WO2002035925A1

WO2002035925A1 - Bait device

Info

Publication number: WO2002035925A1
Application number: PCT/GB2001/004895
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adam Evans
Original assignee: Adam Evans
Priority date: 2000-11-02
Filing date: 2001-11-02
Publication date: 2002-05-10
Also published as: GB2368509A; GB0026750D0; AU2002210769A1

Abstract

A bait device (A) is shown in figure (2) and comprises a hook (4) at one end for connecting the device to a fishing line clip (3). The hook (4) is attached to a lid (5) for a power source box (6). The power source box usually holds batteries and therefore it is desirable that the box is water-tight to avoid ingress of water into the battery box. The bait device is inserted into the abdominal cavity of a fish and movement of region (8) of the bait-device causes movement of the fish which attracts prey.

Description

Bait Device

The present invention relates to a bait device and, in particular, to a fishing bait device having a power supply enabling the bait device to move so as to simulate the movements of an injured fish.

Known fishing baits, which are also called lures, have appendages or hooks on their outer surface. When the bait is drawn through the water, the hooks or appendages cause the bait to wobble, or vibrate, which attracts fish to the bait .

There are fishing baits called spoons, which are simply dish shaped pieces of metal which have a hook, which revolves or wobbles as it is drawn through the water due to the curvature of the metal dish. There are also devices called plugs which are roughly of a fish shape. The plug may also be painted to look like a fish. The plug includes a lip which is slightly dished and which, on pulling the plug through the water, causes the plug to wobble so attracting fish to the bait. Finally, fish can be attracted to a to bait is by using a spinner. A spinner is a lure that is cast out into water and is then reeled in at high speed. The spinner may be attached to a small dead fish, which is mounted on a flight. A flight is an arrangement of two treble hooks on a wire. One point of each treble hook is pushed into the fish to secure it to the wire and the other hooks point outwards from the fish body. By altering the position of the hooks, the dead fish bait can be caused to wobble or spin as it is pulled through the water. This acts as a lure for fish such a pike.

As well as using dead fish bait, some fishermen use live fish bait. Small fish are secured on a snap tackle, which is an arrangement of hooks similar to that used for natural bait spinning. The live fish bait may then be cast into a suitable spot is a river and it is held under water by a weight. The fish on the bait wriggles to try and free itself from the hooks and it is this movement which attracts predatory fish. Many anglers consider this form of fishing to be cruel and chose not to use this method of baiting. Also, animal welfare campaigners and environmental agencies have, through effective lobbying, brought about the banning of using live bait on certain stretches of water.

A problem with known fishing techniques is that there is a need to draw a fishing line through water to achieve movement of the bait. A further problem is that by having to pull the bait through the water, there is an increased

_ ^isk__.in the. bait snagging on weeds, which could foul or even cause the bait to be snapped from a line.

The present invention consists in^' the provision of a bait device including a power unit operable to cause the bait device to move to attract prey.

The present invention is particularly directed towards catching fish but it is envisaged that other prey such as reptiles or birds could be caught.

Preferably, the power unit also includes a power source but the unit could in some instances, be driven by an external source e.g. water flowing past the bait. However, it is envisaged that the power unit will operate when the bait device is substantially maintained in a single location.

Preferably, the bait device includes an operable control whereby the bait can be controlled to move at a predetermined rate. The operable control may be a switch. It is possible for the bait device to be set to move at any one or more of a selection of rates. The rates of movement can be chosen in accordance with the type of prey to be caught . It is preferred that the bait device is caused to move with a side to side action, to produce a flapping movement. The degree of flap preferably deviates from between 50mm and 20mm from either side of the line of axis of the bait device. It is particularly desirable that the bait device can be set to move at a high frequency, or at a low frequency. However, it is possible to cause the bait device to flap with a rhythmic pattern, produced by a combination of high and low frequency movements. The movement can be selected so that it produces the most attractive pattern of movement for catching a particular predator. For example, to catch a pike, the flap movement can be set so that the bait device flaps two or three times and then remains still for 5 seconds. This pattern of movement can then be repeated. An added advantage of not having the bait device moving continuously is that it saves energy during operation.

It is advantageous that the bait device is battery operated. Small flat batteries can be used, such as those used to power watches and this has the advantage that the size of the bait device can be kept to a minimum. It is envisaged, however, that rechargeable batteries could be used.

In particular, the bait device has at least one hook attached to it, which enables the bait device to be hooked inside a dead fish. It is desirable that at least two hooks are attached to the bait device in a double- hook arrangement. However, the hooks could be arranged so that one hook is positioned at either end of the bait device so that it is secured firmly inside the dead fish. It is particularly desirable that the double-hook arrangement is used when catching fish such as pike or perch, which can be large fish having strong jaws and which can often break free from a single hook.

Predators often swim from one location to another in search of their prey. In heavily weeded waters or where there is a high degree of silt, it is difficult for fish to sense smaller fish. The movement of the bait device with the attached dead fish, simulates a fish that has been injured. Also, the movement increases the spread of odour of the dead fish through the water. As a result of the increased attraction of the bait device and fish to predators, the catch rate of fish may be increased considerably.

