CA1336540C

CA1336540C - Trolling rig

Info

Publication number: CA1336540C
Application number: CA 614461
Authority: CA
Inventors: Peter M. Emiglio
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-09-29
Filing date: 1989-09-29
Publication date: 1995-08-08
Anticipated expiration: 2012-08-08

Abstract

An angling device for trolling a pair of fishing lures in spatial relation increases the separation between a conventionally hooked game fish and the free lure to prevent foul hooking the fish. In one embodiment, the device comprises a wire spreader that includes a pair of opposing coaxial arms having free ends to which the lures are connected by short leaders, and a central arcuate track that joins the arms. The device and lures are trolled through the water using a carrier having an eyelet at one end connected to a fishing line, and either a slider or roller at an opposite end that captively engages the track and is positionable therealong. When a game fish strikes one of the lures the carrier is displaced along the track such that the arms rotate, causing the hooked fish to trail behind the free lure which is drawn forwardly. In other embodiments of the device, a thin flat plate with a convexly curved leading edge replaces the wire spreader, and the arcuate wire track is replaced by an arcuate slot.

Description

~ ~3~ ~4 ~
~_ FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an angler's trolling rig and more particularly to a trolling rig adapted to troll a pair of fishing lures in spatial relation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In an effort to increase the probability of success when fishing, anglers frequently resort to using more than one fishing lure at a given time. This is particularly the case when trolling lures from a slow moving boat because of the relative ease with which fishing tackle may be manipulated. It is quite common to connect lures to a fishing line either in tandem or ln parallel, the latter being possibly favored because it is less likely that entanglement of a lure with the fishing line may occur.
A useful and well known rig from which artificial fishing lures and natural bait may be trailed is a conventional spreader that comprises, in essence, a pair of wire arms which extend laterally on opposite sides of a central point that i8 attached to a fishing line. This is but one type of spreader which is also known in the form of a semicircular wire or even a triangular plate having an apex connected to the fishing line and a bare or baited hook, or an artificial lure, trailing behind the other two corners of the triangle.
Irrespective of the shape of the spreader, its function is to provide spatial separation between the lures and/or hooks to prevent tangling of same. Eor anglers who 1~3~

are conservation conscious, such as those anglers who fish solely for the pleasure of fishing and subsequently release their catch, the spreader functions in some degree to prevent secondary or foul hooklng of the fish after it is initially hooked in a conventional manner by one of the hooks or lures.
It will be understood that the expression "conventional hooking" conveys the notion of a fish that is hooked in its mouth parts when it strikes a lure. "Secondary" or "foul hooking" is intended to convey the notion of snagging some part of the fish's body on an adjoining hook attached to the spreader as the hooked fish struggles to break free. Quite obviously, the fewer injuries a fish sustains in the hooking process, the greater the probability of its survival following release.
Whereas there is generally adequate spatial separation between lures to prevent entanglement during fishing, a problem is still commonly experienced wlth spreaders. Thus, after a fish strikes and is hooked, the vlolent movements of the fish in attempting escape may readily carry it into the scope of the free hook or lure. As a result, conventional spreaders are generally quite limited in their abillty to prevent foul hooking after a fish is initially hooked.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A principal provision of the present invention is a trolling rig that provides spatial separation for trolled lures and which i6 adapted to increase the distance of such separation after a fish is initially hooked.

.,.

Another provision of the invention is a planar trolling rig having utility as a diving plane in order to quickly establish a working depth for a pair of trolled fishing lures or baited hooks as the case may be.
Yet another provision of the invention is a trolling rig that may be embodied in the form of a semicircular wire spreader.
Still another provision of the inven5ion is a trolling rig that is simple and economical to manufacture.
The problems associated with the prior art may be substantially overcome and the foregoing objectives achieved by recourse to the present invention which relates to a rig for trolling a pair of fishing lures in spaced relation to prevent secondary hooking of a fish principally hooked on one of the lures. The rig comprises, spreader means having a pair of anchor points positioned in spaced lateral relation for connectable trailing therefrom corresponding ones of the fishing lures, arcuate track means disposed on the spreader means in forwardly symmetrical relation of the anchor points, carrier means for displaceably engaging the arcuate track means along the periphery thereof, and eyelet means disposed on the carrier means for connecting the rig to a fishing line.

