WO2008131240A1

WO2008131240A1 - Game imitating the catching of fish by plug casting

Info

Publication number: WO2008131240A1
Application number: PCT/US2008/060850
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arlen J. Lowrance
Original assignee: Lowrance, Velma, K.
Priority date: 2007-04-19
Filing date: 2008-04-18
Publication date: 2008-10-30
Also published as: WO2008131240A8; US20080258393A1

Abstract

A fishing apparatus comprising a horizontally extending fish support, one or more flat, relatively thin fish-shaped members releasably mounted on the fish support, each fish- shaped member having a tapered mouth at on end thereof and a circular snare opening connecting to the mouth through a guide slot, a cast-over bar supported behind the fish support in spaced parallel relation, the fish support and cast-over bar being made of floatable material, a casting line, a plug adapted to be connected to the end of the casting line so that the plug and line can be cast over the fish-shaped members and the cast-over bar, each plug being made of resilient material and being provided with a nose piece adjacent to the connection of the line to the plug, the nose piece being receivable in the snare opening, whereby, when the plug is pulled into the circular snare opening and the line is pulled thereafter, the fish-shaped member will be pulled away from the fish support in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.

Description

GAME IMITATING THE CATCHING OF FISH BY PLUG CASTING

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention:

The present invention relates to an apparatus or device which can be used to simulate fishing. More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention includes one or more artificial fish which are temporarily retained on a support and which are removed from the support using an operation which is similar to the action of fishing by casting a plug. The present application adds to application Serial No. 11/788,271 the subject matter in four main areas: (1) The game is provided with new supporting structure for the game itself as well as the game board;

(2) The game board is supported in a slightly different manner from the new support;

(3) The support for the game is modified such that parts of the game apparatus can be filled with floatable material so that the supporting structure can float on the surface of the water in which case the game board and wallpaper are omitted; and,

(4) The mouth piece for snaring the fish (as opposed to the mouth for the fish per se) is separable from the fish.

2. Prior Art:

There are numerous games or devices wherein "fish" are involved as game pieces or tokens. However, the prior art does not disclose a fishing device or apparatus of the type disclosed herein. Actually, the closest prior art is set forth in applicant's own patent and the two pending applications all referred to above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention involves a fishing device or apparatus wherein one or more flat vertical objects resembling fish are arranged in a horizontal row along a support. Each "fish" is provided with a releasable holding means for connecting the fish to its support. In one form of the invention, the releasable holding means consists of circular support openings in the fish, the support openings being removably received on or over a button or grommet, which, in turn, is received in a slot on the fish support; other releasable holding means include spaced clips mounted on the fish support and forming slots for receiving the sides of the fish shaped member therein. Other releasable holding means can be strips or patches of VELCRO or even magnets. Each fish is also provided with an inclined entrance opening at the forward end of the fish. The center portion of each entrance opening is provided with a guide slot which connects with a circular snare opening located near the mouth of the fish. For the purpose of catching the fish, the would-be fisherman, or player, will utilize a casting rod with a winding reel, which form no part of this invention. The end of the line which connects with the fishing rod and the reel, however, will be provided with a plug which cooperates with the circular snare opening immediately below (or behind) the entrance opening of the fish. The plug is made of resilient material, such as rubber or plastic, and is provided with a nose piece adjacent the connection of the line to the plug. This nose piece is tapered from a diameter of smaller size than the snare opening in the fish to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter in the snare opening. Immediately beyond the larger diameter of the nose piece, the plug is provided with a recess so that when the plug is pulled into the snare opening, the nose piece will squeeze through the opening until the sides of the opening are lodged in the recess. Further pulling on the line will pull the fish off the support and the fish is now "caught."

In order to assist the fisherman in directing his line into the guide slot and circular snare opening of each fish, the support is located to the rear of an essentially vertical game board or surface which includes at least one vertical gap which is ultimately in alignment with the guide slot in the fish. In one form of the invention, the game board is provided with a single vertical gap extending between two doors which are mounted for swinging opening movement along vertical hinge axes. The entire game board including the surfaces of the two doors is provided with a plastic film, or "wallpaper" on which scenes from a lake or seaside are depicted to provide reality to the game. The upper edges of the game board are tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the gap so that a fisherman, if he gets his line over the upper end of the game board, can manipulate the line, by sidewise tugging, into the gap.

