WO2000003587A1

WO2000003587A1 - Device for handling fishing line and arrangement for fly fishing

Info

Publication number: WO2000003587A1
Application number: PCT/FI1999/000623
Authority: WO
Inventors: Markku Rosnell
Original assignee: Rosnell Patentti Oy
Priority date: 1998-07-14
Filing date: 1999-07-13
Publication date: 2000-01-27
Also published as: FI981790A0; AU5043399A

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for handling a fishing line, intended to be used in fly fishing. The device comprises a frame section (1) and an upper and a lower holder (2, 3). The holders are placed transversely to the frame section substantially parallel to one another, and a fishing line (4) required in the fishing can be wound onto the holders. The device is to be held in the hand that does not touch the rod. The device acts as a storage for fishing line, and it enables longer casts made with the rod. The basic idea of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that all the fishing line used in the fishing is wound onto the device, wherefore no separate reel is needed. Further, the basic idea of an arrangement according to the invention is that the arrangement comprises a device described above for handling a fishing line, and a rod suitable for fly fishing.

Description

DEVICE FOR HANDLING FISHING LINE AND ARRANGEMENT FOR FLY

FISHING

The invention relates to a device for handling a fishing line, intended for use in fly fishing where a fly arranged in the fishing line is cast by means of a rod.

The invention further relates to an arrangement for fly fishing, comprising a rod with which a fly provided in a fishing line is to be cast, the arrangement further comprising means for handling the fishing line.

Fly fishing equipment typically comprises a rod, a reel attached to the rod, a fishing line spooled onto the reel, and naturally a fly provided at the free end of the fishing line. Normally the rod also comprises means for guiding the fishing line. The aim in fly fishing is to make as long casts as possible by means of the rod. In order to extend the casts, the fisherman normally unwinds from the reel onto the ground or to the water such an amount of fishing line that is required for the cast. Thereafter he casts the fly as far as possible by means of the rod. However, this manner causes problems since the fishing line is easily caught in twigs or other litter on the ground, whereupon the line tends to get entangled. Also, when the fishing line is lowered to the water it is easily caught in weeds. The litter that is entangled with the fishing line wears down the line itself, as well as the line guides provided in the rod, and the reel. Furthermore, fishing areas are often rocky places with a great deal of thicket and with uneven terrain, wherefore it is difficult to find a suitable place for laying down the fishing line. As a result, some fishermen have made a habit of winding fishing line onto loops in the hand that does not hold the rod in order to get ready for a cast. However, it is difficult to move when one carries such a loop of fishing line, which tends to become entangled. A solution to prevent problems with handling the fishing line is a basket for fishing line. The fisherman typically places such a basket around his waist at the front, so that he can unwind fishing line from the reel to the basket in an amount required for a cast. Thus, the basket for fishing line is a kind of portable carrier onto which the fishing line can be unwound into a bundle. However, the basket for fishing line has such a disadvantage that the basket hinders the movements of the fisherman and the handling of the rod during fishing. The basket tends to make the fishing rather cumbersome. Furthermore, since the fishing line is unwound into the basket where it is not guided in any way, the line does not necessarily flow freely from the basket during the casts but it may get entangled. Also, it is difficult to handle and control the fishing line.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide new devices for fly fishing which prevent prior art problems. The device according to the invention is characterized in that the device comprises a frame section, peg-like holders provided in the frame section spaced apart from one another, the pegs being substantially parallel at least during use, at least some of the fishing line required in the fishing being wound around said holders, and that the device is separate from the rod and it is to be used with the hand that does not handle the actual rod.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized in that the device used for handling the fishing line comprises a frame section, peglike holders provided in the frame section spaced apart from one another, at least some of the fishing line needed for fishing being wound around said holders, and that the device used for handling the fishing line is separate from the rod and it is to be used with the hand that does not handle the rod.

The basic idea of the invention is that the device intended for handling the fishing line is separate from the rod and it can be used to store fishing line and to make the actual fishing more effective. During fishing the fisherman holds in one hand the rod and in the other hand the device according to the invention for handling the fishing line. The device comprises a frame section and two peg-like holders which are provided in the frame section spaced apart from one another, and which are substantially parallel at least during use. At least the part of the fishing line that is needed in the fishing is wound around the holders of the device. The basic idea of a preferred embodiment of the invention is that substantially all the fishing line to be stored, which means both the base line and the line to be cast, is wound onto the device according to the invention, wherefore a conventional reel attached to the rod or some other means connected to the rod for storing the fishing line is no longer required. Further, the basic idea of the arrangement according to the invention is that it comprises a device as described above for handling the fishing line, and a rod that is suitable for fly fishing.