BRIE~ DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be more particularly described with reference to embodiments thereof shown, by way of example, in the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a ~ 1 336543 rig for trolllng a pair of fishing lures in spaced relation in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the spreader illustrated in Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a rig for trolling a pair of fishing lures in spaced relation in accordance with the present invention;
Fig. 4 i8 a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3 taken along the lines 4-4;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a carrier shown in Fig. 3;
Fiq. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a carrier in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 7 is a perspective view of yet another e ~o~i ent of a rig for trolling a pair of fishing lures in spaced relation in accordance with the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A rig 10 for trolling a pair of fishing lures 11 is illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be seen therein that each lure 11, 11' is connected by means of corresponding leaders 12 to respective free ends 13 of a pair of opposing coaxial side arms 14 of a wire spreader 15. The purpose of the arms 14 is to provide lateral spacing between the lures 11, 11' so that when the rig 10 is trolled, the lures do not cross over and become entangled by means of their hooks. In this regard, the length of each arm 14 is arbitrary and would be ascertained by the length of the leaders 12. Accordingly, the length of each arm 14 should be greater than the combined ; `' 1~3~54 ~

length of the leader 12 and its lure 11 to prevent -entanglement between lures.
The wire spreader 15 is shown to include an arcuate track portlon in the form of a semicircular wire track 16 that is disposed centrally of the arms 14. It will be observed that the track 16 is fabricated as a separate wire element, the free ends of which are ~oined, as by wrapping, to the arms 14 as lllustrated. Thls structural arrangement provldes a relatlvely rigld wlre structure ln which the bending moment of each arm 14 occurs mainly over the distance from its ~unction with the track 16 to its free end 13.
A more flexible, and more simple, structure for the spreader 15 may be achleved by forming the entire spreader from a unitary piece of wire into the shape indicated ln Flg.
1. Of course, a brldging portion 17 between the arms 14 would not be requlred if the arms 14 and the track 16 are fabricated as a unitary structure.
Shown centrally disposed on the inner periphery of the track 16 are stop means, the purpose of which is to releasably arrest a carrier that is adapted to displaceably engage the track 16 along its periphery. Reference to Fig. 2 shows in greater detail that the stop means comprise a pair of small protuberances 20, disposed in spaced relation, one on each side of a plane of symmetry, along which lies a fishlng line 21. The line 21 is shown connected to the carrier which comprises, in the embodiment of Fig. 2, a clip 22 having an eyelet 23 to which the fishing line 21 is fastened and an openably closed body portion 24.

As previously described, the arms 14 provide an increased distance between the lures 11, 11'. If desired, ,,, ,. ........ ~:

1 33 65 4 ~

- the arms 14 may be eliminated and the diameter of the track 16 increased correspondingly to provide the same spacing between the lures 11.
When trolling with the rig 10, a balanced arrangement is achieved by ensuring that the clip 22 rests between the protuberances 20 on the track 16 as shown. In this way, the lures 11 are equidistant behind the arms 14 and are away from the spreader 15 to avoid possible entanglement.
An optimum spatial arrangement between the lures 11 and the rig 10 is thus obtained.
In the event that a game fish strikes one of the lures 11, and is hooked thereon, the force of its struggles or merely the additional load placed on one end 13 of an arm 14 causes the spreader 15 to rotate somewhat. This movement, in turn, causes the body portion 24 of the clip 22 to be drawn over one protuberance 20 and to slide along the inner periphery of the track 16 to one end thereof. Reference to Fig. 1 shows that the clip 22 will stop at the junction of the track 16 and one of the arms 14.
The significance of the aforedescribed displacement is that the lure 11, to which the fish is hooked, is drawn rearwardly whereas the free lure 11' is drawn forwardly, thereby increasing the spatial distance between the lures and minimizing the probability of foul hooking the fish on the lure 11'.
Although only two protuberances 20 are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, additional protuberances may be uniformly distributed along the arcuate inner periphery of the track 16 to enhance the aforedescribed arresting effect. Under certain circumstances the additional protuberances 20 may be .. ~ . .~ . . , ,. ~.

~ ,r ' ;~

~ 1 336540 desirable. For example, in the case of momentary contact ~._ with weeds or other underwater obstructions, there will be less of a tendency for the rig 10 to lose its symmetrical conformation as it is drawn through the water. With thls arrangement, even though the striking of an underwater obj ect may cause the clip 22 to j ump over one or more of the protuberances 20, a near symmetrical conformation will be retained until one of the lures 11 is struck by a game fish.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Fig. 3 as a rig 30 which, although functionally the same as the rig 10, embodies a planar body 31 in place of the wire spreader 15. The similarity of the body 31 and the spreader 15 may be seen particularly in the arcuate track which is basically the same. Whereas the spreader 15 employs the semicircular wire track 16, the corresponding track in the rig 30 comprises a semicircular slot 32 formed in the body 31. The protuberances 20, however, are the same, but in the rig 30 are disposed on a leading edge 33 of the slot 32 as illustrated.
A further difference in the rig 30 may be seen in an improved carrier 29 that is shown in Fig. 5 to comprise a roller 33' which is rotatably mounted on one side of a rectangular wire hoop 34 having an eyelet 35 that is attachable to the fishing line 21. With regard to Fig. 3, it will be observed that the roller 33' is held captive within the slot 32 and is displaceable along the outer periphery of the slot when a game fish strikes one of the lures. The roller 33' would be drawn over the protuberance 20 and along the slot 32 as the body 31 rotates due to the fish's struggles, thereby increasing the lateral distance between .~ ~

