GB2370748A

GB2370748A - Method for increasing the effectiveness of fishing bait

Info

Publication number: GB2370748A
Application number: GB0100134A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Allister Anstey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-01-04
Filing date: 2001-01-04
Publication date: 2002-07-10
Also published as: GB0100134D0

Abstract

A fishing bait improvement which is a source of sound signals in water, such signals being of a form which constitute a lure for fish. The source of the sound signals may either be an electronic sound generator (18 of fig 2b) which forms part of a sinker weight (17 of fig 2b) and is configured to provide appropriate signals; or the sound signals may be generated by bubbles formed in a reaction with water and a reagent (21 of fig 3a) added to the bait (22 of fig 3a).

Description

METHOD AND MEANS FOR INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FISHING BAIT This invention is concerned with fishing, and with a technique for increasing the effectiveness of bait.

In several forms of fishing, it is common practice to deposit on the water bottom a small pile of bait, within which the hook is concealed. In the present context the bait is in the form of pellets, widely available from fishing shops. The pile of bait remains on the bottom, where the pellets slowly disintegrate. If the water is moving, the scent of the bait may be carried with the current, and thus form a positive attraction to fish downstream. If the water is static, the scent diffuses slowly and weakly through the water, and passing fish may be attracted. However, this attraction by scent is slow, of limited spread, and only poorly directional.

Fisherfolk seek a technique for advertising the presence of bait more effectively, and at a distance.

Accordingly it is an object of this invention to communicate to fish the presence and location of bait by generating sound signals in the water. It is a further object to generate such sound signals at the bait pellets, or at the bait container. It is a further object to generate such sound signals in a form appropriate to the target species.

These objects are achieved by deploying a sound source with the bait. The sound source may take the form of an electronic or other sound generator configured to radiate a signal of appropriate waveform and amplitude. Alternatively, or in combination, the sound source may take the form of an oscillating bubble rising from an effervescent reaction, or an imploding bubble formed by an exothermic reaction, or the venting action as a rising bubble breaks the surface.

Figure 1 shows an arrangement of hook, line, sinker and bait much used in fishing for carp, and a rising bubble as described in the following specification; Figure 2a is a schematic diagram of an electronic sound generator, and Figure 2b shows the unit emplaced in a lead sinker; Figure 3a shows particles of chemical reagent admixed to the pellet material, and Figure 3b shows the particles included within the water-soluble plastic of a bait container.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows in vertical section a body of water between the surface 1 and the bottom 2. It also shows a bait pile 3 containing the hook 4 at the end of line 5. The bait pile is typically emplaced by casting the bait in a container formed of water-soluble plastic ; when this sinks to the bottom and dissolves, the bait is left in a pile containing the hook.

The invention consists in incorporating into the bait package a source of water-borne sound capable of attracting the curiosity of fish, and of a nature appropriate to the hearing organ in their lateral lines.

One technique for doing this is to incorporate a small acoustic generator with the bait package. Such an acoustic generator, as shown in Figure 2, may be made of an oscillator 11, a signal shaper 12, a pulse timer 13, a transducer 14 and a battery 15, according to principles well known in the art. All these components may be encapsulated into one unit attached to the line, or contained within the lead sinker 17 of Figure 2b as at 18. The battery may be of a type that becomes energized on immersion in water (to which end the sinker itself may be formed of insulated dissimilar metals), or a switch may be actuated externally by magnetic or other means. The oscillating frequency evident at 16 in Figure 2a may be chosen to be appropriate to the hearing organ of the target species, and the pulse amplitude and repetition rate to excite curiosity without scaring off the fish. More specifically, the sound pulse may be formed to emulate the movement sound of prey of the target species.

An alternative source of water-borne sound is that produced during a chemical or other reaction between the water and a single reagent, or between two reagents effectively brought into contact with each other, or brought into contact with the water, or catalysed by the water. Representative of such a reaction would be the well-known effervescence of sodium carbonate. As shown in Figure 3, such reagent or reagents 21 may be incorporated into the bait pellets 22, or into the water soluble bait container 23, or into separate"sustained-release"capsules (not shown) within the container. The reagent selected may vary with the chemical content or pH value of the water.

In effect, a suitable reaction blows a bubble of air or gas, which then rises to the surface (as at 6 in Figure 1), and vents as at 7. The venting sound may be sufficient to attract the curiosity of the target species. However, additional possibilities exist if the reaction is such that the bubble forms rapidly. In this case, as is well known, the bubble overshoots its equilibrium size, and oscillates as it rises; the resulting acoustic signal in the water is a damped"ping"in a fairly narrow frequency band.

The peak of this band depends on the size of the bubble, and so is under gross control by selection of the type and quantity of the reagent (s). These factors, in combination with the depth of the water, may be used to tailor the signal to the hearing organs of the target species.

A further alternative source of water-borne sound is that produced by by a rapid and highly exothermic reaction facilitated by the water (with or without an imposed delay). In effect, this blows a small bubble of steam, which then condenses and implodes. The resulting acoustic signal is a short-lived pulse without an oscillating tail, and this may be appropriate where there is a variety of target species.

According to the invention, then, the simple addition of one or more reagents to the bait or to the water-soluble bait-container can generate a sparse or a dense succession of acoustic lure signals in the water, such signals being variable between the"click"of an implosion, the"ping"of an oscillating bubble, or the"plop"of a venting bubble. Further, the said"plop"generates a spreading circle of waves on the water surface; this also can constitute a lure to a target species, or to the prey of a target species.

It should be understood that the invention is of most benefit when it is used in moderation. Acoustic signals should be initiated only occasionally, and generally with subtle amplitudes. Large streams of energetic bubbles are known to upset the navigation system of fish, so that the fish are led to avoid them.

Claims

Claims 1. In the practice of fishing using bait, the improvement that consists in adding to the bait or its deployment system a source of sound signals in the water, such signals being of a form that constitutes a lure for the fish.
2. The improvement according to claim 1, in which the source of sound signals is an electronic or other sound generator configured to provide a signal of appropriate waveform and amplitude.
3. The improvement according to claim 1, in which the source of sound signals is an electronic or other sound generator configured to provide a signal of appropriate waveform and amplitude, and in which the sound generator is attached to or forms part of a sinker weight.
4. The improvement according to claim 1, in which a reaction involves the water and one or more reagents added to the bait or its deployment system, or involves a plurality of such reagents; in which such reaction serves to generate bubbles whose radii vary as a function of time; and in which said bubbles constitute the sound source.
5. The inprovement according to claim 1, in which an exothermic reaction involves the water and one or more reagents added to the bait or its deployment system, or involves a plurality of such reagents; in which such reaction serves to generate bubbles of steam that subsequently implode ; and in which said implosions constitute the sound source.
6. The improvement according to claim 1, in which a reaction involves the water and one or more reagents added to the bait or its deployment system, or involves a plurality of such reagents; in which such reaction generates bubbles that subsequently vent to the surface; and in which such venting provides the source of sound.