Abstract: Described is a fishing lure system for use with fishing line. The fishing lure system consists of a spoon shaped lure body having a convex inner surface on which is attached a hook. Centrally mounted to the convex inner surface is a bracket having a curved portion to hold a rattle. The bracket also includes an elongated portion on which is mounted a removable skirt. Attached to the top surface of the bracket is a brush guard having a plurality of filaments extending from the bracket to the hook end. A connector is attached to the lure body for connection to a fishing line. The connector may optionally consist of an elongated wire on which is mounted a propeller.

Abstract: The fishing rod of this invention includes a hollow cylindrical butt pipe, and a plurality of hollow cylindrical sections sequentially jointed together to form a telescopically retractable structure jointed to the butt pipe such that the sections are sequentially retracted into the butt pipe. A tip rod is mounted to the end of the outermost one of the sections remote from the butt pipe. A butt grip is fitted over the butt pipe, and consists of a hollow cylindrical tube opened at both ends thereof. A plurality of radial support ribs are formed on the inner surface of the tube while being directed in radial directions and spaced apart from each other at regular intervals. When the butt grip is fitted over the butt pipe, the external surface of the butt pipe is brought into close contact with the inside edges of the radial support ribs.

Abstract: Current modulation-based talkback in a system in which the background noise in the level of current draw is minimized such that the talkback is effected with a desirably high signal-to-noise ratio, such as by the master device holding the system voltage low such that the slave devices will not be performing tasks that would cause the current draw on the system to have an undesirable level of background noise, or, in an electronic blasting system, by preventing all other detonators from performing tasks that would create an undesirable background current draw when a particular detonator is talking back.

Abstract: A safe, indoor trapping device for trapping and killing flying insects can be used in areas containing food, containing animals, for food preparation, etc. The device includes at least one removable trap body, a toxicant panel, and an insect collector.

Abstract: A suspended barrier for a plant pot. The suspended barrier for a plant pot is designed for plant pots with sloping inner walls, placed within the plant pot and against the inner walls of the plant pot. The suspended barrier is made up of a generally concave polygon with a plurality of apertures, that holds a layer of soil above the generally concave polygon, and with the plant pot forming an enclosed air space below the generally concave polygon, the plurality of apertures being small enough to allow water from the layer of soil above the generally concave polygon to seep through the generally concave polygon into the enclosed air space below, while holding the layer of soil above the generally concave polygon.

Abstract: An insect trap using attractant light, comprising a source of insect attractant light and a housing that can be mounted on a generally planar or flat mounting surface. The housing and the source of light cooperate to form a bidirectional or a multidirectional (overlapping or non-overlapping) pattern of insect attractant light. The housing comprises one, two or more openings for the insect attractant light that is reflected and radiated onto the flat mounting surface. The housing and the source of insect attractant light can cooperate to form a light pattern directed in a continuous display pattern that can surround the housing. The housing openings further facilitate the entry of flying insect pests into the trap. As the insects enter the trap, they are immobilized on an insect immobilization surface mounted within the trap.

Abstract: Repeating animal traps incorporating one or more inclined plane trap assemblies with means to preclude an animal on the tilting floor member of the trap assembly from engaging the top and/or side edges of the door member of the trap assembly in an attempt to escape from the trap by pulling the door member down to thereby unblock access to the entrance opening. Additional means are shown to preclude an animal within the enlarged holding chamber or enclosure of the repeating animal trap from engaging the inner end portions of the floor member in an attempt to escape from the trap by pulling the floor member down, enabling the animal to climb onto the floor member and then attempt to pull the door member down to escape from the trap. A barrier in the form of sharpened projections and/or an inclined ramp is provided beneath the inner end portions of the floor member to discourage an animal entering or nesting within that space when the floor member is raised in the reset position of the trap assembly.

Abstract: A blended fish chum system using dry fish food modified for buoyancy to either provide for a desired floating characteristic or a desired sinking characteristic. Fish oil is added to the fish food used for floating characteristics and fish oil is added to the fish food used for sinking characteristics. A starter fish chum comprising sinking fish food to which crustacean oil is added, is mixed with the combination of sinking fish food and fish oil. The floating fish food mixture, which has been dried, is blended with the sinking fish food mixture, which has also been dried, to form the blended fish chum. The mixture ratio is varied to achieve desired floating or sinking characteristics of the resultant blend. The resultant blended fish chum is added to a self regulating mesh bag with its clip/draw string, which is vacuum sealed to ensure freshness and long term dry, non-refrigerated storage.

Abstract: A counterweighted weedless fishing float suitable for suspending at least part of an attractant, such as live bait or an insect replica, above the surface of water in which the float is borne, and kits for assembling a variety of attractants, are provided. The float is counterweighted, and may comprise a plurality of air-trapping channels arranged within it to trap an amount of air sufficient to support the float and a connected attractant. In other embodiments, the float may comprise one or more sealed chambers to provide buoyancy. The float may be disguised as a water plant, fallen tree leaf, twig or other floating detritus or water creature. The attractant may replicate an insect such as a dragonfly, an insect larva such as a hellgrammite, or any other natural or artificial fish bait or prey.

Abstract: A fishing lure includes a body with first and second opposed sides, a first member rotatably carried by the body and having first and second end portions disposed adjacent the respective sides of the body, a fin carried by each of the terminal end portions of the first member, and a second member rotatably carried by the body. A mechanism interacts with the first member and the second member, whereby rotation of the second member urges corresponding rotation of the first member.

