Patent Application
20050077328
When fishing, a fisherman typically fishes in one or more locations, moving from place to place along a riverbank, bridge, dock, pier, or shoreline, or while trolling in a boat. A problem arises in keeping caught fish alive and healthy while the fisherman continues to fish. In order to breathe, the caught fish must be completely submerged. Floating at the surface, or being dragged at the surface, as while trolling, will cause gill or other damage in already distressed fish. In non-weighted fish stringers, caught fish are simply retained on a free-floating line. The weight of the caught fish is not sufficient to keep them submerged, as dead or injured fish will float. The present fish stringer retaining member is configured to solve two problems: the need to keep caught and retained fish submerged during stationary fishing and while trolling; and the need for a weighted member configured so as not to drive away fish of the size sought by the fisherman.
The present invention is a weighted retaining member for use with a stringer of the type used to secure fish that have been caught, keeping the retained fish fully submerged by the weight of the retaining member in the body of water being fished as they are retained on the stringer. The retaining member comprises a body in the general configuration of an animal or fish body, a fish configuration typically having a mouth and a tail. The body is configured to be operatively connected to a stringer such that the body is suspended from the stringer and hangs in a natural orientation of a fish or other animal to be found in the water near fish. The retaining member is accepted by fish as a part of the natural surroundings and may be used in proximity to a fishing lure without driving fish away. The retaining member is of a weight sufficient to pull and hold the caught fish under water, both while stationary and while in trolling motion.
In a preferred embodiment, the present invention may also be configured as a fish stringer having the retainer already pre-attached to one end of the stringer.
As shown in the preferred embodiment of
Retaining member 10 has sufficient size to prevent a retained fish, when strung onto cord-like member 12, from falling off of the retaining end 22 of the cord-like member.
The retaining member has the approximate shape and size of a fish or other animal and is made in a size commensurate with smaller fish so as to avoid spooking fish of the size sought by the fisherman. Retaining member 10 is suspended from the retaining end 22 of the cord-like member in a substantially upright position in a natural orientation of a fish or other animal. Because of the fish-like appearance of the retaining member, fish swimming in proximity to the retaining member or the stringer will not be spooked away by the retaining member.
Retaining member 10 typically has sufficient weight to pull the retaining end of the cord-like member underwater and may have, for example, a weight in the range of about ½ to 5 pounds. The weight of retaining member 10 is sufficient to keep the retained fish under water. For purposes of the present application, the sufficient weight of the retaining member to retain the caught fish under water may be integral to the retaining member, or the integral weight of the retaining member may be increased to sufficient weight by adding one or more supplementary weights, such as one or more weights coupled directly to the retaining member, or one or more supplemental weights strung down the cord-like member of the fish stringer, with such supplemental weights strung on the cord-like member resting above and being supported by the retaining member.
Retaining member 10 may be formed of a metal casting in the shape of a fish or animal to be found in waters to be fished. However, the retaining member may also be formed of other materials, weighted sufficiently to pull the retaining end of the cord-like member under water. Cord-like member 12 may be a braided rope, a plastic-covered cable, or other cord-like material suitable for retaining fish strung onto it. Typically, retaining member 10 has a substantially non-reflective surface, which may be painted or otherwise colored as desired.
A coupling portion 28 may be configured integrally to the retaining member, or a separate coupler 26 may be attached to the retaining member for securing the retaining member to the retaining end of the cord-like member or stringer. Cord like member 12 may be secured to the retaining member in any suitable manner, including passing the retaining end of the cord-like member through an aperture defined by a portion of the retaining member.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described. While the preferred embodiment has been described, the details may be changed without departing from the invention, which is defined by the claims.
