Abstract: A line shield has a tube that can be secured with respect to a sinker to guide the sinker over submerged obstructions. The tube has a tube passage, through which a line attached to the sinker passes, and terminates at a tube leading end and a tube trailing end. The tube is preferably secured to the sinker by a resilient hood having a hood passage sized to frictionally fit over the tube trailing end, and to frictionally fit over an eye of the sinker or a connecting element attached thereto, such as a snap. The frictional engagement of the resilient hood with the eye and the tube trailing end maintains the tube in close proximity to the sinker or connecting element. In use, the tube leading end is raised so that the tube acts as a ramp-shaped deflector to guide the sinker over obstructions.

Abstract: A linkable sinker which is particularly suitable for trolling can be used alone or linked end-to-end with similar sinkers. The sinker has an elongated weight with a weight passage and a wire member passing therethrough. The wire member terminates at a leading eye and a trailing eye; the eyes are spaced apart sufficiently that the wire member can be slid in the weight passage to remove a trailing eye leg from the weight passage to open the trailing eye, thereby allowing the leading eye of another sinker to be connected to form an articulated sinker. A resilient hood of compressible material is preferably provided, covering the leading eye. The resilient hood covers the space between adjacent weights when linked together. Preferably, the trailing eye is maintained in engagement with a trailing end of the weight to secure the leading eye of a subsequent sinker when connected to the trailing eye.

Abstract: A number of stackable weights can be bundled together and secured with a lashing to form a modular sinker of a desired weight. Each stackable weight has an elongated bar bounded by four side surfaces and having a fixed eye. A link member is movably attached to the fixed eye and terminates in a coupling eye. The link member provides a degree of motion between the coupling eye and the fixed eye of the bar, allowing the coupling eyes of multiple stackable weights to be connected together to a single fastener while the bars are positioned together in a side-by-side relationship. When so connected, the link members form a pyramid-shaped coupling structure that will reduce the likelihood of snagging the resulting modular sinker. The bars preferably have textured side surfaces to frictionally engage each other to maintain the bars parallel and to retain an elastic band that provides the lashing.

Abstract: A linkable sinker which is particularly suitable for trolling can be used alone or linked end-to-end with similar sinkers. The sinker has an elongated weight with a weight passage and a wire member passing therethrough. The wire member terminates at a leading eye and a trailing eye; the eyes are spaced apart sufficiently that the wire member can be slid in the weight passage to remove a trailing eye leg from the weight passage to open the trailing eye, thereby allowing the leading eye of another sinker to be connected to form an articulated sinker. A resilient hood of compressible material is preferably provided, covering the leading eye. The resilient hood covers the space between adjacent weights when linked together. Preferably, the trailing eye is maintained in engagement with a trailing end of the weight to secure the leading eye of a subsequent sinker when connected to the trailing eye.

Abstract: A number of stackable weights can be bundled together and secured with a lashing to form a modular sinker of a desired weight. Each stackable weight has an elongated bar bounded by four side surfaces and having a fixed eye. A link member is movably attached to the fixed eye and terminates in a coupling eye. The link member provides a degree of motion between the coupling eye and the fixed eye of the bar, allowing the coupling eyes of multiple stackable weights to be connected together to a single fastener while the bars are positioned together in a side-by-side relationship. When so connected, the link members form a pyramid-shaped coupling structure that will reduce the likelihood of snagging the resulting modular sinker. The bars preferably have textured side surfaces to frictionally engage each other to maintain the bars parallel and to retain an elastic band that provides the lashing.

Abstract: A line shield has a tube that can be secured with respect to a sinker to guide the sinker over submerged obstructions. The tube has a tube passage, through which a line attached to the sinker passes, and terminates at a tube leading end and a tube trailing end. The tube is preferably secured to the sinker by a resilient hood having a hood passage sized to frictionally fit over the tube trailing end, and to frictionally fit over an eye of the sinker or a connecting element attached thereto, such as a snap. The frictional engagement of the resilient hood with the eye and the tube trailing end maintains the tube in close proximity to the sinker or connecting element. In use, the tube leading end is raised so that the tube acts as a ramp-shaped deflector to guide the sinker over obstructions.

Abstract: The bait locating device for accurately positioning bait adjacent a particular fish to be caught. The device comprises a floatation member for causing desired floatation of the device, an attachment member for attaching the device to a suitable weighted member, via fishing line, to drag or sink the device to the bottom of the body of water and a spacer for spacing the bait a sufficient distance away from the floatation member. A method of locating bait adjacent fish is also disclosed in this application.