Abstract: A battery-powered lighted fishing rod including: a handle having a forward end; a shaft extending from the forward end of the handle; an electroluminescent lamp secured the shaft; and a power source for supplying electrical power to the electroluminescent lamp. In one embodiment, the handle includes a housing which houses a battery and a DC-to-AC inverter for converting the relatively low battery voltage to a relative high AC voltage suitable for driving the electroluminescent lamp and a cover. The cover mates with the housing to form a gripping surface on the handle.

Abstract: A reversible crank handle system for a fishing reel which eliminates rotation free-play between the crank handle and a drive gear. Preferably, the inventive reversible crank handle system includes: a drive gear having a passageway there through, each end of the passageway terminating in a notch; a crankshaft receivable through the passageway, the crankshaft including a crank handle affixed to one end of the crankshaft and a wedge receivable in either notch. When a retainer is tightened to secure the crankshaft in the fishing reel, the wedge is drawn into the notch thereby nonrotatably engaging the crankshaft and the drive gear. The tapered nature of the notch and wedge eliminate rotational free-play between the crank handle and the drive gear to eliminate unintentional loosening of the retainer.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel comprising: a carrying structure for carrying a braking surface; at least one turnable cam including at least one ramp segment having an outer end and a base end; and at least one interacting member, projecting from the carrying structure, for interacting with the cam. The cam can be turned to selectively move the interacting member to any position between the base end and the outer end. When the interacting member is in contact with the base end, the braking surface will be located at a first position. When the interacting member is in contact with the outer end, the braking surface will be located at a second position different from the first position. The braking surface is positionable at any point between the first position and the second position.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel having at least two predetermined breaking positions comprising: a side cover having an aperture; a brake dial rotatably receivable in the aperture, the dial having a detent spring retained in a cavity therein; and a spool cover having one or more cam lobes wherein when the brake dial is positioned within the aperture, the spring lobe will interact with the cam lobe or lobes such that rotation of said brake dial will be inhibited in at least one direction until sufficient rotational force is applied to the brake dial to cause deformation of the detent spring sufficient to allow the spring lobe to traverse the interfering cam lobe.

Abstract: A fishing reel cover comprising: (a) a first cover piece having an exterior and (b) a second cover piece having a second piece wall. The second piece wall includes at least one aperture provided therethrough. The second cover piece is positionable over the first piece such that the exterior of the first cover piece is visible through the second piece aperture. The second cover piece preferably includes a plurality of apertures through which the exterior of the first cover piece is visible. Most preferably, the second cover piece includes a plurality of such apertures arranged to form a gripping structure.

Abstract: A bushing for a fishing reel comprising: a body having an aperture therethrough for receiving a shaft such that the shaft is movable in the aperture; a plurality of chamfers extending from the body for securing the bushing in the fishing reel; an exterior contacting surface provided on the body; and at least one cam lobe provided on the body. The inventive bushing is particularly well-suited for placement on the spool hub of a spincast-type fishing reel such that the bushing operably receives and retains the reel's main operating shaft.

Abstract: A retainer for retaining a lure attached to a fishing line extending from a fishing reel. The retainer preferably comprises an eyelet provided on the fishing reel. The eyelet is preferably integrally formed on the exterior of the reel.

Abstract: A trolling motor system comprises a trolling motor having a propeller rotatably driven thereby. The motor is connected to a rotating tube or column mounted to the boat. A control head is mounted at the upper end of the column. A steering motor in the control head controls rotational position of the trolling motor. The control head houses a control circuit for controlling speed of the trolling motor as well as position of the steering motor to steer the boat. A foot pedal is positioned in the boat in proximity to the control head. The foot pedal includes a plurality of user actuable switches for commanding operation of the steering motor and trolling motor. The commands are transmitted via radio frequency to a receiver in the control head. The receiver decodes the commands and transfers the command to the control circuit.

Abstract: An improved fishing rod of the type having a substantially cylindrical body with a peripheral surface. The improvement is a mark on the body situated so that the circumference of the fishing rod body with the mark thereon simulates the torso of a selected species of fish, with the mark having markings characteristic of markings on the torso of the selected fish species.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel and a braking element assembly preferred for use in the inventive apparatus. The inventive braking apparatus comprises: a contacting structure; a plurality of braking elements for contacting the contacting structure to generate a braking force; a dial and cam slider assembly for selectively placing the contacting structure in a plurality of predetermined positions relative to the braking elements; and an indexing structure for identifying the predetermined positions. The inventive braking element assembly preferably comprises: (a) a housing having a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal end and (b) a plurality of braking elements retained in the housing for radial braking movement relative to the longitudinal axis. A first and second one of the braking elements are each retained in the housing at a first longitudinal position spaced a first longitudinal distance from the first end.

Abstract: A casting actuator having a slip-resistant contacting surface which flexes to accommodate the user's thumb. The casting actuator preferably comprises: an actuating lever; a support structure; a living hinge pivotably connecting the actuating lever to the support structure; and a flexible cover extending from the support collar over at least a portion of the lever. The flexible cover provides a flexible, slip-resistant contacting surface on the lever. The inventive actuator is preferably formed by an inventive method comprising the steps of: (a) placing a first material in a mold to form a unitary, molded structure and (b) while the first material is present in mold, placing a second material in the mold to form the flexible cover. The unitary, molded structure formed from the first material comprises: the actuating lever; the support collar; and the resilient hinge. The inventive casting actuator preferably includes a convex engaging surface for operably contacting a main shaft of the fishing reel.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel comprising: a carrying structure for carrying a braking surface; at least one turnable cam including at least one ramp segment having an outer end and a base end; at least one interacting member, projecting from the carrying structure, for interacting with the cam; a first retaining feature at the base end; and a second retaining feature following the outer end. The cam can be turned to selectively move the interacting member to the first and second retaining features. When the interacting member is retained by the first retaining feature, the braking surface will be located at a first position. When the interacting member is retained by the second retaining feature, the braking surface will be located at a second position different from the first position.

Abstract: A braking apparatus for a fishing reel comprising: a plurality of braking elements; a braking element assembly for retaining the braking elements in radial paths about a rotational axis such that a centrifugal force imparted to the braking elements by rotating the braking elements about the rotational axis will urge the braking elements to move in their radial paths away from the rotational axis toward individual, extended radial positions; a contact member; and a positioning mechanism for selectively positioning the contact member in at least a first location and a second location. When the contact member is positioned in its first location and the braking elements are in their extended radial positions, at least one of the braking elements contacts the contact member. However, when the contact member is positioned in its second location, the one braking element just mentioned cannot contact the contact member, regardless of whether the braking element is in its extended radial position.