GB2193422A

GB2193422A - Fishing aids

Info

Publication number: GB2193422A
Application number: GB08706308A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Kenneth Grimmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-07-29
Filing date: 1987-03-17
Publication date: 1988-02-10
Also published as: GB8706308D0; GB8618501D0

Abstract

A fishing aid which is selectively attachable and detachable to and from an operational position on a fishing line (18) carrying a hook, without any necessity for breaking or untying the line from the hook. The fishing aid, which can form any of a number of devices including a bait clip, bait stop or bait restrainer or line stop, comprises an elongate shank portion (12) around which the fishing line (18) can be wound with a plurality of turns, and laterally projecting or offset portions (14, 16) at or adjacent the two ends of the shank (12) for resisting unwinding of the line (18) when wound around the shank. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Fishing aids The present invention relates to fishing (angling) aids and is concerned in particular with a device which can be easily attached to and detached from a fishing line without breaking or untying any part of the line. The device itself can be adapted to achieve one or more of a plurality of functions, including (a) acting as a bait clip which provides an anchor point for a baited hook during casting, (b) preventing bait from becoming detached from the free end of the hook both during casting and during fishing, (c) preventing bait from moving off the hook and onto the line, again during casting and during fishing, and (d) acting as a line stop which provides one or more points beyond which a sliding accessory unit cannot pass or is contained.

A number of bait clips are already known which provide a means of keeping baited traces close to the main line, usually just behind the weight, in order to encourage streamlining during the casting phase of angling and also to prevent the bait being thrown from its hook due to the whip-lash effect. These devices however,-all involve threading the line through one or more eyes or tubular components and are therefore time-consuming to fit and fitting must take place before a fishing session commences. Once attached, they cannot easily be removed without destroying the device or cutting the line to which they are attached.To fit a known bait clip during a fishing session, fishing must be temporarily halted and the terminal tackle partially dismantled, or else one or more sets of terminal tackle must be previously made up with the required bait clips included so that they can be used and removed as and when required.

Likewise, a number of bait stops are already known which provide a means of preventing bait from moving/sliding/ along the hook to which it is associated and onto the snood line. These devices again involve threading the line through one or more eyes or tubular components so that they are time-consuming to fit and fitting must take place before the hook is attached to the line. They are not easily adjustable and they cannot be removed without destroying the device or cutting the line to which they are fixed. To fit a known bait stop during a fishing session, fishing must be temporarily halted and the terminal tackle partially dismantled or else one or more sets of terminal tackle must be previously made up with the required bait stop included so that they can be used when required.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a device which is constructed such that it can be easily fitted to and detached from a fishing line without any necessity for breaking or undiong the line from the hook, such device being capable of providing at least one of the functions (a),(b), (c) and )d) mentioned above depending upon its detailed configuration.

In accordance with the present invention in its broadest aspect, there is provided a fishing aid which is selectively attachable and detachable to and from an operational position on a fishing line carrying a hook, without any necessity for breaking or untying the line from the hook, the fishing aid including an elongate shank portion around which the fishing line can be wound with a plurality of turns, the shank portion having at least two longitudinally spaced aprt, laterally projecting or laterally offset portions for resisting unwinding of the line when wound around said shank portion.

The invention also provides a fishing rig comprising a fishing line or line leader carrying an elongate fishing aid in the form of either a bait clip, a bait retainer or a bait stop (as hereinbefore defined), each of which comprises an elongate shank portion having at least two longitudinally spaced apart, laterally extending tang portions, said fishing aid being attached to the line or line leader only by virtue of a number of turns of the line or line leader being wound around the elongate shank of the fishing aid between said two tang portions.

In one embodiment, the fishing aid is in the form of a bait clip device, wherein at least one of said laterally projecting portions provides an anchor point for engagement by a hook attached by a trace to said fishing line.

In a second embodiment, the fishing aid is in the form of a bait stop device, wherein at least one of said laterally projecting portions is dimensioned and configured for preventing bait from passing onto the fishing line when the bait stop device is fitted to the line immediately above a baited hook.

In a third embodiment, the fishing aid is in the form of a bait restraining device, for fitting to a fishing line immediately above a baited main hook, wherein one of said laterally projecting portions carries one or more subsidiary hooks for engaging the bait on the main hook in order to prevent that bait from coming off the main hook, particulary during casting.

In a further embodiment, the fishing aid is in the form of a line stop device wherein at least one of said laterally projecting portions is dimensioned and configured for preventing any attached accessory from passing beyond it.

The line stop device is fitted anywhere along the main line or snood line.

The invention is described further hereinafter, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figs. 1 (a) to (q) show various forms of bait clips in accordance with the present invention; Figs.2 and 3 illustrate bait clips in accordance with the invention in use on a fishing line; Figs.4(a) to (h) show various bait stops in accordance with the presesnt invention; Figs.5 (a) (b) and (c) illustrate bait stops in accordance with the invention in use on a fishing line; Figs.6 (a) and (b) show further bait stops in accordance with the invention; Figs.7 (a) and (b) show two forms of bait restrainer in accordance with the present invention; Fig.8 shows the bait restrainer of Fig.7 (a) in use; Fig.9 illustrates a modified end portion of a bait stop; and Fig.10 shows the use of two spaced apart devices of the type shown in Fig.6 (b) to provide detachable line stops.

