GB2052933A

GB2052933A - Bite indicator

Info

Publication number: GB2052933A
Application number: GB8021938A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Wright E W
Current assignee: Wright E W
Priority date: 1979-07-10
Filing date: 1980-07-04
Publication date: 1981-02-04
Also published as: GB2052933B

Abstract

A bite indicator for use when fishing, which comprises a support (20) on which is pivotally mounted an indicator member (24) incorporating a rest (26) for a fishing line (11) extending from the rod tip into the water. The indicator (24) is urged by a spring (29) into a normal upstanding position, but when a pull on the line occurs, the indicator is lowered against the action of the spring. The support (20) is adapted for mounting to a bank stick which is implanted in the ground close to the raised end of the rod tip. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fish bite indicator This invention relates to a bite indicator for use when fishing, especially ledger fishing.

It is important when ledger fishing to be promptly aware when the bait has been taken, in order that action may be taken to fix the hook, e.g. by striking, before the fish senses the pull of the line and ejects the baited hook.

In order to assist the angler in detecting a bite quickly, bite indicators are often employed.

One common bite indicator is the swing tip indicator, a thin flexible tube which is attached to the tip of the rod with the line passing through it. Another known indicator is the quiver tip, which is also attached to the rod tip. These known indicators are disadvantageous in several ways. One main disadvantage is that, as they bend or flex to give a bite indication, so they also exert an increasing pull on the line, thus making it more likely that the fish will sense the pull on the line and eject the baited hook before the hook can be fixed. Another important disadvantage is that they hinder casting, and yet another is that they are very liable to move for reasons other than taking of the bait, thus being prone to give false indications.

It is an object of the invention to provide a bite indicator which avoids or minimises the disadvantages of the known indicators.

According to the invention, there is provided a bite indicator for use when fishing, comprising a support member attached or attachable to the upper end of an upright which is to be implanted in the ground with its upper end adjacent the elevated tip of a fishing rod, means on the support member defining a generally horizontal pivot axis, an indicator member mounted to turn about the pivot axis, tension means acting on the indicator member normally to maintain such ind'icator member in a predetermined raised position, and a movable line rest associated with the indicator member, said line rest being adapted to receive a fishing line extending into the water from the fishing rod tip, the arrangement being such that, in use, a pull applied to the baited end of the line will act on the line rest to cause the indicator member to be lowered from its normal raised position against the action of the tension means.

Further features of the invention will be apparent from the following description of a practical embodiment, making reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an arrangement of fishing tackle set up for ledger fishing; Figure 2 is an elevational view of a bite indicator as seen looking towards the tip of the fishing rod in a direction transverse to the bank; and Figure 3 is a corresponding elevational view as seen looking along the bank towards the tip of the rod.

In ledger fishing, it is conventional practice to cast the line laterally into the water, resting the rod roughly parallel to the bank. Such an arrangement is shown in Fig. 1, wherein the rod is designated 10 and the line is designated 11. At least the tip 1 2 of the rod carrying the end ring is supported in an elevated position by means of bank sticks 1 3.

The bite indicator of this invention is indicated generally at 1 4.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, the bite indicator comprises a support member in the form of a ferrule 20 secured to the upper end of an upright 21, such as a bank stick. Bank sticks are conventionally provided with standard internally threaded caps, and it is therefore convenient for the ferrule 20 to be provided with an externally threaded spigot which can be screwed into the bank stick cap to secure the indicator in position. Such an arrangement is indicated at 1 5 in Fig. 2. The ferrule 20 supports an axle 23, about which turns an indicator member generally indicated at 24. The member 24 is conveniently made from two lengths of wire, twisted together to form the stem 25, at the upper end of which at least one of the wires is used to form a line rest 26 of wide-angled V-shape, as shown.At the bottom of the stem 25, the wires separate to form a fork 1 6 spanning the ferrule 20, and are loosely coiled at 27 about the ends of the axle 23 to permit the indicator member to pivot thereabout. One wire is continued from one side of the axle to provide an eye 28 enabling a weak spring 29 to be connected between said eye 28 and a clip 30 which is frictionally slidable up and down the upright 21. The spring 29 pulls the indicator member into a raised position predetermined by a stop 31, which is formed by a continuation of the other wire from the other side of the axle 23.

In order to prevent the line 11 from fouling the pivot mechanism when striking a shield 32 is provided, as indicated in the drawings.

The shield is open on the underside, and is open or apertured at or in the roof to provide for passage and movement of the indicator 24. Additionally, a line guard 33 prevents the line passing under the shield 32 to foul the spring 29. The line guard 33 is in the form of a rod-like member extending across the underside of the shield 32 parallel to the pivot axis 23 of the indicator.