In another form of the invention the game board comprises a plurality of doors which are mounted for swinging opening movement along horizontal hinge axes. A vertical gap is provided between each pair of adjacent doors. An optional flexible and adjustable plastic loop can be located at the upper end of the game board to provide a target for the fisherman to cast his plug between the loop and the upper end of the game board. This target loop can be inverted to provide a long distance casting target. The fish are mounted on a horizontal support behind and parallel to the game board. The guide slots in the fish are in alignment with the gaps in the game board.

Other variations in the invention include a new supporting structure for the game itself as well as the game board which permits the frame of the game to be impaled into the ground; the support for the game is modified such that parts of the game apparatus can be filled with floatable material so that the supporting structure can float on the surface of the water in which case the game board and wallpaper are omitted; and the mouth piece for snaring the fish (as opposed to the mouth for the fish per se) is separable from the fish.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention, with the back ground graphic being shown as legends on the doors and on the panel beneath the doors.

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the invention shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a right side elevation taken from Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of one of the fishes used in the game of the present invention. Figure 5 is an exploded view taken from Figure 1 , showing how the various parts are assembled.

Figure 6 is a partial exploded view of the sub-assembly for the fish support.

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view of the game board and its supporting structure.

Figure 8 is a partial front perspective view particularly of the doors associated with the game board. Figure 9 is a front perspective view similar to Figure 1 but showing the "catching" of a fish and the pulling of the fish through the doors.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 6 but showing an alternate embodiment of fish support. Figure 11 is a detail, in elevation, of the fish and fish support shown in Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a view, partly in section, showing details of the plug that is used in snaring the fish.

Figure 13 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing a modified form of the game board including the cast over back bar and optional target loop. Figure 14 is a side elevation of the elements shown in Figure 13 with the loop adjustment being shown in an alternate position by dotted lines.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 but with the cast over back bar and the optional target loop being removed.

Figure 16 is a view broadly similar to Figure 13 but showing the catching of a fish through one of the vertical doors with the target loop being inverted.

Figure 17 is an exploded view showing the assembly of the device shown in Figure 13.

Figure 18 is a view of a "fish" which can be used in the game of the present invention. Figure 19 is a perspective view similar to Figure 13, the differences being in the bottom of the support structure and the manner in which the game board is attached to this supporting structure.

Figure 20 is a right side elevation taken from Figure 19.

Figure 21 is a rear perspective of the invention shown in Figure 19. Figure 22 is an exploded and fragmentary perspective view of the structure at the bottom of the supporting structure shown in Figure 19.

Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 22 but showing the bottommost portion of the supporting structure for the game arranged for impaling into the ground.

Figure 24 is a cross-section through the horizontal member shown in Figures 19 through 21 for supporting the lower portion of the game board. Figure 25 is a cross-sectional view through the back bar showing that it is filled with foam to make the frame floatable.

Figure 26 is a view similar to Figure 19 but showing the support and fish in water without the game board and without the lower structure for the support of the game. Figure 27 is a view of a fish similar to that shown in Figure 18 but showing the opposite side of the fish associated with a removable mouth piece.

Figure 28 is a perspective of the removable mouth piece shown in Figure 27.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings in detail, Figure 1 shows a relatively flat game surface or board 20 which is disposed at a relatively large angle (preferably 45 degrees or more) with respect to a flat horizontal member 22 which is connected at its front 24 to the bottom of the game board 20. The members 20 and 22 can be formed in a single piece or they can be formed separately and connected together. The game board 20 also includes a pair of vertical supports 26 which are secured to the game board 20 by means of rectangular pockets 28. Each pocket 28 is provided with a slot 30 which cooperates with a ridge 32 on the vertical support 26. Thus, when the vertical support 26 is inserted into the pocket 28 the ridge 32 will engage the slot 30 and "lock" the vertical support 26 in position with respect to the vertical game board 20.

The horizontal member 22 is provided with rearwardly extending horizontal legs 34 and forwardly extending horizontal legs 36. These legs are received at opposite ends of a pocket 38 which is formed at the bottom of the member 22. Each pocket 38 is provided with a pair of slots 30 which cooperate with ridges 32 on the legs 34 and 36 in much the same manner as vertical support 26 cooperates with its pocket 28.

