GB2410880A

GB2410880A - Bait holder with helical flange

Info

Publication number: GB2410880A
Application number: GB0502981A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Preston
Original assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Current assignee: Preston Innovations Ltd
Priority date: 2004-02-14
Filing date: 2005-02-14
Publication date: 2005-08-17
Also published as: GB0502981D0; GB0403324D0

Abstract

A bait holding device comprises a main stem 14 surrounded by a helical flange 12 in the fashion of an auger, with an eye 16 in the upper end of the main stem for attachment to a fishing line or hook. In use, it is screwed into a piece of bait, or the bait is moulded around it.

Description

: : 24 1 0880

BAIT HOLDING DEVICE

This invention relates to a bait holding device for fishing and to rigs incorporating such devices.

Anglers often use dough or paste and soft bait such as luncheon meat on their hooks. The bait material is formed into a ball or soft pellet and hooked onto the hook. However, because of the soft nature of the bait material, the ball or pellet can fall off or be washed off the hook before a fish is attracted. Previously, various bait holding devices have been proposed which consist of a main body with a barb (as seen in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings); a main body with a series of a spaced disks (Figure 2) or an enlarged disk (Figure 3) which can be pushed into a ball or pellet (in the case of Figure 1) or around which the soft paste can be moulded (in the case of Figures 2 and 3). However, I have found that these devices are problematic because they do not have enough surface area and/or interlocking contact with the bait to keep it on long enough.

Accordingly, there is a need for a bait holding device which has an extended contact area and which more securely engages the material of the bait during casting and fishing.

In accordance with one aspect of this invention there is provided a bait holding device comprising a main body including a helical flange adapted in use to be screwed into a bait or to have bait moulded around it, and means for attachment to a fishing line or hook.

The helical flange provides an extended surface and a good mechanical interlock.

Although the possibility of a hollow centre device is not excluded, ë ce d. ::: : : A:: ::.: . preferably the main body includes a main stem portion with said helical flange extending integrally therearound.

For convenience, the attachment means is preferably in the form of an eye formed in the body portion.

Preferably, the bait holding device is moulded in one piece from a suitable material which may be, for example, plastics or rubber.

Another problem encountered with bait holding devices of the type described above is that they are hard and inflexible and can damage the fish should the fish swallow the bait holding device; many fishing sites are privately owned, catch and return fresh water fisheries.

Accordingly, the device is preferably generally resiliently flexible. The degree of flexibility is preferably chosen such that the device can flex along its length but has sufficient stiffness to be capable of being screwed into a ball of soft paste.

Although the dimensions of the device may vary greatly, the length of the device preferably lies in the range of from 5mm to 20mm. The helical flange preferably extends for at least two turns. Preferably the helical flange is of generally constant external radius along at least a major portion of the length thereof although it may diminish to a point at one end of the device to ease insertion into a bait ball or pellet.

Preferably the external radius of the flange is in the range of from 0. 1mm to 3.5mm.

Where the device has a main stem portion, the radial dimension of the stem portion is preferably between 0.3mm and 1.5mm.

a ace C C a e ace a a a a. a Preferably the ratio of the diameter of the stem to the outer diameter of the helical flange lies in the range of from 4/8 to /.

In another aspect this invention extends to a rig comprising a bait holding device as defined above, in combination with a fish hook.

Preferably in the rig the fish hook is attached to the bait holding device by means of a fishing line. The term 'line' used herein is to be interpreted broadly as including a fishing 'hair'.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following

1 0 description.

By way of example only, a specific embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1, 2 and 3 are views of prior art bait holding devices; Figure 4 is a view of a bait holding device of this invention, and Figure 5 is a view of a bait holding device of this invention when attached to a hook by a 'hair'.

Referring to Figure 4, the bait holding device of this invention comprises a main body portion 10 which comprises a helically extending flange 12 surrounding a central stem 14, in the fashion of an auger. The lower end of the stem is pointed and the upper end of the stem carries an eye 16. The device is injection moulded from a soft resilient plastics material which typically may be transparent. The material and dimensions of the device are selected such that it is relatively flexible such as to reduce the possibility of damage if swallowed by a c e.

c ea. e.e ce. e fish but having sufficient structural stiffness to allow the device to be screwed into a soft ball or pellet of paste.

In use, paste can be moulded around the extended surface area afforded by the construction of the flange; alternatively the device may be screwed into a ball or pellet. Paste or dough-like materials may be better suited to the moulding process whereas other baits such as luncheon meats are better suited to have the device screwed into them. Once the bait has been attached to the bait holding device, the device can be threaded on to the hook using the eye or tied to the hook using a short thread or'hair', as shown in Figure 5.

The bait holding device may be supplied separately or it may be sold as part of a rig in which the holding device is attached to a hook by means of a thread. In some instances the device may be attached to the hook by means of a length of line passing through the eye 16 of the bait holding device and the eye of the hook.

Claims

. e. : l: : :: e. .. . . . 1 CLAIMS

1. A bait holding device comprising a main body including a helical flange adapted in use to be screwed into a piece of bait or to have bait moulded around it, and means for attachment to a fishing line or hook.

2. A bait holding device according to Claim 1, wherein said main body includes a main stem portion with said helical flange extending integrally therearound.

3. A bait holding device according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said attachment means comprises an eye formed in said body portion.

4. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims, moulded in one piece from a suitable material.

5. A bait holding device according to Claim 4, wherein said device is moulded from plastics material.

6. A bait holding device according to Claim 4, wherein said device is moulded from a rubber material.

7. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein said device is generally resiliently flexible.

8. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the length of the device lies in the range of from 5mm to 20mm.

9. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the helical flange extends for at least two turns.

10. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims, wherein the helical flange is of generally constant external radius along at least a major portion of the length thereof. l

c: .:: ë:.

. . . . . .

11. A bait holding device according to Claim 1, wherein the external radius is in the range of from 0.1mm to 3.5mm.

12. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the main stem portion has a radial dimension of between 0.3mm and 1.5mm.

13. A bait holding device according to any of the preceding Claims when dependent on Claim 2, wherein the ratio of the diameter of the stem to the outer diameter of the helical flange lies in the range of from '/8 to /.