FISHING APPARATUS AND METHOD

Abstract

A fishing apparatus includes a submersible central pole having a first end and also a weighted, second end. Floatable hinged ribs radiate from the first end of the central pole. Fabric disposed on the floatable hinged ribs becomes stretched over the floatable hinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the first end of the central pole.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Application No. 61/526,358 filed Aug. 23, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to sport fishing and more particularly to an apparatus and method for attracting fish.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known in the art relating to sport fishing to fish in areas of cover such as weed beds, rocks, reefs and the like to increase the possibility of catching fish. When ice fishing, however, it is often difficult or impossible to locate these areas of cover.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a portable apparatus that can be used to provide an area of cover within a body of water to provide fish with their preferred habitat.

More specifically the apparatus includes a central pole and hinged ribs radiating from one end of the central pole. The pole may be telescoping or formed from two or more pieces to allow for an adjustable pole length. A fabric is disposed on the hinged ribs and becomes stretched over the hinged ribs as the apparatus goes from a collapsed disposition to an open disposition.

The other end of the central pole is weighted to allow the apparatus to sink to a bottom surface of a body of water. The hinged ribs may be floatable or include floats disposed thereon to allow the apparatus to assume the open position when submerged in the water. A line is operatively attached to the one end of the central pole for bringing the apparatus up from a submerged disposition. When submerged, the adjustable length of the central pole allows selective adjustment of the distance the hinged ribs and stretched fabric float above the bottom.

A method of using the apparatus includes placing the apparatus in a body of water wherein the apparatus sinks to the bottom. As the apparatus descends from the weight of the weighted central pole, the hinged ribs open and the fabric is stretched. The stretched fabric establishes an area of cover for fish. Fishing is conducted beyond the perimeter of the stretched fabric.

When ice fishing, a hole is established in the ice to insert the apparatus into the water below the ice. The weighted end of the central pole is put through the ice and the other end of the line connected to the central pole is retained above. Fishing holes may be drilled in the ice beyond the perimeter of the stretched fabric for fishing lines. After fishing, the apparatus is brought to the surface by pulling on the line. As the apparatus ascends, the hinged ribs resume the collapsed disposition.

In an exemplary embodiment, baits such as decoy fish may be suspended from or attached to the apparatus to facilitate luring fish to the structure.

These and other features and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishing apparatus in accordance with the present invention in an open disposition illustrating a central pole, hinged ribs and fabric disposed on the ribs;

FIG. 2 is an upright view of the fishing apparatus in a closed disposition of the fabric and ribs; and

FIG. 3 is an environmental view illustrating use of the fishing apparatus while ice fishing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings in detail, numeral 10 generally indicates a fishing apparatus in accordance with the present invention. The fishing apparatus 10 is a portable and easy-to-use apparatus that provides an area of cover within a body of water to attract fish for catching.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fishing apparatus 10 includes a submersible central pole 12 having a first end 14 and an opposite, weighted second end 16. The central pole 12 may be of multiple piece construction. For example, the central pole 12 may include two jointed pole pieces 18, 20 that are held together by a shock cord retainer 22. Alternatively, the pole pieces may be arranged in a telescoping relationship. The multiple piece construction of the central pole allows the central pole to be collapsed for easier storage and transportation of the fishing apparatus. The second end 16 of the central pole 12 may include a feature such as a point 24 or similar to maintain placement of the fishing apparatus on a bottom surface as described in more detail below. The second end 16 may also be weighted to further maintain placement of the fishing apparatus during use.

Floatable hinged ribs 26 radiate from the first end 14 of the central pole 12. The ribs 26 may have a tapered shape that tapers outwardly from an end 28 hinged to the central pole 12 to a distal end 30. The ribs 26 may be formed of a floatable material to facilitate moving the fishing apparatus underwater from a closed disposition to an open disposition. Alternatively, and as shown, the ribs 26 have an optional/additional floats 32 attached to their respective distal ends 30. The floats 32 are of a closed-cell construction so as not to compress under water pressure.

Fabric 34 is disposed on and connected to the floatable hinged ribs 26. The fabric 34 may be made of a plastics material or other similarly suitable material that is capable of being submersed in water, i.e. that preferably absorbs little to no water. The fabric 34 becomes stretched over the floatable hinged ribs 26 as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole 12 (as shown in FIG. 2) to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the first end 14 of the central pole (as shown in FIG. 1).