The game board 20 has associated therewith a pair of doors 40 and 42 which are connected to the vertical supports 26 so as to swing hingedly with respect thereto. That is, the vertical uprights 26 (see now Figure 8) are provided with clamps 44 at the upper and mid portions of the uprights 26 to engage the upper and lower side edges of the doors 40 and 42. For the purpose of keeping the doors in proper alignment with the vertical members 26, each vertical member 26 is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting pins 46 which are adapted to be received in holes 48 along the sides of the doors 40 and 42.

Turning now to Figures 1 and 2, the vertical space between the doors 40 and 42 can be considered as a vertical gap 50 which will be aligned with a guide slot in the fish as will be later explained. Extending to the rear of the horizontal support 22 is a horizontal tray 52 having a forward projecting tab 54 and vertical sides 56. Spaced along the horizontal tray 52 between the vertical sides 56 are a plurality of circular sockets 58 which are adapted to receive a plurality of vertical tubes 60. The lower end of each vertical tube 60 is provided with a vertical slot 62 which is adapted to be received over a radial member 64 on the inside of the socket 58. The arrangement of the slot 62 and the radial member 64 is such that the lower end of the tube 60 is prevented from turning in the socket 58. The upper end of each tube is provided with an inclined triangular member 66 which is connected to the tube 60 in any convenient manner. Each triangular member 66 is provided with a pair of slots 68 which are adapted to receive a pair of grommets 71 for a purpose which will hereafter appear. The upper end of each triangular plate 66 is also provided with a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging arms 70 which are provided with rounded buttons 72 at the end thereof to prevent snagging of the line.

As best shown in Figure 7, a pocket 76 is provided midway of the horizontal support 22 essentially equidistant from the pocket 38 but somewhat wider than the pockets 38. The pocket 76 is provided with a slot 78 which is somewhat longer than the slots 30 in the pockets 38. The forward end 54 of the horizontal tray 52 is adapted to be received in the pocket 76 and a ridge 80 thereon is adapted to engage the slot 78 of the pocket 76.

Turning now to Figure 4, the game piece of the present invention is a fish shaped game piece 90 which has shows a depiction of a fish 92 thereon. However, the forward or right-hand end of the game piece 90 is provided with a projecting portion 94 which includes an inclined entrance opening 96 which leads to a snare opening 98 through a guide slot 100. The game piece 90 is also provided with a pair of support openings 102 on opposite sides and "below" the snare opening 98. As best shown in Figure 6, the support openings 102 are adapted to fit over the grommets 71 which are attached to the inclined triangular plate 66. A flexible loop 106 extends above the vertical supports 26 and is attached thereto by means of tabs 108. The tabs are provided with holes through which the loop 106 may be inserted and which provide an adjustability as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 7.

As best shown in Figure 5, a vertical advertising plate 112 which is designed to have advertising thereon is attached to the vertical plate 20 by means of VELCRO strips or the like 114.

The doors 40 and 42 are covered with plastic film or sheets 116 and 118, which can sometimes be referred to as "wallpaper." The purpose of the film 116 and 118 is to provide a design thereon which will simulate that appearance of a lake or other fishing location. Preferably, the films 116 depict an above water scene whereas the films 118 depict a scene below the water.

The manner in which the fish 90 of the present invention are snared or caught will now be described in relation to Figures 6 and 9. The person playing this game or sport, will use any conventional rod and reel (not shown) using a conventional fishing line 122 of suitable strength and durability. For the purpose of the game the outer end of the line 122 will be provided with a "plug" 124 of special design for the purpose of the present invention. The plug 124 will be essentially conical in shape with an enlarged bulb 126 at the end thereof to provide suitable weight. The plug 124 is preferably made of resilient material such as rubber or plastic. The end of the plug 124 opposite from the bulb 126 connects with the line 122 and the shape of the plug permits reception thereof in the snare opening 98. For the purpose of catching a fish, such as game piece 90, the person playing the game or sport will cast the plug 124 into the opening between the loop 106 and the game board 20. It should be noted that the upper edges of the doors 42 and 44 are inclined toward the gap 50. At any event, when the person playing the game casts the plug 124 into the opening below the loop 106; the line 122 will pass downwardly through the gap 50 against one of the arms 70 and into the inclined opening 96 at the forward end of the fish 90. At this point the line will pass through the guide slot 100 into the snare opening 98. Pulling on the line 122 will cause the plug 124 to engage the snare opening 98 to pull a fish off the grommet 71. Turning now to Figure 10, the game piece 90 (fish) still has the projecting portion

