Abstract: A conventional fishing plug is provided including an elongated body having front and rear ends and wherein at least one of the body ends includes an anchor eye projecting outwardly therefrom. A drag plate having a thin central portion is also provided with a small opening therethrough is provided and installed over one of the aforementioned anchor eyes in a manner such that the one eye projects through the opening. Thereafter, a split ring is secured through at least the one eye for retaining the drag plate thereon. If the one eye comprises the front eye, the split ring is used to attach the free end of the fishing line to the plug and if the one eye comprises the rear eye, the split ring is used to attach a rear multiple barb hook to the rear eye.

Abstract: A fishing rod has line guides which pivot relative to the rod as tension from the line puts lateral forces on the line guides. The pivoting action of the line guides reduces the necessity to rotate the rod such as to angle the line guides in the general direction of a hooked fish. Each line guide consists of a housing which is secured to the rod and an eyelet which is rotatably connected to the housing. The line guides may use conventional line guides having feet which, instead of mounting to the rod, are each affixed to a rotatable member which rotates within one of the housings. The housings may also be provided with mounting legs like the feet of conventional line guides, thus allowing the housings to be attached to the rod with the same equipment as used with conventional line guides. The eyelet may be supported by one or by two housings. The pivotable connection may be spring-loaded to bias the eyelets toward a particular angular position.

Abstract: A device for supporting a fishing rod in a preselected position in relation to a structural surface, includes a base adapted for attachment to the structural surface and a body slidably releasably connected to the base. The body is formed to receive and retain a portion of the fishing rod to thereby permit selective securement and release thereof in a preselected position on the structural surface.

Abstract: A butt assembly for a fishing pole comprises a generally cylindrical elongated member having a male rotary connection at the upper end thereof for connection to a female connecting sleeve of a fishing rod. The upper end of the butt is keyed for aligning the rod when connected to the butt. The lower end of the butt includes cross shaped notches for being received in a gimbal which prohibits twisting while allowing a back and forth movement. A segment is defined in the butt near the upper end thereof for receiving a reel housing. The segment is located at a distance from the upper end of the butt, i.e., the end where the rod is attached, for positioning the reel housing as is conventional in the industry. The segment is an arcuate segment having a contour for closely matching the profile of the reel housing positioned therein. The reel housing is secured within the segment by a reel block. The reel block is disposed on the butt at the opposite side from the segment and secured to the reel housing by posts.

Abstract: A control unit has two metal cylinders of the same diameter held with a narrow gap between facing ends, by a cylinder of electrical insulating material. Two nine volt dry cells in series establish a potential across the gap. One embodiment of the unit has an eyelet at the top which is attached to a string hung from an overhead support. Another eyelet is at the bottom and attaches a string which hangs a hummingbird feeder. Ants crawling down the supporting string for the unit toward the bird feeder hanging from the bottom of the unit will be stunned and bounced off the assembly as they attempt to cross the gap. In another embodiment, the cylinders are mounted on the cover of a canister immediately below a hole in the center of the cover so that, as the ants crawl down through the hole in the cover toward an attractant in the canister, they will be stunned and fall into the canister.

Abstract: A modified hemostat adapted to be used as multi-purpose fishing tool has a gripping section, a fulcrum, handles and a knot-maker fixedly attached thereto. The handles are adapted to compress and open split-shot and to cut fishing line. The knot-maker is designed to facilitate tying knots which are specifically required for fly-fishing. The knot-maker includes a ramp, channel, and extendable head having eyelet evacuators.

Abstract: A universal mount fishing rod holder for holding a plurality of fishing rods in a position for use when fishing including a rigid planar base coupled to a tubular receptacle; a coupling mechanism for securing the base to an external recipient object; a rigid planar bar positioned above the base; an elongated support rod having one end removably coupled within the receptacle of the base and another end pivotally coupled to the bar; and a plurality of spaced and parallely aligned rod holders with each rod holder formed of an elongated rigid piece of wire having an anterior section with a generally v-shaped seat for holding a portion of a fishing rod, a posterior section with a loop for receiving an end of a fishing rod, and a central section extended therebetween and coupled to the bar.

Abstract: A tubular fishing rod holder capable of being used from a bank of a body of water or from a boat. The fishing rod holder having a rearward end, a mounting portion and a holding portion, wherein the holding portion is adapted to accommodate the handle portion of, for example, spinning, spin casting or bait casting fishing rods. The mounting portion comprises a top receiving hole, a bottom receiving hole and a side cut out portion connecting the top and bottom receiving holes, wherein the top receiving hole is positioned further away from the rearward end than the bottom receiving hole such that the side cut out portion is preferably formed at a 45.degree. angle. The mounting portion allows the fishing rod holder to be removably mounted to a support in a cantilevered arrangement so that the fishing rod holder will position a fishing rod with easy reach of a fisherman.

Abstract: A fishing sinker for use in ocean surf fishing that provides an adjustable snag free temporary anchor for fishing lines against the surf surge. The fishing sinker has multiple adjustable fingers that engage the bottom and hold the fishing line with attached hook assembly outwardly from the shore. A rudder provides elevation to bring the sinker to the surface as it is retrieved.

Abstract: A heated animal scent lure dispenser includes a container with an interior, exterior, threaded neck and opening at the neck. A cap is threadable onto the neck for at least partially closing the opening. A heating element or chemical charge is locatable within the container which will in turn heat the container. A wick suitably made from a knit fabric substantially covers the container with a large surface area upon which the liquid scent lure may be placed and from which the liquid scent lure may be dispersed under the influence of the heated container. The wick may also have insulation qualities and a suitable plastic bag or the like may be used to seal the dispenser within the bag and to starve the dispenser from oxygen.

