits fishing at all 5 depths with light tackle using a rod and reel. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description. The present invention thus provides in a first preferred aspect although not necessarily the broadest aspect, a fishing rig having tenninal tackle including at least one hook and a casting weight, said casting weight having a specific gravity substantially the 10 same as or slightly greater than that of the water into which said terminal tackle is cast in use. By using a casting weight whose specific gravity is substantially the same or slightly greater than that of water, it will, when out of water constitute a weight in the nature of a sinker to assist in casting of the line carrying the hook or hooks a substantial 15 distance. When however the casting weight is submerged in water it will, because of its specific gravity, be substantially weightless or have only a slight effective weight and therefore provide no or little load on the line which would be detrimental to a fish biting on a baited hook. Typically the effective weight of the casting weight in water is in the range of 0 to 1 gramins. 20 Preferably the casting weight is connected to the fishing line at a position spaced from the at least one hook. The casting weight is suitably free for movement along at least portion of the fishing line. In one preferred form, a single stop which may comprise a small weight such as a split lead shot is secured to the fishing line at a fixed position spaced from the hook and 25 the casting weight is connected to the line on the side of the weight opposite the hook. The casting weight is therefore free for movement along the line towards and away from the fixed weight which acts as a stop to the casting weight. Preferably the casting weight is capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the line so as not to cause tangling in the line. Preferably the casting weight 30 includes a main body connected via an eye to the fishing line, the fishing line passing freely through the eye. Preferably the main body is capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the eye. Preferably the eye is connecting to the main body through a swivel connection.

WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 3 The casting weight in use adopts an attitude extending to one side of the line. The casting weight in this attitude may be substantially horizontal or be inclined to the horizontal plane so as to be angled upwardly or downwardly relative to the horizontal. This allows for the fishing line to pass freely through the eye of the casting weight and 5 thus the casting weight will provide little or no load on the line or drag on the line as the line passes through the eye. A baited hook of the rig of the above type will descend slowly through the water and the casting weight will because of its minimal weight in water also descend slowly through the water and therefore not sink into mud or the like at the bottom of a water 10 reservoir, river or other body of water. The present invention in a further preferred aspect provides a fishing rig including fishing line having terminal fishing tackle, said terminal fishing tackle including one or more hooks fixed to said fishing line, a float fixed to said fishing line at a position spaced from said one or more hooks and a casting weight connected to a portion of said fishing 15 line between said one or more hooks and said float, said casting weight being free for movement along said portion of said fishing line, said casting weight having a specific gravity substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of the water into which said fishing tackle is to be cast. As above, by using a casting weight with the rig whose specific gravity is 20 substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of water, it will when out of water constitute a weight in the nature of a sinker to assist in casting of the tackle a substantial distance. When however the casting weight is submerged in water and suspended from the float, it will, because of its specific gravity, be substantially weightless and therefore provide no or little load on the line which would be detrimental to a fish biting on a 25 baited hook. Preferably the portion of the line to which the casting weight is connected comprises a portion between the float and a stop fixed to the line at a position spaced from the hook or hooks. The stop on the line may comprise a small weight such as split lead shot. The main body of the casting weight in this aspect of the invention is also 30 suitably capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the line so as not to cause tangling in the line. The casting weight may include an eye through which the fishing line passes to connect the casting weight to the line. The casting weight may also include a swivel which permits free swiveling or pivoting movement of the casting WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 4 weight body relative to the eye and line. The casting weight body may be fonned of any suitably material. In a preferred fonn the body of the casting weight comprises plastic which has a density substantially the same or slightly greater than the density of water in which the rig using the casting 5 weight is used. The casting weight may be moulded of plastics. The casting weight may be of any shape but typically has a bulbous and/or tear-shaped body. Preferably the eye and swivel are positioned at one end of the casting weight body. As referred to above, the casting weight is configured so as to adopt a substantially horizontal attitude extending to on one side of the line when submerged in 10 water which minimizes interference with the line The present invention in yet a further preferred aspect provides a casting weight for use with tenninal fishing tackle, said casting weight having a main body and a specific gravity substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of the water into which said fishing tackle is to be cast. 15 Preferably the body of the casting weight is designed such that it adopts a substantially horizontal attitude when submerged in water although it may be inclined to the horizontal either being angled upwardly or downwardly relative to the horizontal. Typically the casting weight has a weight in water of between 0 and 1 gram however this can vary dependent upon the water in which the casting weight is used. In a particular 20 embodiment, the casting weight has a weight out of water in the range of 5 to 10 grams and a weight in water of 0.1 to 0.4 grams. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the casting weight has a weight out of water of approximately 7.6 grams and a weight in water of approximately 0.2 grams. The casting weight may be of various sizes to suit the conditions in which it is to be used provided that the ratio of the weight out of water and 25 weight in water is substantially maintained. Preferably the casting weight includes an eye through which a fishing line can freely pass. Preferably the eye is provided at one end of the casting weight body, the body being capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the eye. Preferably the eye is connected to the body of the casting weight through a swivel. 30 The body of the casting weight may have incorporated therein one or more small weights such as lead shot distributed in the body to balance the weight of the swivel to ensure that the substantially horizontal attitude in water is achieved. Alternatively, the body of the casting weight may have a different density in different regions so that it WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 5 adopts the substantially horizontal attitude in water. Incorporating weights in the body of the casting weight may also enable the elimination of some or all of the weights or sinkers fixed to the line. In a particularly preferred form, the casting weight body includes an upper part 5 and a lower part or base and the lower part has a specific gravity greater than that of the upper part whilst the overall weight of the casting weight remains substantially the same or slightly greater or than the equivalent volume of the water in which the casting weight is used. The upper part suitably has a specific gravity less than the water in which it is used such that it has positive buoyancy. When the upper and lower parts are connected 10 the casting weight will sit in a substantially horizontal or slightly inclined attitude in water so as not to foul the line. The upper part and lower part preferably are of substantially the same size and configuration. Preferably a plurality of lower parts or bases are provided, each having a different specific gravity and thus weight such that when combined with an upper part, casting 15 weights of various weights determined by the combination of the upper part and a selected lower part or base are possible. The combined weights of the upper and lower parts of the casting weights may be equivalent to different shot sizes or weights. Preferably respective lower parts or bases are marked differently such that a user is aware from a combination of a particular marked lower part with an upper part of the combined 20 weight of the casting weight. Typically the lower parts or bases may be marked in different colours to indicate different weights. Preferably locating means may be provided to locate the upper part relative to the lower part. The locating means may comprise projections on one part and corresponding recesses in the other part adapted to receive the projections. The upper part and lower 25 part may be detachably engaged through for example the projections and recesses. The projections may be a press or interference fit in the recesses. Alternatively the upper and lower parts may be permanently joined by means of adhesives or the like. Preferably a swivel is captured between the upper and lower parts, the swivel including an eye for receipt of the fishing line therethrough. The swivel may be captured 30 in opposing recesses in the upper and lower parts. Brief Description of the Drawings In order that the invention may be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which illustrate WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 6 preferred embodiments of the invention and wherein : Fig. 1 illustrates a fishing rig according to a first embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 illustrates the fishing rig of Fig. 1 after being cast by a fishing rod; Fig. 3 illustrates a fishing rig according to a further embodiment of the invention 5 incorporating a float; Fig. 4 illustrates the fishing rig of Fig. 3 after being cast by a fishing rod; Figs. 5 a) and b) illustrates an alternative casting weight for use in the present invention in end and side views; Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line A-A of Fig. 5 (b); and 10 Fig. 7 is an exploded sectional view of the casting weight of Fig. 5 (b). Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Referring to the drawings and firstly to Fig. 1, there is illustrated terminal tackle 10 of a fishing rig including a fishing line 11 according to a first embodiment of the invention, the terminal tackle 10 including a hook 12 at the free end of the line 11. The 15 line 11 as illustrated includes only one hook 12 but may carry one or more hooks which may be positioned at the end of the line 11 or at a position or positions along the line 11. The terminal tackle 10 also includes a stop 13 which typically may comprise a small weight such as a split lead shot which is fixed to the line 11 at a position spaced from the hook (or hooks) 12. 20 Positioned on the line 11 on the side of the stop 13 opposite the hook (or hooks) 12 is a casting weight 14. The casting weight 14 is connected to the line 11 so as to be capable of free movement in opposite directions along the line 11 up to the stop 13. The casting weight 14 has a main bulbous body 15 having an eye 16 at one end through which the line 11 freely passes. The eye 16 is mounted via a swivel connection 17 to the 25 body 15 such that the body 15 of the casting weight 14 is capable of free swivelling movement relative to the eye 16 and line 11 as illustrated by the arrows in Fig. 1. The casting weight 15 including the eye 16 and swivel 17 has a specific gravity the same as or slightly greater than the water into which the terminal tackle 10 is cast such that it is weightless or almost weightless when submerged. 30 The fishing tackle 10 is typically used with a fishing rod 18 carrying a fishing reel 19 upon which the line 11 is wound as illustrated in Fig. 2. The tackle 10 is cast in a normal manner and when cast, centrifugal force will cause the casting weight 14 to move outwardly along the line 11 so that the eye 16 abuts the stop 13 to thereby enable the line WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 7 11 and baited hook 12 to be cast a considerable distance into a body of water 19 due to the weight of casting weight 14. When the terminal tackle 10 including the baited hook 12, stop 13 and casting weight 14 become submerged in the water 19 however, the casting weight 14 will be virtually weightless and add little or no noticeable perceived 5 weight on the line 11 and the baited hook 12 will moved downwardly through the water under the influence primarily of the weight of the bait on the hook 12 and the weight of the stop 13. The body of the casting weight 14 adopts a substantially horizontal attitude extending to one side of the line 11 and the line 11 passes freely through the eye 16. The baited hook 12 will move slowly through the water towards the bottom and thereby allow 10 for fishing through different depths thereby enhancing the chances of catching fish. The casting weight 14 will also move downwardly slowly through the water and if the casting weight 14 reaches the bottom of the body of water into which the tackle 10 is cast, as it only descends slowly through the water, it will not sink into the bottom, which for example may be mud. If a fish bites at the baited hook 12, the casting weight 14 being 15 almost weightless will not be perceived by the fish and therefore will not adversely affect the chances of catching a fish. Referring now to Fig. 3 there is illustrated a further embodiment of terminal fishing tackle 20 of a fishing rig including a fishing line 21 according to the invention, the tackle 20 being provided at its free end with a hook (or hooks) 22. A float 23 is 20 fixedly connected to the line 21 at a position which sets the spacing of the hook 22 from the float 23 and thus the distance the hook 22 is suspended below the float 23 in use. A stop 24 which may comprise a small weight such as a split lead shot known as a dust shot is fixed to the line 21 between the float 23 and hook 22. Additional shot may be fixed to the line 21 if necessary to ensure that the hook 22 is suspended substantially vertically 25 beneath the float 23 in use and there is sufficient weight in the line to "cock" the float 23 to ensure the float 23 is in its upright operative position. Positioned in the line 20 between the stop 24 and the float 23 is a casting weight 25 similar to the casting weight described above. The casting weight 25 is freely connected to the line 21 so as to be capable of free movement in opposite directions 30 along the line 21 between the stop 24 and float 23. As above, the casting weight 25 includes a body 26 provided with an eye 27 through which the line 21 passes, the eye 27 being connected through a swivel connection 28 to the body 26. The casting weight 25 is WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 8 thus captured between the float 23 and stop 24 but is free for movement therebetween and rotation relative to the eye 27. As shown in Fig. 4, the line 21 is normally wound upon a reel 29 mounted to a fishing rod 30. In use, the baited fishing hook 22 with float 23 and casting weight 25 is 5 cast in a normal manner into the body of water 19. The casting weight 25 provides sufficient weight on the line 21 to substantially increase the distance that the hook 22 can be cast. When the hook 22, float 23 and casting weight 25 reach the water, the hook 22 under the influence of the weight of the stop 24 (and possibly other weights such as additional lead shot attached to the line 21) will be suspended substantially vertically 10 from the float 23 in a nonnal manner at a depth governed by the length of the line 21 between the float 23 and hook 22. When however the casting weight 25 becomes submerged in the water, it is substantially weightless because its specific gravity is substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of the water 19. Thus the weight 25 does not provide any substantial increased weight on the line 21 and thus the float 23 will 15 adopt a normal operative upright attitude. Further the casting weight 25 will not be felt by a fish biting at the bait on the hook 22. When a fish bites at the bait, the float 23 is pulled downwardly and the line 21 will run freely through the eye 26 of the casting weight 25. The casting weights 14 and 25 of the above embodiments typically have a body 20 15 and 26 formed or moulded of plastics and may be of any size depending upon the distance a fishing line carrying a hook or hooks is to be cast. Because the casting weights 14 and 25 have a density substantially the same or slightly greater than the density as water, they will act in the nature of a sea anchor to hold the hook in a more natural attitude in running water by being less altered by wind speed. 25 It is preferred that the casting weights 14 and 25 be constructed so that they adopt a substantially horizontal attitude in water or attitude inclined to the horizontal to one side of the fishing line 11 or 21 as shown in dotted outline in Figs. 2 and 4. This then does not foul the fishing line 11 and will not provide excess loading on the line 11. This may be achieved by distributing one or more small weights within the bodies 15 or 26 of 30 the casting weights 14 or 25 to balance the weight of the eye 16 or 27 and swivel 17 or 28 or by providing the body of the casting weight with different densities in different regions of the body.

WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 9 Furthermore, the casting weights 14 and 25 may be weighted depending upon how heavy the angler wishes to fish. Thus the casting weights 14 and 25 may be weighted such as by incorporating weights in their body for example a No.1, 2, 3 and/or 4 split shot weight/s. In this case the casting weight will replace additional split shot 5 weights applied to the line and will be the sole means for weighting the line. In a comparison of terminal tackle with and without a casting weight according to the invention, terminal tackle having a float of a weight of 0.75 grams supporting four No. 4 split lead shot and using a 3 metre (10 ft.) rod was cast a distance of 9 metres from the tip of the rod. By removing one of the No. 4 split lead shot and adding a casting 10 weight 25 as above, a cast of 18 meters was achieved. In addition, the casting weight 25 reduced the load on the float 23 in the water so that the float 23 sat higher and therefore could be more readily seen at a distance. Thus the casting distance using a traditional rod and reel was beyond the reach of the longest practical pole without any added perceived weight to the float 23 or fish biting on the hook 22. 15 Of course as would be apparent to any angler, the weight applied to the line by the casting weight and float can be varied to be heavier or lighter as demand requires. Thus the casting weight may be varied as required for use in fresh or salt water. Referring now to Figs. 5 to 7 there is illustrated an alternative casting weight 31 according to another embodiment of the invention which has a body defined by an upper 20 half or part 32 and a lower half or part 33 which are substantially similar to each other in shape and size and combine to form a symmetrical body of a generally bulbous oval- or tear-shaped configuration. The lower part 33 is of a greater specific gravity and thus of a heavier weight compared to the specific gravity and weight of the upper part 32. The upper part 32 has a specific gravity less than that of water in which the casting weight 31 25 is used such that the upper part 32 has positive buoyancy. The lower part or base 33 however is of a higher specific gravity so that the overall weight of the casting weight 31 comprising an upper part 32 and lower part 33 remains substantially the same or slightly greater than the equivalent volume of water in which the casting weight is used. When the upper and lower parts 32 and 33 are interconnected, the buoyancy in the upper part 32 30 will cause the body of the casting weight 31 to sit in a substantially horizontal attitude in water. The lower part 33 is provided with a pair of projections 34 and the upper part 32 is provided with a pair of complementary recesses 35 positioned to receive the respective WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 10 projections 34 of the lower part 33. The upper and lower parts 32 and 33 may be interconnected to fonn the assembled casting weight 31 by locating the projections 34 in the recesses 35. The projections 34 and recesses 35 may be fonnrmed such that when the projections 34 are received in the recesses, they serve to interconnect the upper and lower 5 parts 32 and 33. Thus the projections 34 may be a press or interference fit within the recesses 35. The projections 34 may alternatively be positively or detachably engaged with the recesses 35 using another known connection arrangement. Alternatively, the projections 34 and recesses 35 may serve simply to locate the upper part 32 relative to the lower part 33 which then may be connected such as by an adhesive. 10 To provide a swiveling eye for the casting weight 31, a conventional swivel 36 is captured between the upper and lower parts 32 and 33, the swivel 36 being located in opposing recesses 37 and 38 in the upper part 32 and lower part 33. The swivel 36 defines a swiveling eye 39 externally of the upper and lower parts 32 and 33 for connection to a fishing line in the manner described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4. 15 A number of different lower parts 33 may be connected to the upper part 32 with each lower part 33 being of a different weight so that casting weights 31 of various weights can be provided. The different lower parts 33 may be marked differently such as by being coloured with different colours so that a user is aware by visual inspection of a combination of a particular marked lower part 33 with an upper part 32 of the combined 20 weight of the casting weight 31. As an example, the upper part 32 may be white and respective lower parts 33 may be coloured green, blue or any other colour such that when respective upper parts 32 and lower parts 33 are combined, a casting weight equivalent to a No. 1 shot, No. 2 shot, or any other shot weight results. As in the other embodiments, the upper and lower parts of the casting weight may 25 be moulded of plastics. The lower parts may be moulded with additional weights incorporated therein or be moulded of different weight plastics to provide the range of weights required. Whilst the casting weight of Fig. 5 is shown to be of a substantially bulbous oval- or tear-shaped bulbous configuration, it may be of other shapes and configurations. In addition, whilst the upper and lower parts 32 and 33 of the casting 30 weight 31 are shown to be joined through cooperable pairs of projections and recesses, they may be joined by any number of projections and corresponding number of recesses or by any other permnnanent or releasable connection arrangement.

WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 11 The terms "comprising" or "comprises" as used throughout the specification and claims are taken to specify the presence of the stated features, integers and components referred to but not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other feature/s, integer/s, component/s or group thereof. 5 Whilst the above has been given by way of illustrative embodiment of the invention, all such variations and modifications thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fall within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein defined in the appended claims. 10 15 20 25 30

Claims (27)

1. A fishing rig having termnninal tackle including at least one hook and a casting weight, said casting weight having a specific gravity substantially the same as or slightly 5 greater than that of the water into which said terminal tackle is cast in use.

2. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 1 wherein the effective weight of the casting weight in water is in the range of 0 to 1 gram. 10

3. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said casting weight is connected to said fishing line at a position spaced from said at least one hook and is free for movement along at least portion of said fishing line.

4. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 3 wherein a stop is secured to said fishing line at 15 a fixed position spaced from said at least one hook and wherein said casting weight is connected to said fishing line on the side of the weight opposite said at least one hook whereby said casting weight is free for movement along the line towards and away from said stop. 20

5. A fishing rig as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said casting weight includes a body capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the line.

6. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 5 wherein said casting weight includes an eye, said fishing line passing freely through said eye and wherein said body of said casting 25 weight is capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the eye.

7. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 6 wherein said casting weight when submerged in water extends to one side of said fishing line whereby to allow the fishing line to pass freely through said eye. 30

8. A fishing rig as claimed in 7 wherein said body of said casting weight adopts a substantially horizontal attitude when submerged in water. WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 13

9. A fishing rig including fishing line having terminal fishing tackle, said terminal fishing tackle including one or more hooks fixed to said fishing line, a float fixed to said fishing line at a position spaced from said one or more hooks and a casting weight connected to a portion of said fishing line between said one or more hooks and said float, 5 said casting weight being free for movement along said portion of said fishing line, said casting weight having a specific gravity substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of the water into which said fishing tackle is to be cast.

10. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 9 wherein said portion of the line to which said 10 casting weight is connected comprises a portion between said float and a stop fixed to the line at a position spaced from the hook or hooks.

11. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein said casting weight includes a body and an eye through which said fishing line passes, said body of said 15 casting weight being capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to said eye and line.

12. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 11 wherein said casting weight body comprises a bulbous oval- or tear-shaped body and wherein said eye is positioned at one end of said 20 body.

13. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said body of said casting weight comprises a material which has a density substantially the same as the density of water in which said rig using the casting weight is used. 25

14. A fishing rig as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12 wherein said casting weight body incorporates one or more weights.

15. A fishing rig as claimed in claims 11 or claim 12 wherein said the body of the 30 casting weight has a different density in different regions so that it adopts the substantially horizontal attitude in water.

16. A casting weight for use with terminal fishing tackle, said casting weight having a WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 14 main body and a specific gravity substantially the same as or slightly greater than that of the water into which said fishing tackle is to be cast.

17. A casting weight as claimed in claim 16 having a weight in water of between 0 5 and 1 gram.

18. A casting weight as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17 and including an eye through which a fishing line can freely pass. 10

19. A casting weight as claimed in claim 18 wherein said casting weight body includes an upper body part and a lower body part or base, said lower part or base having a specific gravity greater than that of the upper part.

20. A casting weight as claimed in claim 19 wherein said upper part has a specific 15 gravity less than the water in which it is used such that it has positive buoyancy.

21. A casting weight as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20 and including locating means for locating said upper part relative to said lower part. 20

22. A casting weight as claimed in claim 21 wherein said locating means comprise projections on one said part and corresponding recesses in the other said part adapted to receive said projections.

23. A casting weight as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein said upper part 25 and lower part are detachably engaged or permanently joined.

24. A casting weight as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein said casting weight body has said eye at one end, said body being capable of free swiveling or pivoting movement relative to the eye. 30

25. A casting weight as claimed in claim 24 wherein said eye is connected to said casting weight body through a swivel. WO 2007/131288 PCT/AU2007/000657 15

26. A casting weight as claimed in claim 25 wherein said swivel is captured between said upper and lower parts, the swivel defining the eye for receipt of the fishing line.

27. A casting weight as claimed in claim 26 wherein said swivel is captured in 5 opposing recesses in said upper and lower parts.