365~
~-- the lures 11 and 11'.
Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the body 31 and shows how the body may be readlly converted into a divlng plane in order to bring the lures 11 down to a predeteL 1 ned 5 fishing depth without the use of separate weights. It will be ob~erved that a trailing edge 36 of the slot 32 is bent downwardly to effectively open the slot to form a diving plane 37. Bending the plane 37 more or less will permit depth adjustment as desired.
A perspective view in Fig. 6 of another improved carrier 41 shows the position of a roller 44 that is rotatably ~ournalled in apertures 45 of a pair of end walls 41 and 42 by means of roller pins 46. Fig. 6 also shows the location of an eyelet 47 on the end wall 41.
Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated as a rig 50 in Fig. 7 and is similar to the rig 30 except that a diving plane 54 in the form of an annular semicircular leading edge of the rig 50 i9 not uniform in width. Unlike the rig 30 where the leading edge of the body 31 and the 20 leading edge 33 of the slot 32 define a narrow semicircular annulus of uniform width, the corresponding portion in the rig 50 has a substantially wider leading portion 51 than a lateral portion 52. The purpose of this arrangement provides easier retrieval of a hooked fish from deep water. After a 25 fish strikes one of the lures 11, the aforedescribed carrier 41 will be displaced along a slot 53 to its closed end.
Since the length of the diving plane 54 is shortened from the dimension indicated at 51 to the lesser dimenslon indicated at 52, the plane does not 9COOp as much water, thereby making 30 retrieval of the rig 50 and the hooked fish an easier task.

, ~

~-~ 1 336s4a _ To those individuals skilled in the art to whom this specification is addressed, lt will be apparent that the embodiments heretofore described may be varied to meet particular requirements without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention disclosed. The foregoing embodiments are therefore not to be taken as indicative of the limits of the invention but rather as exemplary structures of the invention whlch is described by the claims appended hereto.

_ g _ .,

Claims

1. A rig for trolling a pair of fishing lures in spaced relation to prevent secondary hooking of a fish principally hooked on one of the lures, comprising:
spreader means having a pair of anchor points positioned in spaced lateral relation for connectably trailing therefrom corresponding ones of the fishing lures;
arcuate track means disposed on the spreader means in forwardly symmetrical relation of the anchor points;
carrier means displaceably engaging the arcuate track means along the periphery thereof for advancing one anchor point toward the carrier means and correspondingly withdrawing the other anchor point therefrom; and eyelet means disposed on the carrier means for connecting the rig to a fishing line.

2. A rig as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising stop means centrally disposed on the arcuate track means to releasably arrest thereat free movement of the carrier means.

3. A rig as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the spreader means comprises a thin walled flat plate.

4. A rig as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the plate includes a convexly curvilinear leading edge and the arcuate track comprises a narrow semicircular slot in the plate.

5. A rig as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the slot includes an outer and an inner radius of which the latter defines a second leading edge bent outwardly of the plane of the plate to form a diving plane.

6. A rig as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the stop means comprises a pair of small protrusions disposed in spaced relation about the midpoint of the slot on an edge thereof defined by the outer radius.

7. A rig as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the leading edge of the plate is semicircular and defines a narrow semicircular annular band leading the slot.

8. A rig as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the carrier means comprises a wire loop transversely circumscribing the annular band in slidable relation with a leading side wall of the slot.

9. A rig as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the leading edge of the plate is semicircular and defines a narrow semicircular annular band leading the slot.

10. A rig as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the carrier means comprises:
bearing means adapted to rollably engage a leading side wall of the slot; and support means rollably supporting the bearing means within the slot.

11. A rig as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the bearing means comprises at least one roller bearing and the support means is adapted to rollably support the at least one roller bearing in the transverse relation with the slot.

12. A rig as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the support means comprises:
a first end wall disposed on one side of the plate in spaced relation with the slot;
a second end wall disposed on the other side of the plate in spaced relation within the slot and in registry with the first end wall;
a coaxial support pin extending outwardly of each end of the at least one roller bearing; and a pair of apertures disposed in the end walls and adapted to engage the support pins of the at least one roller bearing in journalled relation with corresponding ones of the end walls.

13. A rig as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the spreader means comprises a narrow, arcuate rod and wherein the arcuate track means comprises an inner periphery of the rod.

14. A rig as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the stop means comprises a pair of small protrusions disposed in spaced relation about the midpoint of the inner periphery of the rod.

15. A rig as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the carrier means comprises a wire loop transversely circumscribing the arcuate rod in captive, slidable relation with the inner periphery of the rod.

16. A rig as claimed in Claim 14, wherein the carrier means comprises:
bearing means adapted to rollably engage the inner periphery of the rod; and support means transversely circumscribing the arcuate rod in captive relation and rollably supporting the bearing means against the inner periphery of the rod.

17. A rig as claimed in Claim 16, wherein the bearing means comprises at least one roller bearing and the support means is adapted to rollably support the at least one roller bearing transversely along the inner periphery of the rod.

18. A rig as claimed in one of Claims 15 and 17, wherein the stop means comprises a plurality of small protrusions disposed in uniformly spaced relation about the midpoint of the inner periphery of the rod.