Abstract: A retractable animal tether, comprising a hand-held support; a spool rotatably mounted on the support; and a flexible cord wound on the spool, said flexible cord having an end which is connected to the spool and a second end which may be connected with the animal. The application of a first force F1 to a free end of the flexible cord causes a portion of the flexible cord to unwind from the spool. The tether also includes a means for preventing the remainder of the flexible cord from unwinding from the spool unless a second force F2 is applied to the free end of the flexible cord, said force F2 being greater than said force F1.

Abstract: An apparatus for extracting a fish hook from a fish having a support apparatus for placing over a fish hook embedded in a fish, an operative release member reciprocally removable relative to the position of the fish hook, the release hook attached to move with the operative release member and a lever-operated means for driving the operative release member and the release hook toward and away from the position of the fish hook embedded within the fish.

Abstract: A Pivoting Rod Holder for securing fishing rods in a variety of positions while they are in use is described. A rod holder tube is a component of a pivoting rod holding system, which has as its additional components a base with a plurality of catch indentations, a collar, a retaining plate, and a plunger-operated locking mechanism at the base of the rod holder tube. A rod placed in the rod holder tube can be locked into any position along a 360 degree axis by simply pulling the rod holder tube up till it is parallel with the catch indentations in the base, spinning it into the desired position, and pulling back firmly on it. This pushes the plunger-operated locking mechanism at the base of the rod holder tube into one of the catch indentations in the base, where it is secured. To release, the rod holder tube is pushed on until the plunger-operated locking mechanism is popped out of the catch indentation in the base.

Abstract: A fishing bait suspension assembly for submerging fishing bait while preventing the bait from contacting a bottom of a body of water while fishing includes a rod member having a pair of outwardly extending top flanges, a buoyant member coupled to the rod member proximate said top flanges, and a lead line having opposite ends extending through distal ends of the top flanges. The bottom of the rod member is designed to contact the bottom of the body of water while the buoyant member holds the rod member in an upright position. The bait is attached to the top flanges.

Abstract: There is provided a first cable assembly, a second cable assembly, and a common hook unit connected to the first and second cable assemblies. Each cable assembly includes a cable guide and skin gripper member which includes a plurality of blunt-end gripper bumps. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method of removing skin from an animal carcass is provided which includes the steps of: attaching the carcass to a fixed object, such as a tree; splitting the skin from the inside of all four legs and down the stomach of the carcass; attaching a first cable loop assembly to skin of a first leg of the carcass; attaching a second cable loop assembly to skin of a second leg of the carcass; and pulling both cable loop assemblies using a vehicle, whereby the skin is pulled off of the carcass.