Abstract: A bait harness for use with an elongated shank fishhook, the harness having first and second sets of arm members which define bait-receiving openings, each set of arms being of lengths of resilient wire or ribbon material oriented in a bait-conforming configuration. The length of material associated with each set of arms is formed into a bight for securement of the harness to the shank, there being a length of the material interengaging the sets of arms to maintain the sets of arms in spaced-apart relationship on the shank. The harness effectively and safely secures live bait, such as a minnow in swimming positions on the fishhook adjacent its barbed hook.

Abstract: A protector for covering the front face of a "plug-cut herring" to maintain the front face of the plug at a predetermined angle. The protector is basically a cap having a planar face and a cylindrical wall adapted to extend rearwardly along the sides of the herring when the inside surface of the cap member abuts the front face of the herring. A pair of spaced apart apertures are formed in the face of the cover for allowing a leader terminating in a pair of hooks to extend through the cover. The speed at which the herring oscillates as it is towed through the water is determined by which of the two apertures the leader passes. The plug-cut herring protector may be formed of a wide variety of materials and colors and it may be fabricated in a variety of sizes to accommodate a wide range of plug sizes.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a body member in the form of a transparent container in which a bait may be placed. The improvement provides a plurality of blades pivotally mounted on the container and severally adapted to freely move through an arc of approximately 180 degrees between two inoperative positions against the container. A hook member is mounted on the container for pivotal movement about an axis perpendicular to the pivotal axis of the blade. The hook member may be selectively moved to a concealed position against the container to allow the blade to freely pivot to either inoperative position as the lure is raised or lowered. Alternatively, the hook member may be moved to an extended position to hold the blade in an operative extended position for causing the container to rotate as the lure is raised. The blade may further include a metallic strip configured to capture and hold the blade on its extended position so that the container will be caused to rotate when the lure is both raised and lowered.

Abstract: An improved fish hook and assembly comprising a line for connection to a fishing reel and line, a leader element forming a line having a loop connecting the end of the line and a hook at its other end, and having a sink weight identity element connected at an intermediate point thereof, a weight leader having a loop end means at one end and being threaded onto the leader element between the sink weight identity element and its loop, a sleeve of essentially plastic material having a weight element at one end and a slot extending throughout the other end for receiving therein a hook when baited, together with a length of the weight leader and the leader element, and a distal end of the weight leader passing through an aperture at the bottom of the sleeve.