The bait clip 10 of Fig.1 (a) comprises a length of a substantially rigid material such as metal wire or a plastics material having an elongate shank portion 12, a first lateral protuberence 14 at one end of the shank portion and a second lateral protruberence 16 at the other end of the shank portion. Fig. 1 (m) illustrates how this bait clip 10 is attached to a fishing line 18. As shown, the line 18 is simply wound around the shank 12 for a few turns, it having been found that the friction thereby established between the line and clip is quite sufficient to locate the clip securely on the line during casting and fishing. When it is wished to remove the clip the line is simply unwound from the shank again and the clip is released.

The first protruberence 14 is dimensioned and configured so as to be suitable to provide an anchor point for the engagement of a baited hook during casting (see Figs.2 and 3 described below). The second protruberence 16 can be much smaller than the protuberence 14 and serves to prevent the line from unwinding over the adjacent end of the shank portion 12.

The clip of Fig. 1 (b) is essentially similar to that of Fig. 1 (a).

The clip of Fig. (c) is the same as the clip of Fig.1 (a) but with the addition of a third lateral protuberence 20 at a mid-length region of the shank portion 12. As shown in Fig.1 (o), this protuberence 20 enables the direction of winding of the line about the shank 12 to be different on the two sides of this protuberence 20 whereby to increase the effective friction between the line and the clip and thereby provide an even more secure fixture.

It should be noted that it is not essential to change the direction of winding to achieve increased friction with this embodiment.

In the clip of Fig.1 (d), the second lateral protuberence 16 is achieved by bending the shank portion 12 so that the shank portion is of generally arcuate configuration. Fig. 1 (n) shows the clip of Fig 1 .(d) in use on the fishing line 18.

The clip of Fig. (e) has two additional intermediate protruberances 20a, 20b and can be used in a manner similar to the clip of Fig.1 (c).

In the bait clips of Figs. (f) and (h) the protruberance 14 for receiving the hook is moved to a central region of the shank 12, two minor protruberances 16a, 16b being provided at the two opposite ends of the shank to prevent unwinding of the line.

The clip of Fig. (g) is similar to that of Fig. 1 (f) but with the end protruberances formed by making the shank of generally arcuate configuration.

Figs. (i) and (j) show two views of a clip having a shank of generally arcuate configuration and formed with an intermediate lateral protruberance 14 for receiving the hook.

Fig. (k) shows a plastics bait clip having a basically straight shank portion 12 on each end of which there is formed an identical protruberance 14 capable of forming an anchor point for a hook. In this case, the clip is formed symmetrically so that it does not matter which way round it is fitted to the line. It is therefore particularly convenient for use in dark conditions. It will be noted that there is formed a kinked portion 22 at each end of the shank 12, these kinked portions extending in directions opposite to the extension of the proturberances 14.Furthermore, the inner edges of the protruberances 14 include facing projections 24 which serve to provide additional location for the line 18 and also to ensure a minimum distance between the snood and the main line which serves to reduce tangles caused by the snood and main line twisting together during the cast.

The clip of Fig.1 (1) is similar to that of Fig. (k) but is made of wire. It will be noted that, in use of this clip, the hook also adopts a position which is spaced from the line 18 by a minimum distance x by virtue of the kinked shape of the clip. Similarly, this serves to minimise tangling between the hook and its trace or snood line and the main line 18.

Figs. 1 (p) and 1 (q) show the use of two further forms of bait clip similar in principle to those described above.

Figs.2 and 3 show in more detail how the bait clips are used on a fishing line 18. In Fig.2, a single bait clip 10 (corresponding to that shown in Fig. 1 (p)) is attached to the line 18 immediately above a lead weight 24. The position of the clip 10 is chosen such that when a hook 26, connected to the main line 18 by a trace line 28, is looped around the main protruberance 14, the trace line 28 lies generally parallel to the main line, as shown.

Fig.3 shows a case where there are two hooks on respective trace lines and therefore two bait clips 10. Purely for the sake of illustration, these bait clips correspond to the clips shown in Figs.1 (d) and 1 (q). Any other forms could, of course be used.

In all cases, if an adjustment in the position of the bait clip needs to be made after it has been fitted to the line 18, it is simply necessary to unwrap a few turns from the clip shank to allow the clip to be slid in the required direction. The line is then re-wrapped.

During a cast, with the hook or hooks applied to the bait clip or clips, the traces remain tethered to the bait clip(s) and therefore close to the main line, usually just behind the weight although not always. In this way, streamlining is encouraged and the bait tends not to disintegrate through the whip-lash effect of the cast. The trace(s) is also kept tangle-free. At the conclusion of the cast, when the weight hits the water, the trace(s) becomes detached from the bait clip(s) thereby allowing fishing to commence, through the continued effects of the line becoming momentarily slack, the shock effect of hitting the water and the friction action of the water.

