GB2282739A - Feeder float for angling - Google Patents

Abstract

A feeder float for angling comprises an elongate float body (1) with means (3) at one end thereof for attachment on a fishing line, and a hollow bait-holding member (6) mounted on the float body and having at least one aperture (10) in the lower end thereof for release of bait and at least one aperture (11) in the upper end thereof to ensure release of air therefrom in water. The hollow member (6) is freely slidably mounted on the float body (1), and means (4 and 5) am provided on the float body for retaining the hollow member thereon. The hollow member may also be used independently of the float body, to slide along the line. <IMAGE>

Description

FEEDER FLOAT FOR ANGLING Field of the Invention This invention relates to a feeder float for angling.

Background to the Invention In order to attract fish to the area where the angler's hook is located, it is common practice to distribute loose bait, for example maggots, around the float so that the bait falls through the water in a natural way. Some anglers use catapults to project the bait into the desired region of the float, but it has been proposed to combine with the float a feeder device consisting of a chamber around the float to store the bait and to release it gradually into the water.

Examples of such floats are disclosed in GB-A-208243 1, GB-A-2093323 and GB-A-2241139.

In order to give the greatest sensitivity of indication of a bite, floats are chosen to be of relatively light weight and of small volume, for example in the form of an elongate quill which exhibits a relatively large amount of movement for a small force on the fishing line. This permits the angler to strike his hook at the right time to engage the fish. If the volume of the float is too large, it will present a resistance to movement in the water which is transmitted to the bait on the hook, some fish are able to escape capture by detecting this resistance before being hooked. The use of a quill type of float substantially reduces the risk of this.

The feeder floats of the type disclosed in the prior art documents referred to hereinbefore necessarily increase the volume of the float and its resistance to movement in the water. Thus, the advantages of using the quill type of float are not available to the angler.

The present invention seeks to avoid this disadvantage.

Summary of the Invention The present invention provides a feeder fldat for angling, comprising an elongate float body with means at one end thereof for attachment on a fishing line, and a hollow bait holding member mounted on the float body and having at least one aperture in the lower end thereof for release of bait and at least one aperture in the upper end thereof to ensure release of air therefrom in water, characterised in that the hollow member is freely slidably mounted on the float body, and in that means are provided on the float body for retaining the hollow member thereon.

The bait-holding member is preferably designed so as to have substantially neutral buoyancy in water when in use. If the bait-holding member exhibits a greater buoyancy than the float, it will impede downward motion when the fish take the bait. On the other hand, the bait holding member must not be substantially more dense than water, since this would tend to pull the float downwards. When bait such as maggots is used, the density of the bait is substantially the same as that of water and the material of the bait holding member, for example a plastics material, is chosen so as to have a density no lower than that of water. It is important, therefore, to ensure that all air within the bait- holding member is released when it enters water. Preferably a plurality of holes is formed around the top of the member, the holes being of sufficient size to permit the air to escape without surface tension problems arising, whilst not large enough to permit escape of bait during casting of the line.

Preferably the bait holding member is in the form of an oval or spherical hollow member with a tube extending coaxially therethrough, through which tube the float body passes.

The bait-holding member is preferably separable to permit the bait to be introduced therein, for example having two portions which are a push fit or are screw threaded together. The bait-holding member is preferably formed of a transparent material so that its contents may be readily seen.

The float body may be generally of conventional quill-like design with spaced upper and lower retaining members thereon. The retaining members are preferably moulded into the float body to provide stops limiting upward and downward movement of the bait holding member thereon.

The present invention combines the advantages of loose feeding of bait from around the float with sensitivity of movement of a quill-like float, the float moving relative to the bait-holding member when the fish takes the bait on the hook.

It has also been found that the bait-holding body may advantageously be used independently of the float body, for example where the bait needs to be dispensed away from the surface of the water and the smaller fish wish can congregate there. Accordingly, another aspect of the invention provides a bait-feeding device for use in angling, comprising a hollow bait-holding body having at least one aperture in the lower end thereof for controlled release of bait, and at least one aperture in the upper end thereof to ensure release of air therefrom in water, wherein the body is adapted to be freely slidably mounted on the line between a float and the hook and to have a substantially neutral buoyancy in water, when loaded with the bait.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the drawings, which illustrate an example of the feeder float of the invention: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the float; Figures 2 and 3 are side elevations on a reduced scale of the feeder float in use, showing the states before and after a fish has taken the bait on the hook; and Figure 4 is a side elevation showing the bait holding member being used independently of the float.

