GB2103061A

GB2103061A - Fishing float

Info

Publication number: GB2103061A
Application number: GB08217596A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest William Parlour
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-08-06
Filing date: 1982-06-17
Publication date: 1983-02-16

Abstract

In order that ground bait can be deposited exactly where required in relation to a baited hook, a float is provided with a container (16) for a quantity of ground bait, the arrangement being such that before making a cast the angler can fill the container with ground bait and the bait will be released as soon as the float takes up its normal position floating upright in the water. Alternative arrangements are described in which the float is in two parts, one part being a buoyancy member and the other part being a container for ground bait, the bait being released therefrom when the float is in an upright position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing float The invention relates to fishing floats for use by anglers when fishing rivers or ponds.

When fishing either rivers or ponds an angler will generally cast so-called ground bait, usually live maggots, into the water in the general vicinity of his baited hook so that the fish will be attracted to that general location. If this is more than just a few feet away from where he is standing the casting of ground bait is something of a problem.

If his aim is poor the ground bait may fall some distance away from his baited hook which is not only a waste of ground bait but self defeating in that the fish will be attracted to a general location away from his baited hook. Some anglers resort to the use of a catapult to project a loose package of ground bait towards the required location but this also requires a certain degree of skill before it can be used to deposit the ground bait exactly where required. The problem is made worse when fishing a fast flowing river because in this case the anglers baited hook is carried downstream by the current and ground bait will be of no use unless it can be deposited in exactly the correct place so that it is carried downstream in the form of a cloud of bait with the baited hook more or less within the cloud.

The invention has for its object to provide a means whereby ground bait can very easily be deposited exactly where required.

According to theinvention, there is provided a fishing float formed with a container for a quantity of ground bait, the container having at least one aperture through which the ground bait can escape when the float assumes an upright position, the arrangement being such that before making a cast the angler can fill the container with ground bait whereby the bait is released as soon as the float assumes its upright position in the water. The container may be in the form of an inverted cup element located beneath a buoyancy element and from which the entire mass of ground bait is released as soon as the float assumes its upright position in the water. On the other hand the container may be an openable container and be provided with one or more relatively small apertures at its lower end through which live bait can escape at a controlled rate.In this case, the float will preferably be formed in two separable parts, that is to say a lower part constituted by the container an upper end of which is open for the filling of the container with bait, and an upper part constituted by a closure member for the container and an integral upstanding indicator member. The closure member for the container may be made of cork or other lightweight material to act as a buoyancy element.

In a further construction, the container for a quantity of ground bait may be in the form of a detachable cup element into which the bait can be scooped through an open end, said cup element having one or more apertures in its side wall adjacent said open end and a relatively smaller central hole extending through its other end, the arrangement being such that having been filled with ground bait the container can be attached to the float in inverted condition, the indicator rod of the float being passed through the mass of bait in the container and through the central hole in said other end of the container, the previously open end of the container resting on the buoyancy element of the float so that the live bait can escape at a controlled rate through the one or more aperture in the side wall of the container.

In any of the constructions referred to, a line guide eye may be connected directly to the underside of the container. On the other hand, a line guide may be connected to the lower end of a rod element depending from the container.

In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing float embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a similar view of a different construction of float, Fig. 3 is an exploded view thereof, and Figs. 4 and 5 are views similar to Figs. 2 and 3 respectively which illustrate a further construction.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the fishing float there illustrated is in the form of an upstanding indicator rod 10 extending through a buoyancy element 1 2 and having at its lower end a line guide eye 14 through which the anglers line is to extend to a baited hook.

The float is provided beneath the buoyancy element 12 with a container 16 for a quantity of ground bait, the container taking the form of an inverted cup element of frusto conical shape through which the indicator rod extends as shown.

The underside of the container is open.

The arrangement is such that before making a cast the angler can fill the container with ground bait. It will be understood that when the cast is made the ground bait will be retained within the container by centrifugal force during the casting.

However, as soon as the float takes up its normal position, that is to say floating upright in the water, the entire mass of ground bait will be released. If the angler is fishing in still water the ground bait will sink to the bottom in the general vicinity of the baited hook. On the other hand, if the angler is fishing a fast flowing river the ground bait will fall from the container and drift downstream in the form of a cloud of bait. The baited hook will drift downstream at the same rate as the cloud of ground bait and more or less within the cloud. The fishing float requires no greater skill to use than a conventional float and it virtually ensures the ground bait being deposited in exactly the correct position in relation to the baited hook.