Optionally, a line 36 may be attached to the first end 14 of the central pole 12. A user can grasp the line to pull the fishing apparatus 10 up to the water surface from a submerged disposition when it is desired to remove the fishing apparatus from the water.

Turning to FIG. 3, in order to use the fishing apparatus 10 for ice fishing, a hole 38 is first established in the ice 40 to provide a passageway for inserting the fishing apparatus into the water 42 below the ice. The second end 16 of the central pole 12 is then put through the hole 38 in the ice with the central pole generally being kept in a vertical disposition (second end 16 at the bottom and first end 14 at the top), and the line 36 connected to the other end 14 of the central pole is retained above the ice. Once the fishing apparatus 10 is submerged in the water, the second end 16 of the central pole 12 sinks towards the bottom 44 of the body of water. The second end 16 may be weighted to facilitate the sinking of the fishing apparatus. As the central pole 12 descends, the ribs 26 float outwardly away from the central pole to stretch the fabric 34 and thereby open a canopy formed by the fabric. When the central pole 12 contacts the bottom 44, the point 24 in the second end 16 pierces the bottom surface to secure the fishing apparatus in place. The end of the line 36 above the water may be tied to a weight 50 or other stationary object to keep the end of the line from falling through the hole 38.

The stretched fabric 34 establishes an area of cover for fish 52 to provide the fish with their preferred habitat. Interchangeable baits 54 such as decoy fish may be suspended from or attached to the ribs 26 and/or fabric 34 of the apparatus 10 to facilitate luring fish 52 to the area of cover underneath the structure. A fishing hole 46 is drilled in the ice 40 beyond the perimeter of the stretched fabric 34 for insertion of a fishing line 48 into the water 42. An ice fisher drops the fishing line 48 through the fishing hole 46 and catches fish 52 that have been lured to and are swimming in the vicinity of the fishing apparatus 10.

After fishing, the apparatus 10 is brought back to the ice 40 surface by pulling on the line 36. As the apparatus 10 ascends, the force of the water 42 against the upper surface of the fabric 34 causes the hinged ribs 26 to resume the collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole 12. The apparatus 10 is removed from the water by pulling the central pole 12 through the hole 38.

Although the invention has been described by reference to a specific embodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes may be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the described embodiment, but that it have the full scope defined by the language of the following claims.

Claims

1. Fishing apparatus comprising:

a submersible central pole having a first end and also a weighted, second end;

floatable hinged ribs radiating from the first end of the central pole; and

fabric disposed on the floatable hinged ribs that becomes stretched over the floatable hinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the first end of the central pole.

2. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 including a line attached to the first end of the central pole for bringing the apparatus up to water surface from a submerged disposition.

3. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second end of the central pole includes a feature to maintain placement on a bottom surface.

4. The fishing apparatus of claim 3 wherein the feature to maintain placement on a bottom surface is a point.

5. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the central pole is of multiple-piece construction.

6. The fishing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the multiple-piece construction includes a plurality of pole pieces and a shock cord retainer.

7. The fishing apparatus of claim 5 wherein the multiple-piece construction includes a plurality of pole pieces that telescope.

8. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the floatable hinged ribs comprise floatable material.

9. The fishing apparatus of claim 8 wherein the floatable hinged ribs have a tapered shape tapering outwardly from an end hinged to the central pole to the distal end of the floatable hinged rib.

10. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the floatable hinged ribs include floats attached to the ribs.

11. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 wherein the fabric comprises plastics material.

12. The fishing apparatus of claim 1 including baits suspended from one of the fabric and floatable hinged ribs.

13. A method of attracting fish includes the steps of:

hingedly connecting a plurality of floatable ribs to a first end of a submersible central pole, the central pole also having an opposite, weighted second end;

disposing fabric on the floatable hinged ribs;

submerging the central pole in a body of water; and

as the central pole sinks towards the bottom, the fabric becomes stretched over the floatable hinged ribs as the ribs go from a collapsed disposition adjacent the central pole to an open disposition radiating outwardly from the first end of the central pole;

wherein the stretched fabric establishes an area of cover for fish.

14. The method of claim 13 including the step of suspending baits from one of the fabric and floatable hinged ribs.

15. The method of claim 13 including the step of attaching floats to the floatable hinged ribs.

16. The method of claim 13 including the step of attaching a line to the first end of the central pole for bringing the apparatus up to water surface from a submerged disposition.