GB2491422A

GB2491422A - Surface Fishing Device

Info

Publication number: GB2491422A
Application number: GB201114827A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George James Elston
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-04-05
Filing date: 2011-08-26
Publication date: 2012-12-05
Also published as: GB201114827D0; GB201515846D0; GB201105781D0; GB2526979B; GB2526979A

Abstract

A surface fishing device that can be cast by a rod and line comprising an in-line float 1 that is mounted in use on the line 3 with the line passing therethrough. A hook link 11 carrying a hook 11a hangs in use from the line between the rod and the float. A tubular support sleeve 7 extends from the float proximally to the rod and serves in use to keep the hook link a minimum distance from the float. The hook link is mounted to the line in use by a ring 10 that is releasably detained on a detention lip 8 of a bead 9 at the end of the tubular support sleeve whereby movement from a fish being hooked will dislodge the ring over the detention lip to pass down over the tubular support sleeve towards the float. The device is particularly useful when fishing for surface feeding fish such as carp and entails.

Description

Surface Fishing Device

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns surface fishing devices. The invention has primary relevance to still water carp fishing but could be used in any fishing situation for other species, where catching the fish off of the surface is required.

Background of the Invention

Surface fishing, as the name suggests, is an angling technique that is suited to use with surface feeding fish such as carp and entails casting the fishing line such that the hook is held on the surface of the water rather than sinking below the water line. When surface fishing for carp by the basic traditional technique the line is cast to fall loose over the water and there is usually a long length of the monofilament! braid fishing line lying on the surface of the water attached to the hook. This line on the water surface can make the fish wary and they can often be spooked when they see the line on the water and the bait not behaving in a natural way. Furthermore, frequent re-casting is often necessary when surface fishing, as any wind will blow the line, hook, bait and any rig around in a way that does not generally happen with submerged bait.

There have been a number of attempts to address this problem, with the introduction of what have come to be known as beach-caster' rigs for carp fishing. These rigs normally have a tall rod rest to hold the fishing rod with its rear end dug into the shore-line and angled as upright as possible to raise the line high. A lead weight is normally fitted at the far end of the main line and a float positioned a short distance from the end of the main line. A hook link hangs from the main line on a swivel to dangle the hook to the water's surface while keeping the line raised clear above the water's surface.

Existing beach-caster rigs, while effective, have largely proven unsatisfactory for a number of reasons. Early forms of the beach-caster rig for carp fishing, known as "fixed rigs", have the rig and hook permanently attached to the lead weight. This arrangement has, however, now been banned from most commercial coarse fisheries since the arrangement presents a significant danger to the safety and wellbeing of the fish in the event of the main line breaking. Safer forms of beach-caster rig for carp fishing partially avoid this problem and are regarded as semi-fixed, but they generally require a lengthy setting up procedure, with the depth of the water having to be determined first before the rig can be set up and the angler commonly needing to form one or more stop knots in the main line.

An example of a semi-fixed rig is shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. In that rig set up a lead bomb! weight W is threaded onto the line L followed by a buffer bead and then an inline float F. A support arm S that is a rigid nylon tube extends through the inline float F and projects a substantial length from it in the distal direction of the line L (away from the angler). The line! mainline L is threaded through this tubular support arm S and emerges through a silicone sleeve V fitted at the distal end of the support arm S. The distal end of the mainline L is attached to hook link H via a swivel W, the swivel W being fixed in place by being pushed inside the silicone sleeve V. The rig is thus not free-running on the main line and is semi-fixed in position. Further drawbacks of this arrangement include that there is no tension in the hook link to hook the fish when it takes the bait. When a fish takes the bait, it sucks it under the water, the suspending arm then pulls down towards the water surface there is no tension to actually hook the fish.

In general, all of the existing surface fishing rigs are complicated, awkward to set up, not very effective and! or not user friendly, It is a general objective of the present invention to address the afore-mentioned problems.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a surface fishing device that can be cast by a rod and line, the device comprising: an in-line float that is mounted in use on the line with the line passing therethrough; a hook link, the hook link carrying a hook and hanging in use from the line between the rod and the float; and a tubular support sleeve extending from the float proximally to the rod and serving in use to keep the hook link a minimum distance from the float, the hook link being mounted to the line in use by a ring that is releasably detained on detention means at the end of the tubular support sleeve during casting but whereby movement from a fish being hooked will dislodge the ring from the detention means to pass down over the tubular support sleeve towards the float.

Preferably the ring encircles and is releasably detained on detention means of a bead at the end of the tubular support sleeve. This bead suitably has a detaining lip at its distal in use end to releasably detain the ring on the bead. Preferably the ring is free to rotate around the bead (preferably fully rotatable through 360 degrees or multiple revolutions). Particularly preferably upon the event of the main fishing line breaking, the detention means (e.g. bead) may readily detach from the tubular support sleeve.

