Patent Application
20240196874
Embodiments relate generally to fishing lures, and more particularly to fishing lures with a lure body having a proximal end and a distal end extending longitudinally along a central axis, and a lure lip in a proximal end region of the lure body, protruding outwardly from the lure body at an angle to the central axis.
A variety of fishing lures have a wandering action when trolled submerged from a boat. Those skilled in the art often use the terms “wandering” and “searching” synonymously when describing such fishing lure action.
Wandering fishing lures often wander erratically. For example, while trolling one behind a boat, a wandering fishing lure starts at an initial position behind the boat after a desired amount of fishing line connected to the fishing lure has been released from the reel. The fishing lure begins to wander to one side of the course centerline that is established by the boat's direction of travel. Later, the fishing lure begins wandering back toward the course centerline. It may continue its wander to the other side of the course centerline or it may wander only partway toward the course centerline and then wander back away from the course centerline again. Erratic wandering such as this or other random variations thereof can continue in various paths until the fishing lure is brought back into the boat.
Two such commercially available wandering fishing lures are HeadLock and MattLock lures manufactured by Supernatural Big Baits with an address of 755 Prior Ave N #201, St Paul, MN 55104. Supernatural Big Baits are well known among many anglers who pursue large muskellunge and are cited by many anglers as embodying state of the art wandering fishing lure technology. During studies of HeadLock and MattLock lures purchased, it was determined that their lips were made with approximately 3/16 inch diameter clearance holes, through which a 3/16 inch nominal diameter clevis pin is inserted. According to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the loosest standard running clearance fit class is ANSI B4.1 RC9. The RC9 diameter for a 3/16 inch shaft is a maximum of 0.1905 inches. For further reference, the loosest ANSI B4.1 fit class is locational clearance fit class LC11. The LC11 diameter for a 3/16 inch shaft is 0.1945 inches. It was found during development of fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein that using a 13/64 (0.2031) inch diameter or greater diameter drill bit to create the clearance hole for a 3/16 clevis pin increased wandering action of a fishing lure. For the sake of clarity, the shank of a 13/64 inch diameter drill bit did not fit through any of the holes of any commercially available traditional wandering fishing lures examined.
The Supernatural Big Baits website provides teachings about the state of the art in their commercially available wandering fishing lures. The website states, in part: “Even though HeadLocks will run at 2.5 mph, they are really made for speed. Once you crank it up into the 4.5 mph to 6+ mph range, they violently come to life. At slower speeds they will have a tighter ‘wiggle’ with very little ‘wander’, but at higher speeds the ‘wander’ action is dominant.” Another teaching on the Supernatural Big Baits website states, in part: “The lips on the 10″ HeadLock, 12″ HeadLock and MattLock come with 3 depth settings. The shallowest setting is closest to the lip's edge/furthest way from the body. This setting is not only the shallowest diving, but is also the most erratic of the three and produces the best ‘searching’ action that the Supernatural Big Baits are known for. As you move positions back towards the body the depth of the dive increases with the deepest setting being the one furthest from the edge of the lip/closest to the body. Keep in mind: the deeper the setting—the less erratic the action. The deepest setting produces more of a tight wiggle without the erratic wobble of the shallow setting.”
Another commercially available wandering fishing lure is the Pelagic 10″ available from Lee Lures through the website leelures.com. The Pelagic 10″ is also well known among many anglers who pursue large muskellunge and is also cited by anglers as embodying state of the art wandering fishing lure technology. Measurements of a Pelagic 10″ indicated that its lip was also made with three holes through it, all the holes being approximately 3/16 inch diameter. A 3/16 inch nominal diameter clevis pin was inserted through one of the holes. A teaching on the Lee Lures website states, in part: “Lure can be trolled as slow as 1.5 mph and will start to ‘wander’ at around 3 mph on up”.
It was found during development of fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein that using a 13/64 (0.2031) inch diameter drill bit to create the clearance hole for a 3/16 clevis pin, rather than an ANSI standard clearance hole, decreased the trolling speed at which a fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein began to wander appreciably. It was also discovered that forming a tapered slot or a double-tapered slot through the lure lip for inserting the clevis pin through also decreased the trolling speed at which a fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein began to wander appreciably.
There exists a need among anglers who desire fishing lures that do not have decreased wandering amplitude at increased depth settings and/or desire fishing lures that begin to wander at slower trolling speeds. Fishing lures that are subject matter disclosed herein allow a greater degree of substantially rigid connector (for example, a clevis pin) tilt, resulting in greater wandering action amplitude. Embodiments that are subject matter disclosed herein do not have decreased wandering action amplitude at increased depth settings. Embodiments that are subject matter disclosed herein begin to wander at slower trolling speeds than traditional wandering fishing lures.
Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that if two fishing lures are made substantially identical to each other, except that the lure lip of one fishing lure is smaller than the lure lip of the other fishing lure, the fishing lure with the smaller lure lip will have less resistance when being pulled through water. Anglers have individual personal preference limits on how much resistance they are willing to tolerate when reeling in a fishing lure. A fishing lure having a lure body and a lure lip that are both scaled up in size may exceed an angler's personal preference limit of resistance during retrieval of the fishing lure. Yet, the angler may desire a fishing lure with that larger lure body size. Subject matter disclosed herein addresses that need. Fishing lures with a disproportionately smaller lure lip and that exhibit a greater degree of rolling action by allowing a greater degree of substantially rigid connector tilt are among the subject matter disclosed herein.
Embodiments described or otherwise contemplated herein substantially meet the aforementioned needs.
Fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein have a lure body having a proximal end and a distal end extending longitudinally along a central axis, a proximal end region, and two substantially mirror image side surfaces. A lure lip is provided in the proximal end region of the lure body. The lure lip has a top surface and a bottom surface. The lure lip protrudes outwardly from the lure body at an angle to the central axis. A surface of the lure lip may be planar, comprise one or more curves, or comprise one or more bends. The outline of a surface of a lure lip may be generally isosceles trapezoidal (square, rectangular, kite, etc.), regular polygonal (pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, etc.), irregular polygonal, ovate, round, rounded, coffin-shaped, or hybrids thereof. One or a plurality of holes are provided through the lure lip. In some embodiments, the plurality of holes are spaced along a centerline of the lure lip. The holes in the lure lip are sized to receive a substantially rigid connector inserted through a selected one of them. At least one hole through the lure lip is manufactured with a major axis or diameter substantially greater than the diameter of an ANSI standard clearance hole for a corresponding nominal diameter substantially rigid connector. In embodiments in which the lure lip features a plurality of holes, at least two of the holes may be configurated differently from one another.
In an embodiment, a plurality of holes through the lure lip are manufactured cylindrical in shape, each cylindrical shape having a diameter, and the diameter of a more distal hole is greater than the diameter of a more proximal hole, such that when a substantially rigid connector is used in conjunction with the fishing lure, the substantially rigid connector is allowed to tilt to a greater degree in the more distal hole than in the more proximal hole. The diameters of the holes may be sized such that the fishing lure has substantially the same wandering action amplitude with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation regardless of which hole the substantially rigid connector is positioned in. In other embodiments, the diameters of the holes may be sized such that the fishing lure has greater wandering action amplitude with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of the same fishing line out in operation when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more distal hole than the most proximal hole.
In another embodiment, at least one hole through the lure lip is manufactured as a tapered slot. The tapered slot has a major axis at either the top surface or the bottom surface of the lure lip substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip, a minor axis perpendicular to its major axis, and is substantially round on the other surface of the lure lip. In embodiments in which the tapered slot is formed by tilting a drill bit side to side, the end of the tapered slot that is substantially round may be slightly ovate due to the angle of the tilted drill bit. The substantially round hole in this configuration has the same minor axis as the rest of the tapered slot. The tapered slot is configured to receive a substantially rigid connector and to allow the substantially rigid connector to tilt more in the tapered slot than the substantially rigid connector would be allowed to tilt in a cylindrical hole having the same diameter as the minor axis of the tapered slot. In an embodiment with a plurality of holes through the lure lip, the major axis of a tapered slot more distal than a more proximal hole may be sized such that the fishing lure has substantially the same amplitude of wandering action with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation as it has when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more proximal hole. In other embodiments, the major axis of a tapered slot more distal than a more proximal hole may be sized such that the fishing lure has greater amplitude of wandering action with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation than it has when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more proximal hole.
In another embodiment, at least one hole is manufactured as a double-tapered slot. The double-tapered slot has a first major axis at the top surface of the lure lip. The first major axis is substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip. A midsection of the double-tapered slot has a second major axis substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip. The double-tapered slot has a third major axis at the bottom surface of the lure lip. The third major axis is substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip. The double-tapered slot has a minor axis, substantially perpendicular to the three major axes. The double-tapered slot is configured to receive a substantially rigid connector. The double-tapered slot is configured to allow the substantially rigid connector to tilt more in the double-tapered slot than it would be allowed to tilt in a cylindrical hole having the same diameter as the minor axis of the double-tapered slot. In an embodiment with a plurality of holes through the lure lip, the first major axis and the third major axis of a double-tapered slot more distal than a more proximal hole may be sized such that the fishing lure has substantially the same amplitude of wandering action with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation as it has when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more proximal hole. In other embodiments, the first major axis and the third major axis of the double-tapered slot more distal than a more proximal hole may be sized such that the fishing lure has greater amplitude of wandering action with the fishing lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation than it has when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more proximal hole.
A fishing lure embodying subject matter disclosed herein for connection to a substantially rigid connector having a nominal diameter can be made by providing a lure body extending longitudinally along a central axis, providing a lure lip having a centerline, forming at least one hole through the lure lip along its centerline, the at least one hole having a substantially greater major axis or diameter than the diameter of an ANSI standard clearance hole for the corresponding nominal diameter of the substantially rigid connector, and attaching the lure lip to the lure body at an angle relative to the central axis of the lure body.
In an embodiment, the lure lip may be made with a plurality of cylindrical holes, with the smallest diameter hole being more proximal than a more distal hole having a larger diameter.
In an embodiment, the lure lip may be made with a tapered slot. The tapered slot has a major axis cross-directional to the centerline of the lure lip, and there may be at least another hole through the lure lip. The tapered slot may be more distal than a more proximal hole having a smaller major axis or diameter.
In an embodiment, at least one hole may be a double-tapered slot having a first major axis at a top surface of the lure lip, a second major axis at its midsection, and a third major axis at a bottom surface of the lure lip. The first major axis, second major axis, and third major axis are substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip. The double-tapered slot has a minor axis along the centerline of the lure lip. The double-tapered slot may have longer first and third major axes than a more proximal hole having a shorter major axis or diameter.
In some fishing applications, a user may prefer a fishing lure embodying subject matter disclosed herein having a non-ANSI standard cylindrical clearance hole over a fishing lure embodying subject matter disclosed herein having a tapered slot with a major axis equal to the diameter of the cylindrical hole. A cylindrical hole greater in diameter than an ANSI standard clearance hole allows the substantially rigid connector to not only tilt side to side, but forward as well, decreasing the dive angle and operating depth of the fishing lure. One application in which this may be desirable is in practicing the method of fishing using a plurality of fishing lures described in greater detail later in this disclosure.
In some other fishing applications, a user may prefer a tapered slot or double-tapered slot over a cylindrical hole having a diameter equal to the major axis of the tapered slot or a major axis of a double-tapered slot. The slot restrains the substantially rigid connector from tilting forward along the centerline of a lure lip, so the dive angle and operating depth of the fishing lure are not changed.
In embodiments in which positioning of the substantially rigid connector in a more distal hole results in the same amplitude of wandering as when the substantially rigid connecter is positioned in a more proximal hole, the distal end of the fishing lure may swing side to side (“tail wiggle”) more in operation when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more distal hole than when it is positioned in the more proximal hole. This results in the fishing lure having consistent wandering aptitude at all settings plus choices of tail wiggle action an angler can select from by positioning the substantially rigid connector in the hole through the lure lip producing the desired tail wiggle action.
Subject matter disclosed herein includes a lure lip for a fishing lure. The lure lip may be substantially a plate having a plurality of holes each configured to allow a substantially rigid connector to have differing degrees of predetermined tilt relative to a top surface of the lure lip when the substantially rigid connector is inserted thereto. The holes may be cylindrical and of differing diameters. One or more of the holes may be a tapered slot. One or more of the holes may be a double-tapered slot.
Subject matter disclosed herein includes a method of making a fishing lure, comprising forming hole(s) in a lure lip and attaching the lure lip to a lure body. For example, a lure maker may decide whether to form hole(s) in the lure lip before or after assembly of the lure lip to the lure body. If the lure maker decides to form the hole(s) before assembly, then the lure maker proceeds with forming a hole through the lure lip before assembly. The hole may be a cylindrical hole, a tapered slot, or a double-tapered slot. The lure maker decides whether to form one or more additional holes, configured differently from the first hole formed. The differently configurated hole(s) may be cylindrical hole(s) with differing diameter(s), one or more tapered slots, and/or one or more double-tapered slots. The lure maker attaches the lure lip to the lure body. However, the lure maker may instead decide to attach the lure lip to the lure body before forming the hole(s) through the lure lip, or the lure maker may decide to form at least one hole before assembly and at least another hole after assembly.
Subject matter disclosed herein also includes a kit comprising at least two fishing lures, each of the fishing lures comprising a lure body having a proximal end and a distal end extending longitudinally along a central axis, a proximal end region, and two side surfaces. Each of the at least two fishing lures has a lure lip provided in the proximal end region of the lure body having a top surface and a bottom surface. The lure lip protrudes outwardly from the lure body at an angle to the central axis, and at least one hole is provided through the lure lip. The hole(s) through the lure lip are sized to receive a substantially rigid connector inserted through a selected one of them and are configured to enable the substantially rigid connector to tilt in operation of the fishing lure. At least one hole in one fishing lure's lip is configured differently from at least one hole in a second fishing lure's lure lip, and the holes in the lure lips of the at least two fishing lures are configured such that the at least two fishing lures have substantially the same wandering action with the fishing lure moving at a given speed while each of the at least two fishing lures is connected to a different amount of fishing line out in operation. The lips of the at least two fishing lures may be configured substantially identical to each other and a substantially rigid connector may be inserted through a more proximal hole in the lure lip of one fishing lure and another substantially rigid connector through a more distal hole in the lure lip of a second fishing lure.
The kit may comprise at least three fishing lures, the third fishing lure having a lure lip with a hole through it that is configured differently from a hole through the lure lip of a first fishing lure and also configured differently from a hole through the lure lip of a second fishing lure in the kit. The lips of the at least three fishing lures may each have one hole through them or may be configured substantially identical to each other, each having a most proximal hole, a most distal hole configured differently from the most proximal hole, and a third hole in between the other two and configured differently from the other two.
In operation of a kit comprising three identically configured fishing lures having, for example, three holes through their lure lips, a substantially rigid connector is placed through the most proximal hole of the lure lip of a fishing lure to be trolled in a trailing position in an array of three fishing lures trailing behind the tip eyes of fishing rods mounted on a gunnel of a boat in motion. A substantially rigid connector is placed through the most distal hole of the lure lip of a fishing lure to be trolled in a leading position in an array. A substantially rigid connector is placed through the hole between the most proximal hole and the most distal hole through the lure lip of a fishing lure to be trolled in an intermediate position in an array.
In another exemplary embodiment, each of the plurality of fishing lures is configured with a single hole through its lure lip configured for the fishing lure to be used in a particular location in operation in the array (leading, trailing, or intermediate) and the hole through each lure lip is configured differently than the holes in the lure lips of the other fishing lures in the kit. Other combinations and numbers of differently configured holes through lure lips are within the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein.
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein can be made in sizes suitable for catching fish of a wide range of sizes and species. The upper and lower contours of the fishing lure, as viewed from the side, can be any number of shapes, including arch shaped, drop-belly shaped, straight, straight with sloped ends, tapered, fusiform, or other shapes without departing from the subject matter claimed herein. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the thicker and/or harder the material that the lure lip is made from is, the more durable the tolerances of the holes through the lure lip will be over repeated use.
The above summary is not necessarily intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify these embodiments.
Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the subject matter in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
While embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit subject matter hereof to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of subject matter hereof in accordance with the appended claims.
Fishing lures and lure lips described in greater detail by way of example herein provide improved wandering action and/or improved rolling action. Also described in greater detail by way of example herein are fishing lures having the same or greater wandering amplitude at settings configured to increase tail wiggle. Also described in greater detail by way of example herein is a method of making fishing lures having improved wandering action and/or rolling action. Also described in greater detail by way of example herein are kits comprising fishing lures having improved wandering action and/or rolling action. Also described in greater detail by way of example herein is a method of fishing with a plurality of wandering fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein.
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A headless clevis pin secured on one end with a pin or split ring through a hole in it may be substituted for the single hole clevis pin. Optionally, a washer may be placed over the headless clevis pin after a pin or split ring is inserted through a hole in it and before the headless clevis pin is inserted through the hole in the lure lip. Longer or shorter clevis pins may be used. Other substantially rigid connectors may be substituted; for example, a metallic or plastic upright member that can be inserted through a hole in a lure lip and be restrained by its configuration from pulling out of the lure lip in operation. A bolt, screw, or rivet can be suitably configured by drilling a clearance hole through it for attachment of a split ring, or a locknut could be installed on the threaded portion of a bolt or screw so that a snap can be attached directly to the bolt or machine screw. The lure lip may be made from aluminum, steel, stainless steel, titanium, brass, substantially rigid plastic, or other substantially rigid material.
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A lure body 16 made from wood may optionally be coated with a wood sealant. The lure body 16 may optionally be painted with a pattern pleasing to the lure maker. The lure body 16 may optionally be sealed with one or more coatings of epoxy.
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In some embodiments, a desired orientation during static flotation of a fishing lure 10 having substantially mirror image side surfaces 28a and 28b that are substantially planar is that the side surfaces 28a and 28b remain substantially vertical during static flotation, and distal end 22 floats at the same elevation as proximal end 20 or floats higher in elevation than proximal end 20.
In operation, an angler attaches the fishing lure 10 using a substantially rigid connector 2 positioned in the lure lip 6, which in turn is connected to a fishing line, directly or with a split ring 8 or a split ring 8 in combination with an attachment device such as a snap, the fishing line typically being connected to the angler's reel mounted on a fishing rod. An exemplary snap is a Mustad brand Stay-Lok Snap, size #5, available from Thorne Brothers Custom Rod & Tackle at 10091 Central Ave NE, Blaine, MN 55434. The angler casts the fishing lure 10 or releases a desired amount of line from the angler's reel with the angler's boat in motion to troll the fishing lure 10 behind the boat. The geometric relationships between the lure lip 6 and lure body 16 cause the fishing lure 10 to be unstable in the horizontal plane during motion in the water and wandering action results. The clearance between the inside of hole 4 and the substantially rigid connector 2 enables the substantially rigid connector 2 to both tilt and swivel. The angler, in this example, mounts the fishing rod to the boat such that the tip eye of the fishing rod is along the centerline of the boat. Increased clearance between the substantially rigid connector 2 and a hole 4 through the lure lip 6 that receives the substantially rigid connector 2 allows the fishing lure to travel further out to a side, away from a boat's course centerline, before being restrained by the substantially rigid connector 2 resting on a corner formed by the hole and the top surface of the lure lip, such that the fishing lure 10 tips sideways to its maximum extent and course corrects back toward the centerline of the boat's direction of travel.
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Wandering fishing lures of various lengths may be made by scaling up or down the proportions of the lure lip and lure body shown in
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Traditional wisdom indicates that using an ANSI standard diameter clearance hole for a 3/16 inch nominal diameter clevis pin results in predictable action and the maximum resistance of lure lip material against the head of the clevis pin being pulled through the clearance hole if the fishing lure catches a fish or strikes an obstruction while it is being trolled. However, it was determined through experimentation that larger holes can be used, especially if the lure is manufactured with a thicker lure lip than the traditional lures discussed in the Background section hereof. Alternatively to, or in conjunction with, a thicker lure lip, a flat washer may be placed over the shank of the clevis pin before it is inserted through a hole in the lure lip.
Fishing lures embodying subject matter disclosed herein can be made that have three cylindrical holes through their lure lips, each progressively larger in diameter. For example, the most proximal hole may be formed using a 13/64 inch diameter drill bit, the middle hole may be formed using a 7/32 inch diameter drill bit, and the most distal hole may be formed using a 15/64 inch drill bit. The diameters a lure maker decides to make in the progression may depend on overall fishing lure hydrodynamic characteristics. For example, in some embodiments a progression of ¼ inch, 13/63 inch, and 7/32 inch are desirable. In other embodiments, a progression of metric hole diameters may be formed for receiving a substantially rigid connector. In other embodiments, such as when the holes are formed by a method other than drilling, other diameter size progressions may be formed.
In an embodiment, a 3/16 inch nominal diameter clevis pin is positioned in a selected one of the holes at a time. In an embodiment with three holes, depending on the spacing of the holes along the centerline of the lure lip, the wandering action amplitude of the fishing lure in operation is substantially the same or increased as the position of the substantially rigid connector is changed from the most proximal hole to either of the other two holes, and the tail wiggle action is greater the further distal the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the lure lip.
The clevis pin is also enabled to tip in the distal and proximal directions more in the 7/32 inch diameter hole than in the 13/64 inch hole, and more in the 15/64 inch diameter hole than in the 7/32 diameter hole. In embodiments, an advantage of this configuration having a plurality of cylindrical holes is that it is easy to make the holes by drilling or punching. This configuration may be used in embodiments in which it is desirable to enable substantially rigid connector to tilt distally and proximally in operation, and not just side-to-side, cross-directionally to the centerline of the lure lip.
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In an exemplary embodiment, three cylindrical holes can, for example, be drilled through the lure lip of a fishing lure using a 13/64 inch diameter drill bit. The most distal hole can then be re-machined from the top into a tapered slot by tilting the drill bit side to side cross-directionally to the centerline of the lure lip at, for example, approximately 25 degrees to either side from the top side of the lure lip. The resulting shape of the tapered slot at the bottom of the lure lip will be slightly ovate, yet substantially round. The middle hole can be modified from cylindrical to a tapered slot as well, but configured differently, made by tilting the drill bit side to side cross-directionally to the centerline of the lure lip, for example, approximately half as much as it was tilted to make the most distal hole. If the tapered slot is made by tilting a drill bit, the tapered slot will have a second major axis 57 substantially perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip at the surface of the lure lip that the drill bit exited the lure lip. The second major axis 57 will be slightly wider than the diameter of the drill bit, due to the drill bit machining the tapered slot at an angle. Though the exit formed by tilting the drill side to side creates a slightly ovate shape at the blind side surface of the lure lip, the shape will still be substantially round. However, a tapered slot can be formed by other metal removal or forming processes such that there is no second major axis created, the tapered slot being more truly round on the blind side surface of the lure lip.
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Substantially rigid connector 102, for example, a 3/16 inch diameter clevis pin can be positioned in a select one of each of the three holes and to achieve a desired wandering action in operation at each clevis pin position in the lure lip. The desired wandering action may be approximately equal at each pin position, or greater with the clevis pin positioned in a hole more distal than a hole more proximal, depending on the spacing of the tapered slots along the centerline of the lure lip and the angle at which each tapered slot was formed.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that if two fishing lures are made substantially identical to each other, except that the lure lip of one fishing lure is smaller than the lure lip of the other fishing lure, the fishing lure with the smaller lip will have less resistance when being pulled through water. Anglers have individual personal preference limits as to how much resistance they are willing to tolerate when reeling in a fishing lure. A lure body and lure lip both scaled up proportionately in size may exceed an angler's personal preference limit of resistance. Yet, the angler may desire a fishing lure with that larger lure body size. In an embodiment, a fishing lure can be made with a lure lip not fully scaled up in proportion to the scaled-up lure body. A cylindrical hole may be drilled through the lure lip and then re-machined into tapered slot. A clevis pin may be positioned in the tapered slot. In operation, such a fishing lure with a smaller, not-scaled-up lure lip will have less wandering action amplitude than it would if it had been made with a lure lip scaled up proportionately to the lure body. However, due to the clevis pin being allowed to tilt side to side in the tapered slot, the fishing lure will have greater side to side rolling action when trolled behind a boat, rotating partially about the central axis of the lure body in one direction (e.g., clockwise) and then rotating partially about the central axis of the lure body in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise), than the fishing lure had before the hole was modified from a cylindrical hole to a tapered slot.
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In an embodiment, a fishing lure with a plurality of 13/64 inch diameter holes can, for example, be modified by re-machining the most distal hole, tilting the 13/64 inch drill bit approximately 12 degrees side to side cross-directionally to the centerline of the lure lip to create a tapered slot. Then the lure lip can then be turned over to expose the opposite surface and the re-machining process repeated, tilting the 13/64 inch drill bit approximately 12 degrees side to side cross-directionally to the centerline of the lure lip to create a double-tapered slot. Another hole located in between the most proximal hole and the most distal hole may be configured differently, forming a double-tapered slot by tilting the drill bit side to side by, for example, approximately six degrees.
In an embodiment, a double-tapered slot can, for example, be formed by tilting the drill bit back and forth more on one side of the lure lip than on the other side of the fishing lure lip, resulting in a double-tapered slot that is not symmetrical.
A double-tapered slot can be formed by other metal removal or forming processes such that the length of the second major axis 70 is substantially equal in length to minor axis 66.
The double-tapered slot 62 is configured to receive a substantially rigid connector. The double-tapered slot 62 is configured to allow the substantially rigid connector to tilt more in the double-tapered slot 62 than it would be allowed to tilt in a cylindrical hole having the same diameter as the length of minor axis 66 of the double-tapered slot 62.
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The holes in lure lip 6′″ may be configured such that when the substantially rigid connector 202 is positioned in any one of them the fishing lure has substantially the same amplitude of wandering action with the lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation. In other embodiments, the holes in the lure lip may be configured such that when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in a hole more distal than a more proximal hole, the fishing lure has greater amplitude of wandering action with the lure moving at a given speed with a given amount of fishing line out in operation than it has when the substantially rigid connector is positioned in the more proximal hole.
In an embodiment, a fishing lure can be made with a lure lip not fully scaled up in proportion to the scaled-up lure body. A cylindrical hole may be drilled through the lure lip and then re-machined into a double-tapered slot. A clevis pin may be positioned in the double-tapered slot. In operation, such a fishing lure with a smaller, not-scaled-up lure lip will have less wandering action amplitude than it would if it had been made with a lure lip scaled up proportionately to the lure body. However, due to the clevis pin being allowed to tilt side to side in the double-tapered slot, the fishing lure will have greater side to side rolling action when trolled behind a boat, rotating partially about the central axis of the lure body in one direction (e.g., clockwise) and then rotating partially about the central axis of the lure body in the opposite direction (e.g., counterclockwise), than the fishing lure had before the hole was modified from a cylindrical hole to a double-tapered slot.
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If the lure maker decides not to form any additional holes, then the lure maker proceeds to step 414, attaching the lure lip to the lure body, completing the process. Alternatively, if the lure maker decides at step 410 to form any additional holes through the lure lip, then at step 412 the lure maker forms the additional hole(s) through the lure lip. After forming the holes at step 412, the lure maker attaches the lure lip to the lure body at step 414, completing the process.
If instead at step 406, the lure maker decides not to form the hole(s) before assembly, then at step 416, the lure maker attaches the lure lip to the lure body. Then at step 418, the lure maker proceeds with forming a hole through the lure lip. The hole may be a cylindrical hole, a tapered slot, or a double-tapered slot. At step 420, the lure maker decides whether to form one or more additional holes, configured differently from the hole formed at step 418. The differently configurated hole(s) may be cylindrical hole(s) with differing diameters, one or more tapered slots, and/or one or more double-tapered slots.
If the lure maker decides not to form any additional holes at step 420, then the process has been completed. Alternatively, if the lure maker decides at step 420 to form any additional holes through the lure lip, then at step 422 the lure maker forms the additional hole(s) through the lure lip. After forming the holes at 422, the process has been completed.
It is to be understood that the lure maker may provide the lure lip and form one or more holes through it before providing the lure body without departing from the spirit and scope of the method of making a fishing lure described herein. It is also to be understood that a lure maker may form one hole in the lure lip before attaching it to the lure body and forming at least another hole through the lure lip after attaching it to the lure body, without departing from the spirit and scope of the method of making a fishing lure described herein. It is also to be understood that the lure maker may have lure lips with holes pre-formed in them pre-fabricated for the lure maker and/or the lure bodies may be pre-fabricated for the lure maker without departing from the spirit and scope of the method of making a fishing lure described herein.
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Erratic wandering paths such as this and other random variations thereof can continue in various paths until the lure is brought back into the boat, ending the trolling session.
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An angler may select, for example, three substantially identically configured fishing lures 614, 616, and 618 configured to achieve substantially the same amplitude of wandering action at the same operating depth with different amounts of fishing line out. Although operation of three fishing lures is illustrated, in other embodiments fewer or more than three fishing lures may be connected to the gunnel of the boat.
The three fishing lures illustrated in the
The angler may insert substantially rigid connector 634 through the most proximal hole of lure lip 624 and then attach it, directly or indirectly, to fishing line 644 which is attached to fishing rod 604 at its other end. The angler may then release (let out) a desired amount of fishing line 644 until fishing lure 614, the trailing lure, reaches a desired distance behind starboard side 601 of boat 600.
The angler may insert substantially rigid connector 636 through the hole in between the most proximal hole of lure lip 626 and the most distal hole of lure lip 626 and then attach it, directly or indirectly, to fishing line 646 which is attached to fishing rod 606 at its other end. The angler may then release a desired amount of line 646 until fishing lure 616 approaches close enough to fishing line 644 to cause concern in the angler that fishing lure 616 may become fouled on fishing line 644. The angler may then pause releasing fishing line 646 until fishing lure 616 reaches its target running depth, and then release additional fishing line 646 until fishing lure 616, the intermediate fishing lure in the array, reaches a desired distance ahead of fishing lure 614. Because the substantially rigid connector 636 has been inserted in lure lip 626 of fishing lure 616 at a steeper dive setting than substantially rigid connect 634 had been inserted in lure lip 624 of fishing lure 614, fishing line 646 is not parallel to fishing line 644. Rather, the fishing lines diverge from each other the farther they get from the gunnel. Thus, the distance between fishing lure 614 and fishing lure 616 is greater than the distance between fishing rod 604 and fishing rod 606.
Fishing lure 616 will present more yawing (tail wiggle) action than fishing lure 614, because rigid connector 636 is positioned more distal in lure lip 626 than rigid connector 634 is positioned in lure lip 624.
The angler may insert substantially rigid connector 638 through the most distal hole of lure lip 628 and then attach it, directly or indirectly, to fishing line 648 which is attached to fishing rod 608 at its other end. The angler may then release a desired amount of fishing line 648 until fishing lure 618 approaches close enough to fishing line 646 to cause concern in the angler that fishing lure 618 may become fouled on fishing line 646. The angler may then pause releasing fishing line until fishing lure 618 reaches its target running depth and then release additional fishing line 648 until fishing lure 618, the leading fishing lure in the array, reaches a desired distance ahead of fishing lure 616. Because the substantially rigid connector 638 has been inserted in lure lip 628 of fishing lure 618 at a steeper dive setting than substantially rigid connect 636 had been inserted in lure lip 626 of fishing lure 616, fishing line 648 is not parallel to fishing line 646. Rather, the fishing lines diverge from each other the farther they get from the gunnel. Thus, the distance between fishing lure 616 and fishing lure 618 is greater than the distance between fishing rod 606 and fishing rod 608.
Fishing lure 618 will present more yawing (tail wiggle) action than fishing lure 616, because rigid connector 638 is positioned more distal in lure lip 628 than rigid connector 636 is positioned in lure lip 626.
Each fishing lure is the array may optionally have been painted with a different pattern. For example, fishing lure 614 may be painted to imitate the appearance of a white sucker, fishing lure 616 may be painted to imitate the appearance of a walleye, and fishing lure 618 may be painted to imitate the appears of a yellow perch. The color pattern of each fishing lure can be selected to match the relative natural amount of tail wiggle action a given species of prey fish would exhibit versus a different species of prey fish.
If the boat is driven in a straight path, three different tail wiggle actions are presented to the target gamefish in a succession. If the boat is driven in a sinuous path, such as when the driver is following a sinuous lake bottom contour line, the paths of the fishing lures will differ. An angler may further troll three additional fishing lures configured substantially identical to each other off the port side of the boat in a similar manner, covering a greater span of water and using additional lure color patterns if desired. The port side fishing lures may be configured to have more or less wander than the starboard side fishing lures.
Three substantially identically configured fishing lures were discussed by way of example above. Fewer or more fishing lures may be used per side of a boat. For example, substantially identically configured fishing lures may be provided with four differently configured holes through their lure lips, each hole configured differently to operate as the leading, second in line, third in line, and trailing fishing lure in the array. Alternatively, each of the fishing lures could be provided with a single hole configured specifically to operate as the leading, second in line, third in line, or trailing fishing lure in the array.
Fishing lures for practicing the above disclosed method of fishing may be sold individually or in kits, and may include instructions on how to operate a plurality of the fishing lures from a side of a boat generally in accordance with the method described above.
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Lure lip 806 has a top surface 830, a bottom surface (not shown) opposing the top surface 830, a proximal end surface 810, and two side surfaces 832a and 832b. Lure lip 806 has tapered slot 804 through it. Tapered slot 804 has a major axis perpendicular to the centerline of the lure lip 806 at top surface 830 and is substantially round at the bottom surface, resulting in tapered slot end surface 812a and tapered slot end surface 812b. Before operation of the fishing lure 800, a clevis pin 802 is inserted through tapered slot 804, a split ring 808 is connected to the clevis pin 802, and a snap 836 connected to a fishing line (not shown) is connected to split ring 808. The tow force transmitted through the fishing line, snap 836, and split ring 808, transmits to clevis pin 802 at an upward angle relative to the top surface 830 of the lure lip 806, because, in part, the tip eye of the fishing rod in this example is above water and the fishing lure is below water.
When fishing lure 800 reaches an amplitude crest (see, for example, fishing lure course position 522 in
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The embodiments above are intended to be illustrative and not limiting. Additional embodiments are within the claims. Although subject matter hereof has been described with reference to particular embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter.
Various modifications to subject matter hereof may be apparent to one of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure. For example, persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that the various features described for the different embodiments disclosed herein can be suitably combined, un-combined, and re-combined with other features, alone, or in different combinations, within the spirit of the subject matter. Likewise, the various features described above should all be regarded as example embodiments, rather than limitations to the scope or spirit of the subject matter. Therefore, the above is not contemplated to limit the scope of the subject matter.
The present patent application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/476,176 titled “Fishing Lures” filed on Dec. 20, 2022, which is fully incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63476176 | Dec 2022 | US |