Abstract: A position sensing light device for detachably mounting to an outer portion of a fishing rod, includes a gradually tapered attachment for adjustably mounting to the outer portion of the fishing rod, a housing containing a mercury battery and tightly connecting to the attachment, and a transparent cap containing a light bulb and a mercury switch, whereby illumination of the light bulb indicates to a user when a fish is attempting to take the bait from the fishing line.

Abstract: Process, apparatus and nozzle device for controlling the soldering and/or desoldering of a land grid array (LGA) component and corresponding circuit grid present on the surface of a printed circuit board (PCB). The nozzle device comprises a vacuum cup for supporting the LGA parallel to the PCB, with the LGA and the circuit grid in contact or slightly spaced, a fixed orifice gap for directing hot inlet gas from a gas source horizontally through the array, a gas outlet, and a thermocouple for sensing the temperature of the hot outlet gas and for signaling a computer to actuate a heater and a flow rate regulator. According to a preferred embodiment, this increases the temperature and decreases the flow rate of the hot gas through the array when a predetermined gas outlet temperature is sensed at the thermocouple.

Abstract: A fish catch chest comprising a boat-shaped hull capable of floating upon a top surface of a body of water. A receptacle has an open top with a compartment therein and is integral with the boat-shaped hull. The compartment will hold fish caught by a skin diver in the body of water. A lid is for closing the open top of the receptacle and sealing the compartment.

Abstract: A system and method for gassing an animal, such as a gopher, within an underground burrow (52) comprises a probe (2) having a shaft (6) with first and second ends (8, 10) and a tip (14) on the first end. A shallow hole (54) is formed in the ground with the tip of the probe to locate the burrow and dry solid chlorine material is introduced into the burrow. Water is then poured into the hole onto the dry chlorine material to generate chlorine gas and the hole is closed to seal the gaseous poison within the burrow, thereby allowing the gaseous poison to expand throughout the burrow and gas the animal. Since chlorine gas is heavier than air, the gas will naturally follow the gopher to the deepest recesses of its underground dwelling, killing the gopher without endangering agriculture or other life above the ground.

Abstract: An insect bait station for offering a liquid insect bait to targeted insects and a method of offering liquid insect bait to targeted insects. The insect bait station includes a hollow body having a base and a cover joined in liquid-tight relation. The base has a floor and the cover has a stage positioned generally parallel to and above the floor of the base. The cover has an ascending ramp, that extends upwardly from the cover rim to a cover mount, and a descending ramp that extends downwardly from the cover mount to the stage. Interiorly facing surfaces of the floor and cover define a holding chamber wherein liquid insect bait may be confined. Spill-resistant access means provides a targeted insect located on the stage access to liquid insect bait confined within the holding chamber. Preferably, the spill-resistant access means includes a capillary liquid transport means for transporting the liquid insect bait upwardly from the floor of the base to a location where it is accessible to a targeted insect.

Abstract: Improved animal bait composite materials comprising an animal attractant substance component attractive to a selected animal and a hardening substance component, and methods of use of such bait composite materials are described. The bait composite materials disclosed having improved adhesion and interlocking properties when hardened after application to a trigger of an animal trap in a flowable state, resulting in more reliably transferring forces applied by the bite or other contact of a selected animal to the trigger to actuate the trap.

Abstract: A method for forming a barb of a fishhook including the steps of pressing a thin flat portion of the tip and either cutting or chipping a part of the barb to form a rear face on a side opposite the tip of the hook. At least either upper or lower lateral sides of the hook tip may be cut to form flat or concave lateral cut faces with a sharp edge along a ridge at a juncture of the lateral cut faces.

Abstract: A fishing hook guard includes an elongated tubular base having a closed bottom end and an open top end and an inside diameter for receiving the point and barb of the hook and a cap adapted to fasten to and cover the open top end of the base so as to lock the point and barb of the hook in the guard. The cap and base are fastened together to hold the intrusive end of the hook thereinside. One or more longitudinal slots can be provided in the open top end of the base to receive the shaft of the hook. A generally lateral and outwardly protruding flange is interposed between the ends of the base to protect the user's thumb and/or fingers from being inadvertently poked during an attempted insertion of the hook into the base. Structures for aiding the user in gripping the outside of the guard are provided thereon.

Abstract: A coupling sleeve for coupling the tip section of a hollow fishing rod to the butt section, which retains the reel. Fore and hind portions of the coupling sleeve serve as joints engageable with the tip and butt sections. The central portion of the coupling sleeve, of greater section modulus of elasticity than the joint portions, has a fishing line guide hole for guiding fishing line from the reel, through a bore connecting the guide hole with a tip socket in the fore joint, and into the hollow tip section of the fishing rod. Further there is at least one additional opening on the exterior of the coupling sleeve central portion, opening to the fishing line guide hole and thus serving to discharge water and debris scraped from the fishing line as it travels through the bore and on the rim of the guide hole.

Abstract: A bobber for supporting a fishing line within a body of water. The inventive device includes a spherical floatation member having a hollow hemi-spherical weight secured to a lower end of the floatation member. A swivel and line clasp extend from a center of the weight for coupling to a fishing line to support the line within water.