Turning now to Fig.4, there are shown a number of bait stop devices 30 which are adapted to be fixed to the main line or to individual trace lines, in the same manner as the bait clips described above, for preventing bait on the hook from coming off the hook and onto the associated line or trace.

The bait stops 30 each have an elongate shank portion 32 around which the line or trace can be wound. One end of the shank portion 32 carries a first lateral protruberance 34 which is configured so as to provide an abutment or stop immediately adjacent a hook for preventing the bait on that hook from leaving the hook and passing onto the line. The other end of the shank portion carries a further lateral protruberance 36 for resisting unwinding of the line when around the shank.

In the embodiment of Fig.4 (a), the clip is formed symmetrically and the protruberances 34, 36 are identical. As shown in Figs.4 (c) to (h), the bait stops can have a variety of detailed configurations in a similar manner to the bait clips described hereinbefore.

Figs.5 (a) to (c) show bait stops 30 in their operational positions acting to prevent bait 38 from passing off the hook 40 onto trace lines 42.

The basic function of the bait stops is therefore to provide a detachable means of preventing bait applied to a hook from moving past a given point. In this way, fishing may take place in the knowledge that the bait being used has not slipped along the line leaving the hook bare.

Turning now to Figs.7 (a) and 7 (b), there are shown two embodiments of a bait restraining device 40 which are adapted to be fixed to the main line or to individual traces, in the same manner as the bait clips and bait stops described above, for preventing bait from coming off the hooked end of a hook during casting and fishing i.e. they hold the bait on the hook. These devices are essentially the same as the bait stops but with the addition of one or more integral hooks 42 which extend in use, towards the main baitcarrying hook 44 (see Fig.8) and which engage into the bait to resist movement of the bait off the hook.

Figs.10 (a) and 10 (b) show the use of two devices identical to the bait stops of Fig.4 (a), which act as detachable line stops 44. By attaching two such devices to the line, spaced apart by a distance D, a trace line 46 fitted to the main line 48 by means of an eye 50 is provided with a permitted degree of travel along the line 48. In the case of Fig.10 (b) an additional wire guide 52 is coupled to each line stop 44 to assist in resisting tangling.

Fig.9 shows a possible further configuration for one of the lateral protruberances used in bait clip embodiments. This could be formed as a moulded plastics component, one of which is attached to each end of a length of wire forming the shank portion.

In an additional refinement, the lateral protruberance(s) of the bait clip which receive the hook could be coupled to the shank portion by a constricted portion which is relatively weak and which would break if the bait clip should become snagged underwater.

Claims

1. A fishing aid which is selectively attachable and detachable to and from an operational position on a fishing line carrying a hook, without any necessity for breaking or untying the line from the hook, the fishing- aid including an elongate shank portion around which the fishing line can be wound with a plurality of turns, the shank portion having at least two longitudinally spaced apart, laterally projecting or laterally offset portions for resisting unwinding of the line when wound around said shank portion.

2. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 1, in the form of a bait clip device, wherein at least one of said laterally projecting portions provides an anchor point for engagement by a hook attached by a trace to said fishing line.

3. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said laterally projecting portions provides a respective anchor point, whereby the orientation in which the device is fitted on the fishing line is. immaterial.

4. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the shank portion is kinked in a direc tion opposite to the direction of extension of the or each laterally projecting portion.

5. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 4, wherein the or each laterally projecting portion forming an anchor point for a hook carries a projection extending generally parallel to said shank portion to assist in retaining the wound fishing line on said shank portion.

6. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 1, in the form of a bait stop device, wherein at least one of said laterally projecting portions is di mensioned and configured for preventing bait from passing onto the fishing line when the bait stop device is fitted to the line above a baited hook.

7. A fishing aid as claimed in claim 1, in the form of a bait restraining device, for fitting to a fishing line above a baited main hook, wherein one of said laterally projecting portions carries one or more subsidiary hooks for engaging the bait on the main hook in order to prevent that bait from coming off the main hook, particulary during casting.

8. A fishing aid as claimed in any of claims 1 to 7, having a respective one of said laterally projecting or laterally offset portions at or adjacent each of its two longitudinal ends.

9. A fishing rig comprising a fishing line or line leader carrying an elongate fishing aid in the form of either a bait clip, a bait retainer, a bait stop, or a line stop (as hereinbefore defined), each of which comprises an elongate shank portion having at least two longitudinally spaced apart, laterally extending tang portions, said fishing aid being attached to the line or line leader only by virtue of a number of turns of the line or line leader being wound around the elongate shank of the fishing aid between said two tang portions.

10. A fishing aid in the form of a bait clip, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figs.

1(a) to 1(q) of the accompanying drawings.

11. A fishing aid in the form of a bait stop, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figs.

4(a) to 4(h), Figs.5(a) to 5(c), Fig.6(a) or 6(b) of the accompanying drawings.

12. A fishing aid in the form of a bait restrainer, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 7(a) or 7(b) or Fig.8 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A fishing aid in the form of a line stop, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in any of Figures 4(a) to 4(h), Figs. 6(a) to 6(b), or Figs.10(a) and 10(b) of the accompanying drawings.