In use, the bite indicator, mounted on the upright 21, is supported above the ground adjacent the rod tip 1 2 (see Figs. 1 and 3).

The upright 21 is implanted in the ground with a position and orientation such that the V-shaped line rest lies transverse to the cast line 11, and is able to receive said line in the angle of the V. In practice, the experienced angler will be able to cast the line and then manipulate the tip of the rod to trap the line in the V, before setting down the rod 10 in the rod rests 1 3. The arm on one side of the V-rest is preferably lengthened, as indicated, to facilitate this procedure.

The spring 29 normally maintains the indicator member 24 in the raised position indicated in the drawings, in which the stem 25 is inclined towards the remote end of the fishing line which drops into the water. The tension of the spring 29 is adjusted at least to a minimum value sufficient to ensure that the weight of the line 11 in the V-rest 26 will not lower the indicator member 24, and in practice will often be adjusted to a value higher than this minimum having regard to water and air conditions and the type of fish sought.

When a fish takes the bait, a very small increase in pull on the line 11 is sufficient to lower the indicator member 24 when the spring tension is correctly adjusted. The indicator itself offers a minimum resistance to the pull of the fish, because the lowering of the indicator member 24 is increasingly assisted by the turning moment of its centre of gravity about the pivot axle 23. Fig. 3 shows an acute angle between the plane of the V-rest 26 and the stem 25 of the indicator member: the V-rest is angled in this manner to minimise risk of the line slipping out of the V-rest when the indicator member is lowered.

Unlike the known swing and quiver indicators previously referred to, the bite indicator of this invention is not disadvantageous when casting the line, does not materially increase the risk that the fish will sense the pull of the line and eject the baited hook, and can be precisely tensioned to minimise risk of false indications.

Various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention. In particular, other forms of indicator member incorporating a line rest may be employed, and modified pivot arrangements may be employed to enable' the indicator member to be lowered from its predetermined raised position. In addition, alternative tension means such as a strip of elastic material may be employed to urge the indicator into its predetermined raised position. It is also possible for the described arrangement to be adapted for use as an electronic bite indicator wherein, for example, the movement of the indicator member is associated with the production of an audible alarm. Finally, it will be appreciated that the above-described upright 21 or bank stick does not constitute an essential element of the indicator, since bank sticks adapted to receive attachments are already available, as previously mentioned.

Claims

1. A bite indicator for use when fishing, comprising a support member attached or attachable to the upper end of an upright which is to be implanted in the ground with its upper end adjacent the elevated tip of a fishing rod, means on the support member defining a generally horizontal pivot axis, an indicator member mounted to turn about the pivot axis, tension means acting on the indicator member normally to maintain such indicator member in a predetermined raised position, and a movable line rest associated with the indicator member, said line rest being adapted to receive a fishing line extending into the water from the fishing rod tip, the arrangement being such that, in use, a pull applied to the baited end of the line will act on the line rest to cause the indicator member to be lowered from its normal raised position against the action of the tension means.

2. A bite indicator according to claim 1, in which the line rest is carried by the bite indicator to receive a fishing line extending outwardly of the water in a direction transverse to the pivot axis of the indicator member.

3. A bite indicator according to claim 1 or claim 2, in which the support member has an externally threaded spigot adapted to screw fit into the internally threaded cap of a bank stick.

4. A bite indicator according to claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3, in which the indicator member comprises a twisted wire stem having wire end portions one of which is shaped to form a V-shaped line rest at one end of the stem and the other is shaped to form a coil at the other end of the stem for turning about an axle which defines the pivot axis.

5. A bite indicator according to claim 4, in which the second mentioned wire end portion has an extension beyond the coil forming an abutment for one end of a tensioning spring the other end of which is attached to a clip for attachment to the upright.

6. A bite indicator according to claim 5, in which the clip is adapted for adjustment along the upright to adjust the spring tension.

7. A bite indicator according to claim 4 or claim 5 or claim 6, in which one limb of the V-rest is longer than the other.

8. A bite indicator according to any of claims 4 to 7, in which the plane of the V-rest lies at an acute angle to the stem.

9. A bite indicator according to any of claims 1 to 8, including a shield enclosing the pivot mechanism for the indicator to prevent the line from fouling said mechanism, said shield being open on the underside and apertured in the roof to provide for passage and movement of the pivoted indicator member.

1 0. A bite indicator according to claim 9, including a rod-like line guard extending across the underside of the shield parallel to the pivot axis of the indicator member.

11. A bite indicator substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.