An advantage of the invention is that it prevents the fishing line from getting entangled and soiled since there is no longer any need to lay the fishing line on the ground at the place of fishing. Therefore the fishing area can also be selected more freely than previously. Further, the fishing line is easier to handle when it is wound onto the holders of the device and not arranged freely in loops on the ground or in the basket. This is advantageous particularly when fishing in windy weather and in the dark. It is also easier for inexperienced fishermen to handle the fishing line with the device. Further, it is clear that since the fishing line no longer has to be carried in a bundle in the hand, it is easier to move with the fishing equipment. The fishing line can be wound onto the device considerably more rapidly than onto a reel of a small diameter when the fisherman wants to move. Further, the device makes casting more effective, enabling longer casts. It gives the fishing line a higher speed, and during casting the fishing line comes off of the holders without getting entangled. The fishing line can also be wound around the upper peg so that the device for handling the fishing line, which operates as an extension of the arm, can be used to provide longer casts and to facilitate fishing. The movement of the fly in the water can thus be controlled better and there is no need to make all the necessary movements with the rod only. Since the device lengthens the casts, a shorter and lighter rod can be used, which is easier to handle and which makes the fishing more comfortable. Another advantage is that it is easier to fish in a sitting position with the device. Therefore, invalid people and others who have problems with moving can also do fly fishing since the movements made with the rod can be smaller. Fishing from a boat or some other place in a sitting position also becomes easier and more effective. Further, the device makes the maintenance of the fishing line substantially easier since the line can now be maintained between fishing trips and even during the fishing without taking it off the holders. When the fishing line is freely available in an open place wound between the holders, it can be cleaned, waxed and polished easily and rapidly without a risk of being entangled. Further, if no conventional reel is used but all the extra fishing line is wound onto the device according to the invention, it is very easy to replace the fishing line with another line with different properties even in the middle of fishing. Therefore the fisherman does not have to obtain several expensive rods and reels, but one and the same rod can be used with several devices according to the invention containing different types of fishing lines. Different fishing lines can also be wound onto separate devices, where they can be stored and transported easily. Due to its simple structure, the device has a rather low purchase price, wherefore a fisherman can afford to obtain several such devices for different fishing lines. Comparison of the price of the device with the commercially available reels reveals that the device is considerably cheaper. Since an expensive reel is no longer necessarily needed, the price of the fly fishing set will be lower than usual. Another advantage is that since the fishing line is not wound onto a small-diameter reel, it suffers less from memory which means that the fishing line tends to coil up in the rounded form of the reel even when it is not wound onto it, wherefore the properties of the line deteriorate. Especially cheaper fishing lines suffer from memory. When the fishing line is stored in the device according to the invention wound onto a substantially larger loop, the fishing line does not become entangled that easily. Further, between fishing trips the storing of the fishing line no longer requires the line to be unwound and stored in separate racks or the like. The invention also enables the use of cheaper fishing lines that are easier to handle.

The invention will be described in greater detail in the accompanying drawings, in which

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the invention,

Figure 2 shows schematically the device of Figure 1 , viewed from direction A, Figure 3 shows schematically a possible locking means for fishing line used in connection with the device for handling the fishing line,

Figure 4a shows schematically a possible detail of the bottom of the device, and Figure 4b shows the cross-section of the lower holder viewed from direction B, and Figure 5 shows schematically a possible arrangement ensuring that the fishing line wound onto the device stays in place during transportation and storage.

Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device according to the invention. The device for handling the fishing line comprises a frame section 1. Two substantially parallel holders, an upper holder 2 and a lower holder 3, are provided transverse to the frame section and spaced apart from one another, preferably at or near the ends of the frame section. A fishing line 4 is intended to be wound between the holders 2 and 3. When the device entirely replaces a reel, both base fishing line 4a and fishing line 4b intended for casting are wound onto the holders. In the simplest form the frame of the device is as shown in the figure, but the design and dimensions of the frame may also be different. The device makes the casts more effective since in a way it extends the length of the fisherman's arm. A suitable length of the device is about 30 to 60 cm, but the device can also be longer, if necessary. The cross-section of the frame can be round, oval, angular, a desired profile, or tubular, for example. The frame section can be either of even thickness along its entire length or it can taper off towards the upper holder, as shown in the figure. The length and dimensions of the frame section and the holders can be selected suitably for the intended use. Different fishing devices can thus be formed for different purposes and users. Similarly, the peg-like holders that are transverse to the frame section can be formed of different cross-sectional shapes, preferably a round or oval tube or a solid material. The holders can be made separately from the frame section or they may constitute an integral part of the frame section. The free ends of the holders are preferably rounded so that the fishing line comes off of the holders more smoothly without getting entangled. Further, the holders can be provided with protrusions, grooves, surfaces with different frictions, and other means and sections that affect the control of the fishing line. The device can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people. The device is intended to be held in the free hand that does not carry the rod. The user can hold the device such that the lower holder rests against the palm of the hand. To make the device more comfortable to use, the angle between the lower holder and the frame is preferably rounded and shaped suitably for the hand. The user is therefore able to control the fishing line with his fingers during the fishing. The fishing line can also be handled and controlled by suitably turning the device. A locking means 5 can also be provided in the frame section for controlling and fastening the fishing line.

Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 viewed from direction A. However, for the sake of clarity it does not show the fishing line. The device can be manufactured from various materials, such as wood, composite materials, such as carbon fibre, different light metals, such as aluminium, and diverse plastic materials. By way of example, it can be mentioned that Finnish small-dimensioned wood, such as rowan, is a suitable material for the device. Wood provides a very strong, light and beautiful fishing device, which is affordable. Figure 3 shows a possible structure of the locking means used in connection with the device. In the simplest form the locking means 5 is formed directly in the frame 1 of the device, but it can also be a separate means arranged in the frame. The locking means 5 shown in the figure comprises an opening 6 formed in the frame 1. A pin 7 is thus formed in the middle of the opening, and the fishing line 4 can be wound around the pin to lock the line. When the fishing equipment comprises a reel, the locking means is used to lock the end of the fishing line from the reel into the device. On the other hand, when no reel is used in the fishing, the locking means locks the end of the base fishing line to the device. The structure of the locking means can also differ from what is shown in the figure. The locking means can comprise a narrow slit through which the fishing line is drawn and which presses the line in place. To make the locking more efficient, the narrow slit may comprise an elastic material which effectively prevents the fishing line from sliding. Therefore the locking means can operate with the same principle as the locking arrangement shown below in Figure 4b. Figure 4a shows the lower end of the device according to the invention. A slot 8 is formed in the free end of the lower holder for locking the fishing line during the fishing or during transportation and storage. Naturally, a similar slot can also be formed in the upper holder. Figure 4b shows the cross- section of the end of the lower holder 3 from direction B. The end of the holder is provided with a second slot that comprises an elastic material 9, such as rubber, for increasing the amount of friction in the slot 8.

Figure 5 shows the upper end of the device according to the invention. A flexible band 10 is provided in connection with the upper holder to lock to the holder the fishing line that is wound onto the device. The band is attached either to the frame 1 or to the holder 2 by a suitable fastener 11 , such as a screw. The band is used such that it is wound suitably around the holder and simultaneously stretched, whereafter it is locked in a fastening hole or some other suitable fastener provided at the free end of the holder. Since the band is also stretched, when in place it presses the fishing line against the holder. When the device is in use, the band can be locked to a fastening point formed in the frame and not shown in the figure. A similar arrangement can naturally also be provided in connection with the lower holder.

Fishing with the equipment according to the invention differs somewhat from the conventional method, but it provides good results even after only a short period of practice. If the device according to the invention is used as an auxiliary device in a normal fly fishing set comprising a reel, a required length of fishing line is uncoiled from the reel and wound onto the holders of the device. However, the reel can be used to exhaust the fish or this can be can done only with the device according to the invention. Generally, the device provides longer casts since it operates as an extension of the fisherman's arm, resulting in longer casting movements. On the other hand, the casts are sharper, which in turn provides more effective drawing. After the fish has caught the fly, the fishing line can be fed rapidly, and correspondingly, pulled back quickly since one round of fishing line around the holders corresponds to as much as over one meter, depending on the distance between the holders.

The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the inventive idea. The details of the invention may vary within the scope of the claims. For example the frame can be collapsible so that the device can be transported and stored without the fishing line more easily. In another possible arrangement the holders attached to the frame section are placed such that they can be folded, if necessary, parallel to the frame section or easily removed entirely from the frame section. The device thus takes only a little space sideways and it can be put in the same storage bag with the rod, for example. In another possible arrangement the length of the frame section of the device and the distance between the holders can be adjusted telescopically, for example, or by means of some other suitable mechanism. It is also possible that the holders are attached to the frame section after the user has cut the frame into a suitable length. Therefore a frame section of a standard length can be converted into a simple, durable and affordable device that suits the needs of each user and each intended use. It should be mentioned further that the device according to the invention is applicable particularly in fishing with a one-hand fly rod, but it can be used in connection with other types of fishing and fishing equipment, too.

Claims

1. A device for handling a fishing line, intended for use in fly fishing where a fly arranged in the fishing line is cast by means of a rod, characterized in that the device comprises a frame section (1), peg- like holders (2, 3) provided in the frame section spaced apart from one another, the pegs being substantially parallel at least during use, at least some of the fishing line (4) required in the fishing being wound around said holders (2, 3), and that the device is separate from the rod and it is to be used with the hand that does not handle the actual rod.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that the frame section (1) of the device is provided with a locking means (5) with which the fishing line (4) can be locked.

3. A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the free end of at least one holder (2, 3) is provided with a slot (8) for locking the fishing line (4).

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device comprises a flexible band (10) with which the fishing line (4) provided on the holder (2, 3) can be locked.

5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, char- acterized in that the length of the frame section (1) and/or the distance between the holders (2, 3) can be adjusted.

6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of the device is 30 to 60 cm, the device extending further out from the hand that holds it, and the device is thus arranged to make the casting of the fishing line more effective.

7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the holders (2, 3) can be folded parallel to the frame section (1) for the duration of transportation and storage.

8. An arrangement for fly fishing, comprising a rod with which a fly provided in a fishing line (4) is to be cast, the arrangement further comprising means for handling the fishing line, characterized in that the device used for handling the fishing line comprises a frame section (1), peg-like holders (2, 3) provided in the frame section spaced apart from one another, at least some of the fishing line needed for fishing being wound around said holders, and that the device used for handling the fishing line is separate from the rod and it is to be used with the hand that does not handle the rod.