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiments The feeder float comprises a quill-type float body 1 having at its upper end a brightly coloured indicator portion 2, and at its lower end an eye 3, through which the fishing line may be passed. Upper 4 and lower 5 moulded stops on the float body 1 limit the sliding movement thereon of a bait-holding member 6 comprising an annular chamber 7 surrounding a central hollow tube 8 and with a push fit lid 9. The chamber 7 has outlet holes 10 for releasing loose bait in water, while the lid 9 has air-releasing holes 11 to ensure that air is not trapped in the chamber to give the body excess buoyancy.

In use, the lid is removed to permit the chamber to be filled with bait, for example maggots, and then pushed closed again. The float is cast out with the hook in the normal manner, and on entering the water it assumes an upright position as illustrated in Figure 2. The bait 12 is gradually released from the chamber 7, thus attracting fish into the region of the hook. When the bait on the hook is taken, the line 13 is drawn downwardly, and this in turn draws down the float body 1 rapidly, the bait holding member 6 moving to a much smaller degree because of its inertia, but not affecting the movement of the float.

The downward movement of the tip 2 of the float indicates to the angler that he has a bite, thus enabling him to strike in the usual manner. The movement of the tip 2 downwards is illustrated by Figure 3.

Referring to Figure 4, the bait-holding member may advantageously be used independently of the float body in certain circumstances. The line is passed through the central hollow tube 8, and motion of the member along the line is limited by means of stops 40 crimped on to the line at the desired locations so that the slow descent of the member is arrested at a predetermined height above the bottom to ensure that bait is distributed in the region of the hook. This prevents bait being wasted by being distributed too high and thus encouraging the smaller fish which feed nearer to the surface to consume the bait before it sinks to the desired depth. It will be appreciated that, as the member is freely slidable on the line, it will not affect the sensitivity of the signalling of a bite by the float 41 on the surface, or increase the resistance to movement of the hook when taken by a fish.

Claims (19)

1. A feeder float for angling, comprising an elongate float body with means at one end thereof for attachment on a fishing line, and a hollow bait-holding member mounted on the float body and having at least one aperture in the lower end thereof for release of bait and at least one aperture in the upper end thereof to ensure release of air therefrom in water, characterised in that the hollow member is freely slid ably mounted on the float body, and in that means are provided on the float body for retaining the hollow member thereon.

2. A feeder float according to Claim 1, adapted to have a substantially neutral buoyancy in water, in use.

3. A feeder float according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein a plurality of holes is formed around the upper part of the bait-holding member, each hole being large enough to permit air to escape, but not large enough to permit escape of bait during casting of the line.

4. A feeder float according to Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the bait holding member is in the form of an oval or spherical hollow member with a tube extending coaxially therethrough, through which tube the float body passes.

5. A feeder float according to any preceding claim, wherein the bait-holding member is separable into two parts to permit introduction of the bait therein.

6. A feeder float according to Claim 5, wherein the two parts are a push fit on each other.

7. A feeder float according to Claim 5, wherein the two parts may be screw-threaded together.

8. A feeder float according to any preceding claim, wherein the bait-holding member is formed of a transparent material.

9. A feeder float according to any preceding claim, wherein the float body is of quill-like form with spaced upper and lower retaining members thereon.

10. A bait-feeding device for use in angling, comprising a hollow bait-holding body having at least one aperture in the lower end thereof for controlled release of bait, and at least one aperture in the upper end thereof to ensure release of air therefrom in water, wherein the body is adapted to be freely slidably mounted on the line between a float and the hook and to have a substantially neutral buoyancy in water, when loaded with the bait.

11. A device according to Claim 10, having a longitudinal passage therethrough through which the line may be passed.

12. A device according to Claim 10 or 11, wherein a plurality of holes is formed around the upper part of the bait-holding member, each hole being large enough to permit air to escape, but not large enough to permit escape of bait during casting of the line.

13. A device according to Claim 10, 11 or 12, wherein the bait holding member is in the form of an oval or spherical hollow member with a tube extending coaxially therethrough, through which tube the float body passes.

14. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 13, wherein the bait-holding member is separable into two parts to permit introduction of the bait therein.

15. A device according to Claim 14, wherein the two parts are a push fit on each other.

16. A device according to Claim 14, wherein the two parts may be screw-threaded together.

17. A device according to any of Claims 10 to 16, wherein the bait-holding member is formed of a transparent material.

18. A feeder float, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings.

19. A bait-feeding device, substantially as described with reference to, or as shown in, Figure 4 of the drawings.