94 which includes the inclined entrance opening 96 which leads to a snare opening 98 (see now Figure 11) through a guide slot 100. This compares with what has previously been shown in Figures 4 and 6. The support openings 102 have been eliminated and the corresponding grommets 71 are not employed. Instead, the projecting portion 94 is provided with a pair of opposite sideways projecting ears 130 below which are a pair of horizontal shoulders 132 which are adapted to rest against the upper ends of a pair of inclined clips or clamps 134. Clips 134 are secured to the sides of the triangular plate 66 and are disposed at an angle along the sides of the triangular plate 66 to provide a slot or slots for the fish 90 to be received therein. For this purpose the sides of the fish 90 below the shoulders 132 are shaped in a form of a diverging or converging slope 136. Figure 12 shows the plug 124 in slightly greater detail than previously disclosed.

That is, when the line 122 passes through the guide slot 100 in the fish 90 and the line 122 is pulled so that the plug 124 enters the snare opening 98. The plug is also provided with a recess or shoulder 140 which prevents the plug from being disengaged from the fish 90. Figure 13 shows a relatively flat game surface or board 150 which is disposed at a relatively large angle (preferably 45 degrees or more) with respect to the flat surface upon which the game board is mounted. The game board 150, more particularly, is provided with a pair of legs 152 which connect to a frame structure 154 to which the game board 150 is attached. The upper portion of the frame 154 for the game board 150 is provided with a horizontal tube or pipe 156 upon which a plurality of fish 158 can be mounted behind and parallel to the game board 150. Preferably the horizontal support is provided with a plurality of pieces of VELCRO 160 which mate with similar pieces of VELCRO 162 on the fish 158. Each fish 158 is also provided with a snare opening 98 previously described. The game board 150 in Figure 13 is provided with a plurality of vertical doors which are separated by vertical gaps 166 and which are mounted for swinging movement along horizontal axes beneath the bottom ends of the gaps 166. The game board 150 is also secured to the frame structure 154 by means of screws 168.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 13, the target loop 106 is slideably received in a pair of holes in a horizontal pipe or back bar 170 which connects at one end to a short pipe 172, at the end of which is a right angled connection 174. The right angle connection 174 connects over the end of the horizontal pipe 154 and is removable as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 16 shows the manner in which a fish 158 is caught, similar to the prior description of catching a fish in relation to Figures 6 and 9. The end of the plug 124 opposite from the bulb 126 connects with the line 122 and the shape of the plug permits reception thereof into the snare opening 98 in the fish 158. The person playing the game will cast the plug 124 over the back bar 170 and between the twin uprights of the target loop 106. The line 122 passes downwardly through the gap 166, and thence downwardly through the guide slot 100 into the snare opening 98. Thereafter, pulling on the line 122 will cause the plug in the snare opening 98 to pull the fish off the VELCRO attachments 160 and 162.

In Figure 19 (as is also shown in Figure 20) the main structural member for supporting the game is a central vertical pipe 180 which has an upper end connecting mid-way with the horizontal pipe 156 (fish support). The lower end of the pipe 180 connects, in one modification, with an elbow 182 which in turn connects with a horizontal yoke 184. The yoke 184 is comprised of a pair of horizontally extending prongs 186. A horizontal top member 188 connects the two arms 186 in parallel relation and a central connector 190 is mounted on the arm 188 to be received in the lower horizontal opening in the elbow 182. In the position shown in Figures 19 and 20, the arms 186 of the yoke 184 are horizontal; it is intended that the horizontal position of the yoke will permit the game to be supported in an essentially vertical position. In order to stabilize the vertical disposition of Figures 19 through 21 a weight 200 can be laid across the prongs 186.

