GB2436433A

GB2436433A - Fishing clip

Info

Publication number: GB2436433A
Application number: GB0605872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin David Locke
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-23
Filing date: 2006-03-23
Publication date: 2007-09-26
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-23
Also published as: GB2436433B; GB0605872D0

Abstract

A fishing clip 30 for attaching fishing bait 32 and fishing-depth control means 34 to a fishing line 36. The fishing bait is held in a dissolving bait bag 38 or by dissolving string. The fishing clip comprises a body portion 40, a first hook formation 42 at a first end 44 of the body portion for attaching to the bait bag or the string, and a second hook formation 46 at a second end 48 of the body portion for attaching to the fishing line. The second hook formation and the body portion are sufficiently thin that they are able to pass through a bore 50 in the fishing-depth control means. During casting the body portion is positioned in the bore of the fishing-depth control means, the fishing line is connected to the second hook formation, and the bait bag or the string is connected to the first hook formations. The fishing depth control means can be a weight or a float.

Description

A FISHING CLIP FOR ATTACHING FISHING BAIT AND

FISHING-DEPTH CONTROL MEANS TO A FISHING LINE

This invention relates to a fishing clip and, more especially, this invention relates to a fishing clip for attaching fishing bait and fishing-depth control means to a fishing line.

When anglers fish with bait, especially small bait, it often occurs that the anglers cannot cast the bait sufficiently far and/or they cannot stop the bait from dispersing over too large an area. In order to overcome these problems, it is known for anglers to use a dissolving bait bag or dissolving string to hold the bait. The dissolving bait bag or the dissolving string is held in place by a hook and fishing line. More specifically, the hook hooks into the dissolving bait bag, or the hook hooks through a loop at one end of the dissolving string. The fishing-depth control means is usually a weight but it may alternatively be a float.

The use of a hook to connect to the bait bag or the string is not satisfactory. Sometimes the bait bag or the string falls off the hook, or the bag tears, or things get tangled as the bait is cast out.

In order to overcome the above problem, anglers have used a fishing clip which clips to the bait bag or the string. The clip is of a complicated construction that needs to be pressed together in order to attach it to the bait bag or the string. The known fishing clip is awkward and fiddly to use.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide an improved fishing clip which is easy and convenient to use.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a fishing clip for attaching fishing bait and fishing-depth control means to a fishing line: the fishing bait being such that it is held in a dissolving bait bag or by dissolving string; and the fishing clip being such that it comprises a body portion, a first hook formation which is at a first end of the body portion and which is for attaching to the bait bag or the string, and a second hook formation which is at a second end of the body portion and which is for attaching to the fishing line, and the second hook formation and the body portion being sufficiently thin that they are able to pass through a bore in the fishing-depth control means whereby in use during casting the body portion is positioned in the bore of the fishing-depth control means, the fishing line is connected to the second hook formation, and the bait bag or the string is connected to the first hook formation.

The fishing clip of the present invention is easily able to be used. The first hook formation enables easy attachment to the bait bag or the string.

The second hook formation enables easy attachment to the fishing line. The construction of the fishing clip enables the fishing-depth control means and the dissolving bait bag or the dissolving string to be connected together in an aerodynamic manner which facilitates long casting without unwanted tangling of parts being cast.

Preferably, the fishing clip is made of a single piece of material as a one piece fishing clip.

The material may be a metal. The metal is preferably stainless steel or spring steel but other metals may be employed. The material may alternatively be a plastics material. The plastics material is preferably nylon or ABS but other materials may be employed.

The fishing clip may be one in which the first hook formation extends back on itself to define a receiving aperture for receiving a part of the bait bag or part of the string, a neck portion for facilitating the retention of the part of the bait bag or the part of the string, and a mouth portion extending away from the neck portion.

The first hook portion may locate in an enlarged bore portion of the fishing-depth control means. Alternatively, the first hook portion may locate on the outside of the fishing-depth control means.

The fishing clip may be one in which the second hook formation extends back on itself farther than the first hook portion.

The second hook formation may extend back on itself such that in use a free end of the second hook portion locates in the bore in the fishing-depth control means. Alternatively, the second hook portion may extend back on itself such that in use a free end of the second hook portion is on the outside of the fishing-depth control means.

The fishing-depth control means may be a fishing weight. Fishing conducted with the weight may then be bottom fishing or fishing at a pre-determined distance from the bottom. Alternatively, the fishing-depth control means may be a fishing float. The fishing can then be surface fishing or fishing a predetermined distance beneath the surface of the water.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a first known method of fishing using a dissolving bait bag or dissolving string; Figure 2 shows a second and improved known method of fishing using a dissolving bait bag; Figure 3 shows a fishing clip of the present invention in use; and Figure 4 is an exploded view of the equipment shown in Figure 3, and additionally shows the use of dissolving string instead of a dissolving bait bag.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown how it is known to place bait 2, especially small bait 2, in a dissolving bait bag 4. The bait bag 4 is dispensed as a tubular sleeve which is subsequently knotted by the angler at each end to provide knots 6, 8 to retain the bait 2 in the bait bag 4. A hook 10 hooks into the bait bag 4. The hook 10 is joined by a fishing line 12 to a joining swivel 14. Fishing-depth control means in the form of a weight 16 is connected with the joining swivel 14 to fishing line 18 which goes to a fishing rod (not shown).

During casting, the hook 10 may tear the bait bag 4 with consequent loss of the bait 2. Alternatively, during casting, the bait bag 4, the hook 10 and the weight 16 may become tangled. Even if casting proceeds satisfactorily, the assembly of the bait bag 4, the hook 10, the fishing line 12 and the weight 16 is not an aerodynamic assembly and this can adversely affect the distance and/or accuracy of casting.

