GB2263050A

GB2263050A - Bait casting link.

Info

Publication number: GB2263050A
Application number: GB9200166A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Gustafson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-01-06
Filing date: 1992-01-06
Publication date: 1993-07-14
Also published as: GB9200166D0

Abstract

An elongate casting link for use in fishing comprises a one piece moulding (20), a hole (21) for attachment to a fishing line (16), and a v-shaped notch (23). In use, a loop (14) of line is securely attached to a piece of bait and is also engaged on the v-shaped notch. During casting, the loop takes the weight of the bait so that a hook may be only lightly attached to the bait. On impact, the loop (14) readily detaches from the v-shaped notch (23) of the casting link. <IMAGE>

Description

BAIT CASTING LINK The present invention relates to bait casting links, to methods of attaching a fishing line to bait, to methods of casting, and to methods of fishing.

When fishing for certain species, such as pike, it is conventional to employ small dead fish or pieces thereof as bait. It is important to attach such dead bait to the hook as loosely as possible in order that the fisherman may "strike" effectively as soon as the fish begins to nibble the bait. If the hook is embedded deeply in the bait, the striking action will fail to free the hook from the bait and accordingly will fail to hook the fish.

On the other hand, in order to cast the dead bait effectively it is obviously necessary that the bait should be affixed to the hook relatively firmly.

These two requirements are in conflict.

Attempts have already been made to solve this problem, such as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 3 shows a known dead bait casting link 1 comprising a base member 2 consisting of a plate 4, an upstanding wall 3 and a peg 9 extending from the wall 3. The upper surface of the plate member 5 provides a shoulder 5 on each side of the wall member 3. A steel pin 6 extends from the base member 2 and is shaped to form a ring 7 at one end. A sleeve 8 of elastomeric material surrounds the pin 6, the peg 9 and the wall member 3 and abuts against the shoulder 5 provided by the base plate 4 at each side of the wall 3.

The wall 3, together with the peg 9, constitute a hook.

Fig. 4 illustrates how the known casting link is employed in practice. A main piece of fishing line 10 extending from the rod is attached to the ring 7 of the casting link 1. A second shorter piece of line extends from the ring 7 and carries a fishing hook 11 which is lightly attached to the bait 12. A third piece of line forms a loop 14 and is tied to the bait at 15. The loop 14 is placed around the hook constituted by the peg 9 and wall member 3 of the casting link 1, but without removing the elastomeric sleeve 8. Thus, the sleeve 8 has to distort inwardly to accommodate the loop 14.

When the bait is cast, the load on the bait is taken by the loop 14 and this prevents the bait from tearing loose from the hook 11. When the bait impacts the water the resilience of the elastomeric sleeve 8 causes the loop 14 to be ejected from the link member 1. Fishing can then be continued in the normal way.

It will be clear that a major disadvantage with the known casting link is the complexity of its manufacture. Even although the peg 9, wall member 3 and base plate 4 can be formed integrally in one piece by injection moulding, the construction still requires a separate steel pin 6, with a formed ring 7 at one end, in addition to the elastomeric sleeve 8.

An object of the invention is to provide a dead bait casting link which is relatively simple but nevertheless effective.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an elongate casting link comprising means for attachment to a fishing line at one end and a notch spaced from the attachment means for receiving a loop of fishing line, the notch having a V-shaped configuration.

Preferably, one flank of the notch is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line of the link.

Preferably, the apex of the notch is substantially on the longitudinal centre line of the link.

Expediently, the link is made from synthetic plastics material and most preferably is constituted by a one piece moulding.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of attaching bait to a line in which a casting link according to said one aspect is attached to the line at a point a predetermined distance from the hook, a loop of line is attached to the bait, the loop being shorter than said predetermined distance, the hook is engaged with the bait, and the loop is engaged with said notch.

According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of casting in which a casting link according to said one aspect of the invention is attached to a line at a predetermined distance from the hook, a loop of fishing line shorter than said predetermined distance is attached to the bait, the hook is engaged with the bait, and the loop is engaged with the notch of the casting link, the bait then being cast and the loop disengaging from the notch upon impact.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 shows one embodiment of a casting link according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows the casting link of Fig. 1 attached to a fishing line and a item of bait; Fig. 3 shows a known casting link; and Fig. 4 shows use of the known casting link.

Referring now to Fig. 1, a casting link 20 is formed in one piece of synthetic plastics material.

At one end an aperture 21 partially defined by a semicircular zone 22 serves for attachment of a fishing line. Spaced from the aperture 21 is a lateral notch 23 which is substantially V-shaped.

The apex 24 of the notch lies substantially on the longitudinal centre line 25 of the link 20.

Fig. 2 shows how the link is employed in practice. The method has similarities to that employed with the known casting link, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Accordingly, where appropriate corresponding reference numerals are employed. It will be seen that the loop is engaged with the lateral notch 23 so that the bait is suspended with the longitudinal centre line of the link 20 substantially colinear with the fishing line 10. One flank 26 of the groove 23 lies substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line 25.

This helps to ensure that the loop 14 will readily detach from the link 20 upon impact. By ensuring that the apex 24 of the notch 23 lies substantially on the centre line, the required colinearity can be maintained and the bait may be cast successfully with all the loading taken by the loop 14 securely attached to the bait 12 at 15 and the link 20.

Substantially no loading is taken by the slack longer piece of line 16 carrying the hook 11.

Various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Thus, other methods of attaching the line to the link may be employed instead of the aperture 21. For example, the link may have two opposed lateral grooves or recesses around which a piece of line may be tied. The overall shape of the link 20 is fairly arbitrary and need not be precisely as illustrated. Although it is desirable for the V-shaped notch to have a relatively sharp apex, this also is not absolutely essential and a rounded apex may also be satisfactory. Moreover, although the link is preferably manufactured from synthetic plastics material, other materials such as aluminium or brass would be satisfactory substitutes.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. An elongate casting link for use in fishing comprising means for attachment to a fishing line at one end and a notch spaced from the attachment means for receiving a loop of fishing line, the notch having a V-shaped configuration.

2. A link according to claim 1 wherein one flank of the notch is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal centre line of the link.

3. A link according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the apex of the notch is substantially on the longitudinal centre line of the link.

4. A link according to any preceding claim when consisting of synthetic plastics material.

5. A link according to claim 4 which is a one-piece moulding.

6. A casting link substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

7. A method of attaching bait to a line in which a casting link according to any preceding claim is attached to the line at a point a predetermined distance from the hook, a loop of line is attached to the bait, the loop being shorter than said predetermined distance, the hook is engaged with the bait, and the loop is engaged with said notch.

8. A method of casting in which a casting according to said one aspect of the invention is attached to a line at a predetermined distance from the hook, a loop of fishing line shorter than said predetermined distance is attached to the bait, the hook is engaged with the bait, and the loop is engaged with the notch of the casting link, the bait then being cast and the loop disengaging from the notch upon impact.

9. A method of attaching bait to a line substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A method of casting substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 2 of the accompanying drawings.