In order to support the game board 150 from the structure, a horizontal connecting pipe 202 extends forward (to the left as it appears in Figure 20) from the lower central portion of the vertical supporting pipe 180 and at right angles thereto. The left-hand end of the connecting pipe 202 connects at right angles with a horizontal supporting pipe 204 which is forward and below the fish supporting horizontal memberl56 but parallel thereto. The horizontal supporting pipe 204 has an inclined flat surface 206 which extends for the length of pipe 204 and which mates against the back side of the game board 150. This inclined surface is provided with strips of VELCRO 208 which hold the game board 150 in place. The upper portion of the game board 150 will rest against the side of the horizontal member 156 and the fish 168 will rest between this horizontal pipe 156 and the game board. As indicated in connection with Figure 18, the fish are provided with VELCRO pieces or strips 160 which mate with pieces of VELCRO 208 arranged along the inclined side edge 206 of the horizontal pipe 204.

Referring now to Figure 22, this represents an exploded fragmentary view of the bottom of Figures 20 and 21 and shows the vertical pipe 180 connecting with the elbow 182 which, in turn, connects with the yoke 184 through the connector 190. This represents the position also shown in Figures 19 and 20 where the weight 200 is used to hold the game in a vertical position. If the game is being played in an area where there is grass, the elbow 182 is eliminated and the yoke 184 is connected to the lower end of the vertical pipe 180 through the connector 190. In this arrangement, as shown in Figure 23, the game can be placed in a vertical position by impaling the prongs 186 into the ground (not shown). Referring now to Figure 26, the upper portion of the supporting structure for the game is shown as floating on water 210. In order to make the device floatatable (buoyant), however, the back bar 170 is filled with a foam material 212 as shown in Figure 25. The front pipe 156 is also filled with foam material so that the "game" as floating in the water consists primarily of horizontal pipes 156 and 170 with the fish 168 being supported on the bar 156 by means of the VELCRO strips 160, previously described. Alternatively, and preferably, the pipes 156 and 170 are foam molded by any of the several foam molding processes provided in the marketplace. Under the circumstances, since the game is already in the water, the game board 150 with the wallpaper thereon can be eliminated for the purposes of Figure 26. Figures 27 and 28 show an alternated embodiment for the snare opening 98.

Referring back to Figure 18, the fish 158 is coated with clear plastic material and the forward right-hand end thereof is provided with the snare opening 98 which connects with the mouth of the piece through a slot 100. It is contemplated for the purposes of Figures 27 and 28 that the forward piece which includes the snare opening 98 and the connecting slot 100 will be a separate piece. Thus, in Figure 27 which is the reverse side of the fish shown in Figure 18, the snare opening 98 is located in a removable plastic mouth piece 214 which is somewhat Y-shaped. The removable mouth piece 214 has a horizontally extending portion or tab 216 which is adapted to overly the forward end of the fish as shown in Figure 27. The left-hand end of the removable mouth piece 216 is provided with a pair of diverging arms or wings 218 which are provided with inclined edges 220 for the purpose of assisting the line in reaching the snare opening 98.

When casting for fish using the arrangement shown in Figures 19 through 22, the fisherman playing the game will cast his plug through the opening provided by the loop 106 and over the back bar 170. The user will then pull on the line and draw the plug over the back bar 170 until it crosses over the same while at the same time maneuvering the line into one of the slots between the vertical doors 164. When the line falls down the slot and the plug is engaged in the snare opening 98, pulling on the line thereafter will cause the fish 156 to be removed from the pipe 156 and one or more of the vertical doors 164 will pivot, as will indeed the entire game board 150, so that the fish 158 will be removed from the bar 156. After removal of the fish from the bar 156 the game board 150 will return to its position of rest against the bar 156.

Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications of the present invention, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. No particular claim or significance should be attached to the materials employed in the various components of the invention. Purely for purposes of explanation and completeness, the fish 90 can be made from a thin plastic material such as 020" PVC/Vinyl. Fish graphics can be applied to one or both sides of the fish by decal or screen printing. The plug 124 can be made by injection molding using a soft rubber or plastic material. The tubing 106 can be polyethylene tubing, for example. The tubing and other structural elements shown in Figures 19 to 26, especially the fish support 156 and the back bar 170, are preferably made by foam molding because the game must be capable of floating as shown in Figure 26. A suitable place to have the foam molding done is Taylor Foam of Oklahoma City, OK. The game board 20 and base member 22 can be made of ABC plastic 1/8" thick.

The tubes 60 and associated connections can be made from PVC plastic tubing. The "wallpaper" 116 and the coverings for the various doors can be made from graphics decal sheets. The doors themselves can be made from PVC plastic sheets @ 0.020" thickness with graphics decals attached.