Preferably the float is in use not limited by a stop knot but free to adjust itself to the depth of water cast into when the line is tightened and has a self locking! fastening means, enabling the float to grip onto the line when the line is under tension.

Suitably the self locking! fastening means comprises a bend in an internal tube of the inline float through which the line passes in use. Preferably the tubular support sleeve is demountable from the float. Preferably the tubular support sleeve is flexible whereby it allows the length of the line it ensleeves to flex when casting.

In a particularly preferred aspect the device is configured whereby upon the event of the main fishing line breaking in the proximal length between the rod and the hook link, the main line can pass through the passages of the device unimpeded and the device is able to come apart, leaving the fish with just the hook and hook link.

In common with other beach-caster' rigs, the system keeps the hook link that is attached to the hook out of the water so that the fish see only the bait on the surface and it stays where it is cast, negating the need for constant re-casting and risk of spooking the fish. Unlike fixed rigs, the system provides a fish-friendly, safe rig that is completely free running, with no parts of it being permanently attached to the lead weight. If the main line should break, the rig will separate and come off of the line, leaving the fish with just a short hook link and hook to get rid of.

The surface fishing system may be supplied as one easy to use rig unit, being able to be threaded onto the main line and cast immediately without the need of a lengthy set up process. It can be cast into any depth of water, set itself and lock in position, without any need for plumbing first to discover the depth of the water.

Brief Description of the Drawings

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, solely by way of example, with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 2 is a general assembly diagram of the device as assembled to a fishing line (main line) and shows the device with its float and tubular support arm as in use with the hook and bait suspended by the hook link at the surface of the water.

Figure 3 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing a close up detail of a proximal end of the float (end nearest the angler) where the tubular support arm fits into the float.

Figure 4 is a view corresponding to Figure 2 showing a close up detail of the lipped rubber ring-detaining bead that the run ring of the hook link's mount sits on and rotates around.

Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Referring firstly to Figure 2, the illustrated beach caster type rig of the invention is a device! assembly that comprises firstly a self-locking! self-fastening in-line float I that is mounted in use on the fishing line 3 with the line 3 passing through a kinked tubular passage la through the inline float 1. The self-locking! self-fastening in-line float 1 is in use not restrained by a stop knot but is free to adjust itself to the depth of water cast into when the line 3 is tightened and the kinked! bending tubular passage la serves as a fastening means, enabling the float 1 to grip onto the line 3 when the line 3 is under tension.

A soft, flexible plastics tubular support arm 7 extends from the float I proximally to the fishing rod, i.e. in the direction of the fishing rod end of the fishing line 3. The tubular support arm 7 serves in use to space the hook link 11 a minimum distance from the float 1. The hook link 11 carrying the hook ha hangs from the line 3 between the rod (not shown) and the float 1. The hook link 11 is mounted to the line 3 in use by a ring 10 that encircles and is releasably detained on a bead 9 that is lightly push4itted onto the proximal end of the tubular support sleeve 7. The bead 9 has a detaining lip 8 at its distal in use end to releasably detain the ring 10 on the bead 9. The fit of the ring 10 to the bead 9 is such that movement from a fish being hooked will dislodge the ring 10 from the bead 9 to ride over lip 8 and pass down over the tubular support arm 7 towards the float 1. The ring 10 is free to rotate around the bead 9.

A lead weight! bomb 4 is attached by a knot at the distal end of the fishing line/main line 3 remote from the rod and reel. The weight of the lead weight! bomb 4 is selected to suit! be proportionate to the size/buoyancy of inline float 1 used and the distance required to cast to. A rubber buffer bead 2, slides onto the main line 3 between the lead weight 4 and the inline float 1. The main line 3, extending from its proximal end at the rod and reel to its distal end at the weight 4, threads through the centre of the whole device! assembly including through the kinked tube! passage ha of the inline float I and through the tubular support arm 7.

The inline self locking float I can be made in a variety of sizes, dependent upon the distance required to fish at/cast to. As noted above, the float 1 has a passage/ length of plastic tubing la running through the middle with a bend in it, when the whole unit is cast out into the water, the main line 3 is allowed to pass freely through the float 1, until the lead weight 4, reaches the bottom of the lake. When the unit is on the surface of the water the main line 3 is tightened up and the bend in the plastic tubing la running through inline float 1, locks the unit onto the main line 3. The inline self locking float 1 can suitably be made from either expanded polystyrene, with a hard outer paint covering or be a hollow body of non expanded plastic, such as a nylon globe with an air filled centre.