Referring now to Figs. 2 and 3, in a different construction the float there illustrated is formed in two separable parts, that is to say a lower part constituted by an open topped container 1 8 for a quantity of ground bait (the line guide eye 14 being provided at the lower end of a depending rod element 20 formed integrally with the container), and an upper part constituted by a closure member 22 for the container, said closure member being formed with an upstanding member forming the indicator rod 10 of the float.

The closure member 22 is formed of cork to act as the buoyancy element of the float.

It will be seen that in this case the entire height of the container 1 8 is perforated so that in use of the float air is not trapped within the container.

However, at its lower end the container is provided with rather larger perforations, or what may be referred to as relatively small apertures 24, of a size such that live bait can escape therethrough at a controlled rate.

The arrangement is such that, as in the case of the first described embodiment, before making a cast the angler can fill the container through its open top. He can then replace the closure member and make his cast in the normal way. When the float has taken up its normal position, floating upright in the water and acting to indicate a bite by a fish, the live bait within the container can escape at a controlled rate through the apertures 24, falling past or into the vicinity of a baited hook to attract the fish to the required general location.

This last described embodiment of the invention is intended for use when fishing ponds and other relatively still waters. It is equally easy to use and again ensures the ground bait being deposited in exactly or aimost exactly the correct position in relation to the baited hook.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, the fishing float there illustrated is again made in two parts. In this case a first part 26 is itself a conventional float, having an upstanding indicator rod 10 extending through a buoyancy element 12 and having at its lower end a line guide eye through which the anglers line is to extend to a baited hook. A second part takes the form of a detachable cup element 28 constituting a container into which a quantity of ground bait can be scooped through an open end 30.

The cup element 28 has a pair of apertures 32 in its side wall adjacent the open end 30 and a relatively smaller central hole 34 extending through its other end. The arrangement is such that having been filled with ground bait the container can be attached to the float in inverted condition, the indicator rod of the float being passed through the mass of bait in the container and through the central hole in the said other end of the container. In this assembled condition of the float, the previously open end of the container rests on the buoyancy element 12 so that the live bait can only escape through the pair of apertures 32 in the side wall of the container, the apertures 32 having been made of a suitable size so that the bait can escape from the container at a controlled rate.

Various modifications may be made. For example, the container itself could be made in such a way that it constitutes the buoyancy element. Either one of the floats illustrated in Figs.

2 to 5 could be provided with a pivotally mounted or clip-on closure element in its side wall through which it could be filled with bait.

Claims

1. A fishing float formed with a container for a quantity of ground bait, the container having at least one aperture through which the ground bait can escape when the float assumes an upright position, the arrangement being such that before making a cast the angler can fill the container with ground bait whereby the bait is released as soon as the float assumes its upright position in the water.

2. A fishing float according to claim 1, in which the container is in the form of an inverted cup element located beneath a buoyancy element and from which the entire mass of ground bait is released as soon as the float assumes its upright position in the water.

3. A fishing float according to claim 1, in which the container is an openable container and is provided with one or more relatively small apertures at its lower end through which live bait can escape at a controlled rate.

4. A fishing float according to claim 3, in which the float is formed in two separable parts, that is to say a lower part constituted by the container an upper end of which is open for the filling of the container with bait, and an upper part constituted by a closure member for the container and an integral upstanding indicator member.

5. A fishing float according to claim 4, in which the closure member for the container is made of cork or other lightweight material to act as a buoyancy element.

6. A fishing float according to claim 1, in which the container for a quantity of ground bait is in the form of a detachable cup element into which the bait can be scooped through an open end, said cup element having one or more apertures in its side wall adjacent said open end and a relatively smaller central hole extending through its other end, the arrangement being such that having been filled with ground bait the container can be attached to the float in inverted condition, the indicator rod of the float being passed through the mass of bait in the container and through the central hole in said other end of the container, the previously open end of the container resting on the buoyancy element of the float so that the live bait can escape at a controlled rate through the one or more aperture in the side wall of the container.

7. A fishing float according to any one of the preceding claims, in which a line guide eye is connected directly to the underside of the container.

8. A fishing float according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which a line guide eye is connected to the lower end of a rod element depending from the container.

9. A fishing float constructed, arranged and adapted to be used substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by Fig. 1, Figs. 2 and 3 or Figs. 4 anci 5 of the accompanying drawings.