Although the invention has been defined above, it is to be understood that it includes any inventive combination of the features set out above, or in the following specific description. For a better understanding of the invention, an embodiment will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a clip and hook arrangement for attachment of a bait device according to an embodiment, to a line,

Figure 2 shows a view from below of a bait according to an embodiment of the invention,

Figure 3 show a side view of a bait according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 4 shows end view of a bait device as shown in figure 2,

Figure 5 shows a battery to be used with a bait according to the invention,

Figure 6 shows a bait according to the invention which is inserted inside a dead fish bait,

Figure 7 shows a bait according to the invention, used in a legering method of fishing, Figure 8 shows a bait according to the invention, used with a drifted bait-float,

Figure 9 shows a bait according to the invention, used with a popped up legering method. As shown in figure 1, a fishing line 1 is attached to two branch lines la and lb. Line la is connected to a fishhook 2, which is used to connect the line la to a dead fish bait. Line lb has a clip 3 on its end, which is used to connect the line lb to a bait device A according to the invention. The clip can be a simple quick lock hook or can be a pin and shackle hook.

A bait device A is shown in figure 2 and comprises a hook 4 at one end for connecting the device to a fishing line clip 3 as shown in figure 1. The hook 4 is attached to a lid 5 for a power source box 6. The power source box usually holds batteries and therefore it is desirable that the box is water-tight to avoid ingress of water into the battery box. The lid 5 may be screwed onto the power source box 6, or push fitted onto the box. However, it is desirable that a water-tight seal is maintained between the box and the lid, whilst allowing adequate access to the box in order to change the batteries when spent. It is possible for the lid and box to be molded as one piece. This would be appropriate if the power source is rechargeable provided there is a power point for recharging the batteries. The power point can be dispensed with or if the bait device is disposable, once the power source is spent. The type of batteries that are particularly suitable for use with the fish bait of the invention is shown in figure 5. The battery 10 is of the round flat battery type used in digital watches. However, it is envisaged that other types of batteries or power sources may be used.

The box 6 has a switch 7, (which is shown more clearly^" in figure 3) which a fisherman can operate to activate movement of the bait device. Also connected to the power source box are frequency settings 7a, 7b which may be operated to cause the bait device to move at a high or low frequency. Although the drawings show the frequency settings as being separate from the switch 7, it is envisaged that the frequency settings 7a, 7b and switch 7, may be combined on for example, a sliding switch The power source box 6 is connected to a movement region 8. This region may be caused to move by a paddle element connected to a motor in the power source box 6. The paddle is moved back and forth or from side to side, causing corresponding movement^' of region 8. Alternatively, a helical element may be used to impart helical movement or there may even be pulsing of the region 8. Again, the movement selected can depend upon the type of fish to be caught .

Attached to the end of the movement region 8 is a twin hook, as shown end on, in figure 4. This twin hook is hooked onto the dead fish bait to secure the bait device in position. Figure 6 shows the bait device A inserted in a dead fish B. Hook 2, is attached to the fish and line lb is secured to the bait device A by clip 3 secured to hook 4 on the bait device. The bait device is inserted in the abdominal cavity of the fish and movement region 8, is directed towards the tail end of the fish. Moving of region 8, will cause the tail of the fish to flap. The movement region 8 is secured in position by double hooks 9, which are hooked onto the back/tail of the fish. The power source box 6 is positioned to be near the opening in the abdomen of the fish so that there is easy access to switch 7 in order to switch on the bait device and also to select the setting required for movement of the bait device.

Figures 7 to 9 show different fishing techniques where the bait device of the present invention can be used. These include legering methods, where the bait is dragged along the bottom of a water channel on a weight. This fishing method is in particular directed to bottom feeding fish. Alternatively, the bait device may be drifted on a bait- float where the bait is kept in upper waters by dangling the bait device from float, which is on the surface of the water. Finally, the bait device may be used in a popped up legering method, where a line is weighted to lie deep in the water with the bait device itself, being attached to a float which holds the device above the weed bed at the bottom of a water channel.

Although the bait device has been described with reference to particular types of fishing techniques it is envisaged that it could be used with most fishing techniques where bait is used on a line.

Further, although it is particularly advantageous to use the bait device with a dead fish, it may be possible to simply coat the device with the odour of a dead fish so avoiding the need to insert the bait device in a dead fish. It is further envisaged that the bait device may also be incorporated in a synthetic body shaped to look like a fish, which again avoids the need to use a dead fish with the bait device.

Claims

1. A bait device including a power unit operable to cause the bait device to move to attract prey.

2. A bait device according to claim 1 for catching fish.

3. A bait device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the power unit also includes a power source.

4. A bait device according to any preceding claim including an operable control whereby the bait can be controlled to move at a predetermined rate.

5. A bait device according to claim 4, wherein the bait device to be set to move at any one or more of a selection of rates.

6. A bait device according to any preceding wherein the bait device is caused to move with a side to side action, to produce a flapping movement.

7. A bait device according to claim 6, wherein the flapping movement has a degree of flap which deviates between 50mm and 20mm either side of a line of axis of the bait device.

8. A bait device according to any preceding claim, wherein the bait device can be set to move at a high frequency, or at a low frequency.

9. A bait device according to claim 8, wherein the bait device can be caused to flap with a rhythmic pattern, produced by a combination of high and low frequency movements.

10. A bait device according to any preceding claim, wherein the bait device can be caused to flap two or three times and then remains still for 5 seconds, with this pattern being repeated.

11. A bait device according to any preceding claim where the power source comprises one or more batteries .

12. A^' bait device according to claim 11, wherein the or each battery is rechargeable.

13. A bait device according to any preceding claim, wherein the bait device is secured to a dead fish by a double-hook arrangement.

14. A method of catching fish using a bait device including a power unit operable to cause the bait device to move to attract prey.

15. A fishing technique involving a legering method, a drifted bait-float method or a popped up legering wherein a bait device including a power unit operable to cause the bait device to move to attract prey.

16. A bait device substantially as described and as illustrated herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings .