This invention generally relates to a tippet line used for sport fishing and more particularly to a tippet line for fly fishing having an enlarged section adapted to receive a hook.
In the sport of fly fishing, an angler uses a long, flexible fly rod made of bamboo, fiberglass, or graphite, and a fly reel to hold a floating or non-floating fly line that is attached to a tapered or non-tapered leader upon which an artificial fly or insect replica is attached. The free end of the leader is often referred to as the tippet. The tippet end of the leader is often replaced or added to by non-tapered tippet material which is unwound from a spool, severed at a desired length and tied to the end of the leader. Each of the lines are traditionally tied together with one of several knots. For example, an angler ordinarily secures the leader line to the tippet via a blood knot or a surgeon's knot.
The leader and the tippet line are typically monofilament and clear, providing a nearly invisible transition from the fly line to the fly, thus presenting the fly or the lure in a more attractive manner to the fish.
Although fly fishing is sometimes performed using a single fly, it is not uncommon for an angler to secure a second, or may be even a third fly to the line. As discussed herein, the fly attached directly to the end of the leader is referred to as the “point fly” and if additional flies are attached, those additional flies are referred to as “dropper flies”.
Problems associated with attaching dropper flies using the traditional method include the fact that many traditionally reliable knots are difficult to tie while fishing and can be especially difficult if the angler has poor eyesight or finger dexterity. Moreover, because the tippet frequently needs replaced as a result of breakage or a change in fishing conditions, the angler must tie several knots over the course of a fishing outing.
The present invention overcomes the problems associated with the traditional devices by utilizing a hook to directly secure the tippet line to the leader, thereby eliminating the need for an angler to tie a knot.
The present invention is a tippet line for fly fishing. The tippet line is normally stored on a spool until a desired amount of tippet material is unwound and severed from the spool, just prior to use. When severed, the tippet line includes a first end, a second end for attaching a dropper fly, and an enlarged section adapted to receive a hook. While stored on the spool, the enlarged sections are spaced apart in equidistant intervals. The equidistant interval may be any predetermined length such as 4 feet or 6 feet.
The enlarged section extends from the tippet line between the first end and the second end. The enlarged section may either define a pre-formed hole or slot therein, a perforated slot, or be made of pierceable material to receive the hook. In one preferred embodiment, the enlarged section comprises fibers to increase the tensile strength of the enlarged section relative to the other portions of the tippet line. The enlarged section may optionally include a flexible ring positioned around the edge of the slot for receiving the hook to prevent the enlarged section from tearing.
Further details and advantages will be understood from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is described in further detail with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
There are three main attachment setups for attaching a dropper fly to a point fly. As shown in
The tippet line 1 provided by the present invention is adapted to receive a bend of a hook to directly attach a dropper fly 3, thereby eliminating the need for the angler to tie a knot. As shown in
The tippet line 1 may be manufactured from any material in which traditional tippet lines are manufactured, including monofilament, fluorocarbon, or nylon.
While wound on the spool 2, the tippet line 1 includes a plurality of enlarged sections 9 that extend radially from the longitudinal axis L. The plurality of enlarged sections 9 are spaced apart in equidistant intervals. The equidistant interval may be any predetermined length including, for example, 4 feet as shown in
The enlarged section 9 may be formed as any shape including, but not limited to globular, cylindrical, conical, double conical (
The tensile strength of the enlarged section 9 is at least equal to, or preferably greater than, the tensile strength of the other portion of the tippet line 1 to prevent failure of the tippet line 1 at the enlarged section 9 as a result of the hook 11.
As shown in
As shown in
The tippet line 1 disclosed herein is advantageous over the traditional device as it directly receives the hook 11 eliminating the need for the angler to tie the dropper fly 3 to the hook 11 or the leader.
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While embodiments of a tippet line are shown in the accompanying figures and described hereinabove in detail, other embodiments will be apparent to, and readily made by, those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this disclosure pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 62/449,244, filed Jan. 23, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/US2018/014620 | 1/22/2018 | WO | 00 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62449244 | Jan 2017 | US |