Also shown in Figure 1 is how the bait bag 4 can be replaced by dissolving string 20. As can be seen, the string 20 is looped to provide a hook 22 which receives the hook 10.

Figure 2 shows known bait casting equipment which is used by anglers to reduce the disadvantages of the bait casting equipment shown in Figure 1. In Figure 2, it will be seen that the bait bag 4 is secured to a weight 24 by a fishing clip 26. The fishing line 18 extends from one end of the fishing clip 26 through a central bore 28 in the weight 24. The hook 10 is just lightly attached the bait bag 4 in order to stop the hook 10 and its fishing line 12 from tangling during casting.

The fishing clip 26 needs to be pressed together in order to form a hook which can then be inserted into the bait bag 4. The fishing clip 12 is awkward and fiddly to use. This is especially so if it has to be used by an angler with numb fingers due to fishing in cold conditions.

Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there is shown a fishing clip 30 of the present invention for attaching fishing bait 32 and fishing-depth control means in the form of a weight 34 to a fishing line 36. The fishing bait 32 is held in a dissolving bait bag 38.

The fishing clip 30 is such that it comprises a body portion 40. A first hook formation 42 is provided at a first end 44 of the body portion 40. The first hook formation 42 is for attaching to the bait bag 38.

The fishing clip 30 also comprises a second hook formation 46. The second hook formation 46 is at a second end 48 of the body portion. This second hook formation 46 is for attaching to the fishing line 36.

As can be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the second hook formation 46 and the body portion 40 are sufficiently thin that they are able to pass through a bore 50 in the weight 34. Thus, in use during casting, the body portion 40 is positioned in the bore 50 of the weight 34. The fishing line 36 is connected to the second hook formation 46. The bait bag 38 is connected to the first hook formation 42. A hook 52 is lightly connected to the fishing bag 38 as shown to help to stop the hook 52 and its fishing line 54 from tangling during casting. Also, the connection of the hook 52 to the bait bag 38 helps to make everything more aerodynamic for casting. The fishing line portion 54 is connected by a joining swivel 56 to the fishing line 36.

The fishing clip 30 is made of a single piece of material as a one piece fishing clip 30. The material may be a metal such for example as stainless steel or spring steel. Alternatively the material may be a plastics material such for example as nylon or ABS.

The first hook formation 42 extends back on itself to define a receiving aperture 58 for receiving part of the bait bag 38. A neck portion 60 facilitates the retention of the part of the bait bag 38 in the receiving aperture 58. A mouth portion 62 extends away from the neck portion 60 as shown.

The first hook formation 42 locates in an enlarged bore portion 64 of the weight 34 as shown.

The second hook formation 46 extends back on itself farther than the first hook formation 42. The second hook formation 46 extends back on itself such that in use a free end 66 of the second hook formation 46 locates in the bore 50 in the weight 34.

During use of the fishing clip 30, the fishing bait 32 in the dissolving bait bag 38 can be cast simply, effectively, aerodynamically, and with good directionality.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiment of the invention described above with reference to the Figures 3 and 4 has been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the weight 34 may be of a different shape to that shown. The weight 34 may alternatively be replaced by a float with a central bore. Any suitable and appropriate type of float could be employed. The shape of the fishing clip 30 may vary from that shown in Figures 3 and 4. Instead of using a bait bag 38, the fishing clip 30 may attach to a loop 68 in dissolving string 70 which is used to connect together bait 72 as shown in Figure 4.

Claims

CLAIMS

1. A fishing clip for attaching fishing bait and fishing-depth control means to a fishing line: the fishing bait being such that it is held in a dissolving bait bag or by dissolving string; and the fishing clip being such that it comprises a body portion, a first hook formation which is at a first end of the body portion and which is for attaching to the bait bag or the string, and a second hook formation which is at a second end of the body portion and which is for attaching to the fishing line, and the second hook formation and the body portion being sufficiently thin that they are able to pass through a bore in the fishing-depth control means whereby in use during casting the body portion is positioned in the bore of the fishing-depth control means, the

SS

:. fishing line is connected to the second hook formation, and the bait bag or the string is connected to the first hook formation.

S * S
2. A fishing clip according to claim I in which the fishing clip is made of S...

a single piece of material as a one piece fishing clip.
3. A fishing clip according to claim 2 in which the material is a metal.
4. A fishing clip according to claim 3 in which the metal is stainless steel or spring steel.
5. A fishing clip according to claim 2 in which the material is a plastics material.
6. A fishing clip according to claim 5 in which the plastics material is nylon or ABS.
7. A fishing clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first hook formation extends back on itself to define a receiving aperture for receiving a part of the bait bag or part of the string, a neck portion for facilitating the retention of the part of the bait bag or the part of the string, and a mouth portion extending away from the neck portion. S.

S S..

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8. A fishing clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the first hook portion locates in an enlarged bore portion of the fishing-depth control means.

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9. A fishing clip according to any one of claims I -7 in which the first hook portion locates on the outside of the fishing-depth control means.

10. A fishing clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second hook formation extends back on itself farther than the first hook formation.

11. A fishing clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which the second hook formation extends back on itself such that in use a free end of the second hook formation locates in the bore in the fishing-depth control means.

12. A fishing clip according to any one of claims 1 -10 in which the second hook formation extends back on itself such that in use a free end of the second hook formation is on the outside of the fishing-depth control means.

13. A fishing clip according to any one of the preceding claims in which :::* the fishing-depth control means is a fishing weight. a * S

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14. A fishing clip according to any one of claims I -12 in which the fishing-depth control means is a fishing float. *5sI

15. A fishing clip for attaching fishing bait and fishing-depth control means to a fishing line, substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.