Abstract: A live bait and artificial bait lock that can penetrate an external surface of the respective bait and releasable or repeatably secure the bait to a hook or a shaft of a hook, a barbed hook, or a fish hook.

Abstract: An apparatus for protecting fishermen from bait loss, entanglement of fishing rigs during casting and reel-in, and injury to fellow fishermen and bystanders. The apparatus consists of a hook enclosing float that will contain the hook and bait during casting and reel-in and release the hook to a specified depth while floating on the water.

Abstract: A fishing lure that simulates the appearance of an elongated aquatic animal swimming through water.

Abstract: A fishing hook assembly includes a base, a central axis extending through the base, and a first, second, and third hook member moveably connected to the base. Each hook member includes a shaft connected to the base and extending therefrom, an arm connected to the shaft at a bend and forming an obtuse angle with the shaft, and an engagement portion connected to the arm and including an engagement point, wherein the arm and the engagement portion connect at an acute angle. The hook assembly is moveable from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: A non-snagging fish hook having a shaft with a barb at one end and an opening at another end for receiving a line is attached to a wire loop member. The wire loop member is a continuous length of flexible wire bent back upon itself at a place between its two ends to provide a first end having an open loop, a second end having said two ends, and two substantially parallel wires that extend from the first end to the second end. The second end is attached to the fish hook near the opening for receiving a line. The wire loop member is not in tension and does not engage the barb end of the fish hook. When a pushing force is applied, it resists with a progressively increasing resistance force.

Abstract: A fishing hook assembly includes a base, a central axis extending through the base, and a first, second, and third hook member moveably connected to the base. Each hook member includes a shaft connected to the base and extending therefrom, an arm connected to the shaft at a bend and forming an obtuse angle with the shaft, and an engagement portion connected to the arm and including an engagement point, wherein the arm and the engagement portion connect at an acute angle. The hook assembly is moveable from a first configuration to a second configuration.

Abstract: The DNA Sampling Hook is a significant improvement on a method of obtaining a tissue sample from a live fish in situ from an aquatic environment. A tissue sample taken from a live fish can be used for DNA analyses, which can identify the species of fish, as well as the unique individual fish. Taking a small tissue sample without bringing the fish to the surface is important as it allows for observing the fish community without harming the individual fish by inducing barotrauma or other stresses associated with bringing a fish up from depth, which can be lethal to the animal. These tissue samples are obtained by hook and line methods and do not capture or traumatize the fish resulting in a non-lethal and non-destructive method of observing fish individuals and species. The DNA Sampling Hook is specifically designed to virtually eliminate a condition called double bites, in which more than one individual fish gives up tissue to the same hook.

Abstract: The present invention is a towel or absorbent cloth adapted for use by a fisherman for grasping a freshly caught fish with measurement means visible on a surface of the towel or absorbent cloth. In a preferred embodiment, attaching means provide for attachment of the towel to a belt or pants top of a user so that it can be easily reached upon catching a fish. In another embodiment, a grasping part of the towel or cloth is adapted to minimize absorbency to preserve the protective slime coat of a freshly caught fish so that it can be safely released after measurement.

Abstract: A fishing hook assembly includes a base, a central axis extending through the base, and a first, second, and third hook member moveably connected to the base. Each hook member includes a shaft, an arm, and an engagement member. The shaft is connected to the base and extends therefrom, and is generally disposed a first distance from the central axis. The arm is connected to the shaft. The engagement portion is connected to the arm. The engagement portion is generally disposed a second distance from the central axis. The hook assembly is moveable from a first configuration to a second configuration. In the first configuration the engagement portions are disposed adjacent the central axis such that the first distance is greater than the second distance. In the second configuration the shafts are disposed adjacent the central axis such that the first distance is less than the second distance.

Abstract: A quick-release fish hook enables an angler to one-handedly release a fish caught on the hook without dangerous hand exposure to sharp fish teeth or the hook itself. A forward hook shank portion with an interior channel is connected to a slotted rear shank portion extending obliquely from the rear end of the forward hook shank portion. A generally U-shaped hook member with a sharp tip and an opposed locking notch is rotatively attached in the slot in the rear shank portion by a swivel pin which is displaced from the axis of the forward hook shank portion. A lock rod rides in the interior channel and is rearwardly spring-biased at all times to be disposed in the locking notch. The hook is released by pulling a distal button connected to the lock rod to retract the lock rod from the notch. A cam surface is adjacent the locking notch and forces retraction of the lock rod from an extended position and into the interior channel when the unlocked hook member is rotated.

Abstract: The fish hook 10 further comprises a hook-closing element 18 which is in the form of a length of resiliently flexible stainless steel wire which has a hairpin bend therein at 20, to form the hook hook-closing element with limbs 22.1 and 22.2 on opposite sides of the bend. Limbs 22.1 and 22.2 may be connected at a free end 25 of hook-closing element 18. Moreover, each limb 22.1, 22.2 has two mounting ends 24 thereof bent through right angles, the ends extending towards one another and being offset with respect to one another. Each of the ends 24 is received in a corresponding transversely extending hole 26 in the shank head 16. When the hook-closing element 18 is in the position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 it is in a strained condition, urging free end 25 thereof towards the tip of the hook formation 14.

Abstract: A tangle-free fishing line assembly for preventing fishing hooks from getting caught in weeds and other like obstacles. The tangle-free fishing line assembly includes a fishing line; and also includes a hook member being attached at an end of the fishing line; and further includes a weight member being disposed about the fishing line; and also includes stopper members being attached to the fishing line; and further includes a hook guide member being movably disposed about the fishing line for guiding said hook member through weeds in a body of water.