As shown in Figure 3, a flexible rubber socket 5 is provided at the proximal end of float I and has an internal bore big enough for an end of the flexible soft tubular sleeve/ tubing 7 to slide into and hold in place. This union of the tubular sleeve 7 and socket 5 can easily be pulled apart to facilitate the threading of the line 3 through the tubular sleeve 7 and also allowing different lengths of tubular sleeve 7 to be used if desired. A large rubber bead 6, is fixed onto the tubular sleeve 7, just above the socket 5. The rubber bead 6 is of a size big enough not to pass through the run ring 10.

Turning to Figure 4, the tubular sleeve 7 suitably has an internal bore of between 0.75mm and 1.5mm and is formed of a polymer such as a soft flexible plastic or an elastomer and having an internal low friction lining e.g. of silicone to lessen friction of the main line as it passes therethrough. Tubular sleeve 7 can be of any desired length but 30 to 60cm is generally optimal. The proximal end of tubular sleeve 7 is slid into a socket at the distal end of the ring-detaining bead 9. The union of the tubular sleeve 7 and bead 9 at this socket, is easily pulled apart in the event of the main line 3 breaking but strong enough to withstand casting.

The ring-detaining bead 9 is suitably of rubber and its detaining lip 8 at its distal end is large enough to not pass through the run ring 10, when the unit is cast out but small enough to pass through it when a fish is hooked. The ring-detaining bead 9 has a passage through it to be threaded on the line 3 and is double-headed/ approximately dumbbell shaped with a narrower stem central portion between its proximal and distal ends. The central portion has an outside diameter of a size that allows the run ring 10 to freely spin around it. The ring-detaining bead 9 culminates at its proximal end in a bulbous! spheroidal head shape that does not permit the run ring 10 to pass over it at any stage. Run ring 10 is suitably made from a hard plastic (e.g. nylon) preferably with a metal or porcelain lining on its inside surface to stop the sawing effect of main line 3 or tubular sleeve 7, cutting through it. Run ring 10 has a metal swivel attached to it to enable attachment of the hooklink 11.

When a fish is hooked, the run ring 10 detaches from the ring-detaining bead 9 and slides down the tubular sleeve 7 and comes to rest on the rubber bead 6 adjacent the float 1. The whole unit is then pulled down the main line 3 until it reaches the rubber buffer bead 2 adjacent the lead weight 1. This is the position that the fish is played from and is much safer and more manageable than the position achieved by many of the prior art beach-caster rig set-ups, avoiding having a long trailing line that may snag on the bottom.

The whole set-up is also easy to cast as it winds down to the lead weight and it does not fly up the line mid-flight. The hook link does not tangle as on the run ring it can spin around the detaining bead.

Claims

SClaims 1. A surface fishing device that can be cast by a rod and line, the device comprising: an in-line float that is mounted in use on the line with the line passing therethrough; a hook link, the hook link carrying a hook and hanging in use from the line between the rod and the float; and a tubular support sleeve extending from the float proximally to the rod and serving in use to keep the hook link a minimum distance from the float, the hook link being mounted to the line in use by a ring that is releasably detained on detention means at the end of the tubular support sleeve during casting but whereby movement from a fish being hooked will dislodge the ring from the detention means to pass down over the tubular support sleeve towards the float.
2. A surface fishing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring encircles and is releasably detained on detention means of a bead at the end of the tubular support sleeve.
3. A surface fishing device as claimed in ciaim 2, wherein the bead has a detaining lip at its distal in use end to releasably detain the ring on the bead.
4. A surface fishing device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, wherein the ring is free to rotate around the bead.
5. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein upon the event of the main fishing line breaking, the detention means (e.g. bead) may readily detach from the tubular support sleeve.
6. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the float is in use not limited by a stop knot but free to adjust itself to the depth of water cast into when the line is tightened and has a self locking! fastening means, enabling the float to grip onto the line when the line is under tension.
7. A surface fishing device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the self locking! fastening means comprises a bend in an internal tube of the inline float through which the line passes in use.
8. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tubular support sleeve is demountable from a socket on the float.
9. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tubular support sleeve is flexible whereby it allows the line it ensleeves to flex when casting.
10. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is configured whereby upon the event of the main fishing line breaking in the proximal length between the rod and the hook link, the main line can pass through the passages of the device unimpeded and the device is able to come apart, leaving the fish with just the hook and hook link.
11. A surface fishing device as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the device is configured whereby when a fish is hooked, the ring detaches from the ring-detaining means and slides down the tubular support sleeve and comes to rest adjacent the float and the whole device is then pulled down the main line until it reaches to adjacent a weight at the distal end of the line.
12. A surface fishing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.