The fish can be attached to their supports by several different kinds of releasable holding means; for example the releasable holding means can be grommets, or clips or VELCRO strips as shown herein, However, other releasable holding means could be employed such as magnets (not shown), adhesive (not shown), adhesive strips (not shown) or suction cups (not shown).

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A fishing apparatus comprising a horizontally extending fish support; a horizontally extending cast-over back bar connected to the fish support and extending in spaced parallel relation thereto; the fish support and back bar being made floatatable so that the fish support and back bar can float on the surface of water; one or more flat, relatively thin fish shaped members, each having the outline of a fish and each having an upper end forming an angled mouth and a lower end resembling the tail of a fish, each fish shaped member having a circular snare opening therein mounted directly below the mouth of the fish shaped member and a guide slot leading from the mouth of the fish-shaped member to the circular snare opening, each fish shaped member being connected to the fish support by a releasable holding means, a casting line, a plug adapted to be connected to the end of the casting line so that the plug and line can be cast over the back bar and the angled mouths of the fish shaped members, each plug being made of resilient material and being provided with a nose piece adjacent to the connection of the line to the plug, the nose piece tapering outwardly from a diameter of smaller size than the circular snare opening in the fish shaped member where the plug connects to the line to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the plug being provided with a recess beyond the larger diameter of the nose piece so that, when the plug is pulled into the circular snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the nose piece will squeeze through the opening until the sides of the opening are received in the recess of the plug, so that pulling on the line after the plug has been received in the circular snare opening will cause the fish shaped member to pull against the releasable holding means to release the fish-shaped member from the fish support.

2. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further including a vertical support having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end of the vertical support being connected to the horizontal fish support; the lower end of the vertical support supporting the fishing apparatus from the ground; a horizontal supporting pipe located forward and below the horizontal fish support and parallel thereto; the horizontal supporting pipe having an inclined flat surface which extends for the length of pipe; a horizontal connecting pipe extending from the vertical support and at right angles thereto to the horizontal supporting pipe at right angles thereto; a flat, essentially upright game board having an upper end and a lower end; the upper end of the game board resting against the horizontal fish support and over the fish thereon; the lower end of the game board resting against the inclined fiat surface and being adhesively connected thereto; the game board having a gap therein which is in alignment with the guide slot in the fish shaped member, the gap in the game board being disposed between a pair of doors which are mounted on hinge axes for swinging movement when a fish-shaped member is pulled against the doors, the game board being tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the gap so that a fisherman, if he gets his line over the upper end of the game board, can manipulate the line by sideways tugging into the gap and thereafter into the guide slot, and continued pulling on the line will cause the fish shaped member to be released from the fish support and to spring out through the hinged doors in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.

3. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the game board is provided with a flexible and adjustable plastic loop located at the upper end of the game board to provide a target for the fisherman to cast the plug between the loop and the upper end of the game board.

4. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein each fish is provided with a separable mouth piece adhesively attached to the upper end of the fish; the separable mouth piece having therein the snare opening and the guide slot.

5. A fishing apparatus comprising a flat, essentially vertical game board having an upper end and a lower end, means for supporting the game board in relation to the ground and at a relatively large angle with respect thereto a fish support mounted behind the game board, one or more flat, relatively thin fish shaped members, each having the outline of a fish and each having an upper end forming an angled mouth and a lower end resembling the tail of a fish, each fish shaped member having a circular snare opening therein mounted directly below the mouth of the fish shaped member and a guide slot leading from the mouth of the fish-shaped member to the circular snare opening, each fish shaped member being connected to the fish support by a releaseable holding means, a casting line, a plug adapted to be connected to the end of the casting line so that the plug and line can be cast over the angled mouths of the fish shaped members, each plug being made of resilient material and being provided with a nose piece adjacent to the connection of the line to the plug, the nose piece tapering outwardly from a diameter of smaller size than the circular snare opening in the fish shaped member where the plug connects to the line to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the plug being provided with a recess beyond the larger diameter of the nose piece so that, when the plug is pulled into the circular snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the nose piece will squeeze through the opening until the sides of the opening are received in the recess of the plug, so that pulling on the line after the plug has been received in the circular snare opening will cause the fish shaped member to pull against the releaseable holding means to release the fish-shaped member from the fish support, the game board having a gap therein which is in alignment with the guide slot in the fish shaped member, the gap in the game board being disposed between a pair of doors which are mounted on hinge axes for swinging movement when a fish-shaped member is pulled against the doors, the game board being tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the gap so that a fisherman, if he gets his line over the upper end of the game board, can manipulate the line by sideways tugging into the gap and thereafter into the guide slot, and continued pulling on the fish-shaped member will cause the fish shaped member to be released from the fish support and to spring out through the hinged doors in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.

6. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the game board is provided with a flexible and adjustable plastic loop located at the upper end of the game board to provide a target for the fisherman to cast the plug between the loop and the upper end of the game board.

7. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the fish support includes a horizontal tray extending to the rear of the horizontal support, a plurality of vertical tubes extending upwardly from the horizontal tray, each tube having an upper end to which is attached the releaseable holding means.

8. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the releaseable holding means includes at least one slot provided at the upper end of each tube, a grommet received in each slot, each fish shaped member being provided with a support opening adapted to receive a g σr¹ommet therein.

9. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein the releaseable holding means includes a pair of spaced clips attached to the upper end of each tube and forming slots for receiving a fish-shaped member therein, each fish-shaped member having side portions adapted to be received in the slots provided by the clips.

10. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the releaseable holding means includes a VELCRO strip on each fish and a VELCRO strip on the fish support.

11. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 5 wherein the fish support is a horizontal tube which extends behind and parallel to the game board and on which are mounted a plurality of fish shaped members; the game board having associated therewith a plurality of doors corresponding to the plurality of fish shaped members and mounted on hinge axes for swinging movement; a gap between each adjacent pair of doors in alignment with the guide slots in the fish shaped members.

12. A fishing apparatus comprising a flat, essentially vertical game board having an upper end and a lower end, a horizontal supporting plate having a forward end and a rear end, the forward end of the horizontal supporting plate being connected to the lower end of the game board, a fish support mounted behind the game board, one or more flat, relatively thin fish shaped members, each having the outline of a fish and each having an upper end forming an angled mouth and a lower end resembling the tail of a fish, each fish shaped member having a circular snare opening therein mounted directly below the mouth of the fish shaped member and a first slot leading from the mouth of the fish-shaped member to the circular snare opening, each fish shaped member being connected to the fish support by a releasable holding means, a casting line, a plug adapted to be connected to the end of the casting line so that the plug and line can be cast over the angled mouths of the fish shaped members, each plug being made of resilient material and being provided with a nose piece adjacent to the connection of the line to the plug, the nose piece tapering outwardly from a diameter of smaller size than the circular snare opening in the fish shaped member where the plug connects to the line to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the plug being provided with a recess beyond the larger diameter of the nose piece so that, when the plug is pulled into the circular snare opening in the fish-shaped member, the nose piece will squeeze through the opening until the sides of the opening are received in the recess of the plug, so that pulling on the line after the plug has been received in the circular snare opening will cause the fish shaped member to pull against the releaseable holding means to release the fish- shaped member from the fish support, the game board having a second slot therein which is in alignment with the first vertical slot in the fish shaped member, the second vertical slot in the game board being associated with a pair of doors which are mounted on hinge axes for swinging movement when a fish- shaped member is pulled against the doors, the game board being tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the second slot so that a fisherman, if he gets his line over the upper end of the game board, can manipulate the line by sideways tugging into the second slot and thereafter into the first slot, and continued pulling on the fish-shaped member will cause the fish shaped member to be released from the fish support and to spring out through the hinged doors in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.

13. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the game board is provided with a flexible and adjustable plastic loop located at the upper end of the game board to provide a space for the fisherman to cast the plug between the loop and the upper end of the game board.

14. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the fish support includes a horizontal tray extending to the rear of the horizontal support, a plurality of vertical tubes extending upwardly from the horizontal tray, each tube having an upper end to which is attached the releasable holding means.

15. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the releasable holding means includes at least one slot provided at the upper end of each tube, a grommet received in each slot, each fish shaped member being provided with a support opening adapted to receive a grommet therein.

16. A fishing apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the releasable holding means includes a pair of spaced clips attached to the upper end of each tube and forming slots for receiving a fish-shaped member therein, each fish-shaped member having side portions adapted to be received in the slots provided by the clips.