Abstract: A fishing rod holder with a strike sensor that alerts the operator that a fish has been caught. The fishing rod holder allows for horizontal striking of fish either while trolling or still-fishing. The fishing rod holder consists of a rod holder support arm assembly, a rotating unit, a base unit and an optional mounting adapter. The rod holder may be mounted for horizontal striking on the top surface of a gunnel wall on a boat or other substantially flat horizontal surface. Alternatively, the mounting adapter may be used to mount the rod holder to a boat handle rail. The rod holder support arms are slidably engaged in the support arm assembly and allow for customized vertical orientation of the rod's tip with respect to the reel. In addition, the horizontal orientation of the rod may be customized to accommodate fishing technique and fishing conditions. Finally, there is a strike sensor to alert the operator that a fish has been caught.

Abstract: A battery powered fishing line bite detector alarm producing visible and/or audible alarm signals is disclosed. An arm, installed within the alarm, integrally connects to a modified leaf on-off switch. The alarm attaches to a fishing rod in front of a fishing reel mounted on the rod. Fishing line is threaded into the arm and adjusted such that slack is provided between the rear of the alarm and the front of the reel thereby allowing forward arm movement. The fishing line is further inserted until desired resistance of forward and backward line movement within the arm is achieved. Applied tension to the line forces the arm to actuate. A tension spring clip connected to a switch lever, and a common leaf contact arm, pulls contact arm closer to an upper common contact point until contact is made activating the alarm signals.

Abstract: A fishing line carrier device for use in downrigger fishing. The device includes a main body portion. A bow extends from the front of the main body portion. A tail extends from the rear of the main body portion and includes a vertical stabilizer and a horizontal stabilizer. The horizontal stabilizer has a flap extending downwardly from its trailing edge. A vertically disposed central plane extends from the bow to the tail. A bore extends vertically through the main body portion along the central plane. A diagonally extending access slot extends from the outer surface of the body to the central plane. Upper and lower access slots communicate the diagonally extending access slot with the bore. A locking pin receiving tunnel extends along the diagonally extending access slot and is adapted to receive a locking pin after the carrier device is positioned onto a downrigger line.

Abstract: An improved fish bite alarm and fishing line release device that provides immediate release of a fishing line and activation of a fish bite alarm due to the use of spring biasing. The line holding and release device preferably includes two fingers arranged for holding the fishing line, a spring bias means for triggering the release of the line, an alarm circuit, and a spring bias means for activating the alarm circuit.

Abstract: A fisherman's bobber takes the form of a hollow one piece plastic spheroid having two mating halves joined together by corresponding portions of a living hinge. The hinge extends outwardly from both halves. The interior peripheral surfaces of both halves are contoured to enable the halves to be joined together in locking engagement when the halves are pressed together and to permit the halves to be unlocked and swung apart when squeezed together. The portions of the hinge when the halves are locked together hold a fishing line in locking engagement therebetween.

Abstract: An improved means for adjusting the angle of attack, the angle of the plane of the diving lip to the longitudinal axis of a lure, of a diving lip on a fishing lure, having a body with a longitudinal axis, comprised of a retention spring, a pivot pin, and a series of grooves in the face of the lure into which the diving lip seats, so that the angle of attack of the diving lip can be readily changed by pulling the diving lip out of a groove, by compressing the retention spring, moving to another groove and releasing it.

Abstract: A non-fouling fishing lure having a body in or to which at least one hook is pivotally mounted but is normally concealed within or adjacent the body. The shank of the hook is adapted to be connected to a fishing line and the hook is normally engaged by a retaining clip having a portion extending from the body so that when engaged by the mouth of a fish, the clip is shifted from the hook, thereby releasing the hook to pivot outwardly of the body.

Abstract: A rope severing apparatus for releasing a rope after continued tension. The first element of the apparatus is the base, which has elastic properties that permit the base to stretch when realizing tensional forces. The base may be a spring in one embodiment, although those skilled in the art would recognize there are other available elements with similar elastic properties that alternatively may be used. The base is connected to a first connection point wherein the first connection point is formed to admit the rope. Preferably the first connection point is a hole through which the rope can be run and tied off. Finally, the present invention requires a cutting edge connected to the base and slidably oriented with the first connection point. The cutting edge is arranged so that it will slide toward the first connection point and sever the rope when the apparatus realizes a tensional force.

Abstract: A suspension module for use with an independent suspension system includes a subframe having a pair of subframe rails and a bridge supported therebetween. A pair of semi-trailing arms are pivotally attached to the subframe rails. Each semi-trailing arm includes an airbag support onto which an airbag is mounted. The airbags are positioned between the airbag supports and the subframe rails. A shock absorber extends from the semi-trailing arms to the subframe rails. A drive line brings rotational drive from a transmission to a carrier housing attached to the bridge of the subframe. A carden shaft extends from the carrier housing to spindles attached to the semi-trailing arms to transmit rotational drive from the carrier housing to the spindles.

Abstract: An automatic outrigger securing assembly, for use on a fishing boat which has structural support members on the vessel. The securing assembly includes a coupler for releasably securing the outrigger in a fixed position, as well as a collar assembly for interfacing with the coupler. The coupler receives and locks the collar means in a select position, and also includes a release mechanism for the collar. When the outrigger is in a laydown or collapsed configuration, the securing assembly automatically receives and safely retains the outrigger in a desired position, and can also automatically release the outrigger.