Abstract: A drag assembly is provided for a spinning fishing reel. The drag assembly includes a collar engaged with a mainshaft of a reel. The collar is fixed to the mainshaft for rotational movement with the mainshaft, but is fixed with respect to a housing against longitudinal movement with the mainshaft. The mainshaft is thereby free to oscillate longitudinally through the collar. A brake mechanism is also provided for selective engagement with the collar. The brake mechanism includes a brake surface. The brake surface makes selective contact with the collar to create a selective frictional force against rotation of the collar, and thereby against rotation of the mainshaft. An adjustment mechanism is also engaged with the brake mechanism. The adjustment mechanism causes more or less force to be applied to the brake mechanism, creating greater or lesser frictional force between the brake surface and the collar.

Abstract: A drag device for use with a fishing reel is provided that allows an angler to switch between a main drag mode and a secondary drag mode. The main drag mode is traditionally used to provide drag when trying to reel in a fish, while the secondary drag mode is traditionally used to provide finely-tuned drag when fishing with live bait. The drag device preferably includes a lever member that, when engaged, causes the fishing reel to switch between the main drag mode and secondary drag mode, as well as adjust the drag force of the secondary drag.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: A drag adjustment assembly includes a lever arm unit, a nut, a first keyed structure, a second keyed structure and a spring. The lever arm unit forms a housing and includes at least one keyway. The nut, first keyed structure and second keyed structure are positioned in the housing. The first keyed structure and second keyed structure each include at least one key which engages the at least one keyway. The inner surface of the nut is threaded, and an outer surface of the first keyed structure has a corresponding thread. The spring is positioned between the first and second keyed structures.

Abstract: Spinning reels for left or right-handed use have reduced internal friction by a selectively disengageable seal at the unused connection port.

Abstract: A shoe system including a shoe upper with a bottom side having an aperture extending to a cavity. The shoe system also includes a selectively removable outsole which includes a bottom for contacting the ground, and a top for engaging with the bottom of the shoe upper. The top side of the outsole further includes a projection which is sized and shaped to extend through the aperture and into the cavity when the outsole is in a first orientation, which is misaligned with respect to the shoe upper. The projection is also sized and shaped to fit within the cavity but no longer back through the aperture when the outsole is in a second orientation, which is aligned with respect to the shoe upper. In the second orientation, the projection within said cavity prevents disengagement of the outsole from the shoe upper.

Abstract: A method for packaging is described for enhancing the attractiveness of an artificial hydrophilic polymeric soft fish bait to fish, comprising: immersing or suspending said soft bait in a package with an aqueous suspension of biological fluids from an animal, the water-soluble fraction of biological fluids from an animal, or an artificial simulated fluid thereof, so that the soft bait absorbs said fluid and an animal odor/flavor components contained therein.

Abstract: A fishing reel including: a housing with a side plate, a gear stud rotatably disposed relative to the housing to rotate about a first axis, and a main gear concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud. The main gear interacts with another gear to rotate a spool about a second axis. The reel also includes a drag stack concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud, a one way clutch concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud, and a clutch sleeve disposed within and engaging the one-way clutch. The clutch sleeve is constrained to rotate with the gear stud. The reel further includes an adjustment member disposed outside the housing that provides a user interface for adjusting a desired drag, and a drag adjuster that transmits drag adjustments from the adjustment member to the drag stack without axially displacing the clutch sleeve.

Abstract: A bobber, including a buoyant body having a cavity at a first end connected with a passageway through the bobber, and a first shielding structure extending from the body at the first end and at least partially surrounding said cavity. When gravity and/or acceleration forces cause the bobber to slide down the fishing line, the diameter or cross-sectional dimension of the bobber body is sufficiently greater than the diameter or size of the first shielding structure to shield or hide the barbed tip of a fishing hook when a portion of the hook is disposed in the bobber cavity and the tip is disposed outside of the first shielding structure.

Abstract: A bobber, including a buoyant body having a cavity at a first end connected with a passageway through the bobber, and a first shielding structure extending from the body at the first end and at least partially surrounding said cavity. When gravity and/or acceleration forces cause the bobber to slide down the fishing line, the diameter or cross-sectional dimension of the bobber body is sufficiently greater than the diameter or size of the first shielding structure to shield or hide the barbed tip of a fishing hook when a portion of the hook is disposed in the bobber cavity and the tip is disposed outside of the first shielding structure.

Abstract: A fishing or hunting wader having an outer shell made of breathable fabric and also having a layer of insulation and a waterproof lining such that the wader is waterproof, insulated and breathable, the wader further comprises an attached boot

Abstract: A fishing reel including: a housing with a side plate, a gear stud rotatably disposed relative to the housing to rotate about a first axis, and a main gear concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud. The main gear interacts with another gear to rotate a spool about a second axis. The reel also includes a drag stack concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud, a one way clutch concentrically disposed relative to the gear stud, and a clutch sleeve disposed within and engaging the one-way clutch. The clutch sleeve is constrained to rotate with the gear stud. The reel further includes an adjustment member disposed outside the housing that provides a user interface for adjusting a desired drag, and a drag adjuster that transmits drag adjustments from the adjustment member to the drag stack without axially displacing the clutch sleeve.

Abstract: Braided or twisted lines made from a) gel spun polyolefin yarns and b) at least one other yarn or monofilament are stretched to increase line tenacity. If desired, stretching conditions can also be chosen to significantly reduce the denier of the line.

Abstract: The invention is directed to compositions comprising at least one water-soluble long-chain polyhydroxy polymer for making soft, biodegradable, artificial fishing lures that may readily be removed from a mold in their frozen state, to methods for making such fishing lures, and to the resultant fishing lures.

Abstract: Braided or twisted lines made from a) gel spun polyolefin yarns and b) at least one other yarn or monofilament are stretched to increase line tenacity. If desired, stretching conditions can also be chosen to significantly reduce the denier of the line.