Abstract: Long-line fishing gear includes a protuberance fixed about the juncture between the legs of hooks and attached snoods. The curved periphery of the protuberances cooperate with configured surfaces of spaced apart rails forming a track. The protuberances serve to support the hooks above the track and allow rotation of the supported hooks to accommodate variations in the angular disposition thereof without binding during loading, storage and discharge of the hooks from the track. In this manner, even baited hooks are readily supported by the tracks.

Abstract: A fishing machine is disclosed which automates various aspects of fishing techniques. Values for fishing depth, line pull, and jigging length can be electronically stored by the fisherman. A motor is controlled on the basis of these store values to rotate a reel on which a fishing line is stored. The reel is turned to extend the line or bring it in to implement the stored fishing depth and jigging length. The motor speed and torque are also controlled in accordance with signals obtained from a line pull detector and motor speed feedback signals. With this system, once the above-mentioned values are stored, the fishing line descends to the desired fishing depth, jigging is performed, and when the fish is hooked this is detected and it is reeled in, all this being done automatically. Further features involve a capacity to learn, store, and then simulate the particular technique of an individual fisherman.

Abstract: A device for capturing hooks for use in conjunction with longline hauling and stowage apparatus includes a hook elevating ramp, an engagement plate, and a brush. The hook elevating ramp elevates the hook to the location of the guide track by which the hook is to be captured for storage, while the engagement plate rotates the hook to ensure its engagement on the guide track. The brush serves to stabilize the hook immediately prior to and during hook rotation.

Abstract: A fishing assembly adapted to prevent an ice hole from freezing over. The fishing assembly includes a plastic tubular hollow elongated sleeve for fitting inside the ice hole and a flat annular flange which extends integrally radially outwardly from the sleeve, for retaining the fishing assembly in position inside the ice hole. A plastic cover is secured removably to the upper end of the sleeve for sealing it. The cover includes a slit-like slot for defining an entranceway for the fishing line to extend therethrough into the ice hole. A flag assembly is secured moveably to the cover, for providing a visual indication to the user that a fish has struck the bait. An internal ridge supports the cover entirely within the hollow interior of the sleeve at a substantial distance from the upper edge thereof, thereby to prevent inadvertent dislodgment thereof. The cover is therefor disposed closer to the water surface for providing a better insulation thereto.

Abstract: An artificial structure for attracting fish, which structure includes a ballast and anchoring subassembly having an elongated trunk detachably and pivotally connected thereto and extending in a generally vertical direction therefrom. A plurality of elongated leaf fronds are each centrally engaged with the trunk at longitudinally spaced intervals along the trunk.

Abstract: A fishing unit consisting of a drum, a fishing line secured at one end to the drum and being wound on the drum with a fishhook and casting weight secured to the other end of the line extending from the drum, and a handle for the drum arranged to be grasped by the user with his forefinger extended to overlie the line windings on the drum to prevent unwinding of the line, with the drum axis substantially parallel to the forefinger, so that when the user moves his forearm and wrist forwardly with a snapping motion, and releases his forefinger from the windings, the hook and weight will be propelled forwardly by their own momentum, with the fishing line spinning freely from the forward end of the drum. The drum is hollow and sealed to be buoyant, so that it will not sink if dropped in water, and the hollow interior is specially configurated to permit the storage of additional fishing line, hooks, bait and other fishing gear.

Abstract: A device for removing particles of ice from an ice fishing hole which includes a collapsible basket comprised of a plurality of flexible vanes mounted on the end of a rod and a sleeve slidably mounted on the rod having an expander disk mounted thereto for expanding and contracting the basket to adjust to ice fishing holes of various diameters.

Abstract: A method for measuring a water condition such as temperature or speed proximate a desired location in the water such as near a fishing bait. The method comprises positioning a sensor for the condition near the location which provides a signal proportional to the condition, modulating a high frequency radio signal using the electrical signal, transmitting the modulated signal along a conductive line, detecting the modulated signal and using the detected signal to drive an observable indicator of the condition. The invention also includes an apparatus for practicing the method of the invention. The apparatus includes a sensing means, a modulating means, a transmitting means, a detecting means and a means for converting the detected signal to an observable indication of the condition.

Abstract: A bait threading tool is provided having a stainless steel shank, pointed at one end and defining a crook at the opposite end. To mount a shrimp as bait on the free end of a fishline, a short length of fishing leader line is utilized having a hook at one end and a loop at its opposite end. The loop is engaged in the crook of the bait threading tool and the shrimp is impaled on the point at the end of the shank. The bait threading tool is passed entirely through the body of the shrimp, carrying the loop of the fishing leader line therewith. The fishing leader is pulled until the hook is concealed in the body of the shrimp. The fishing leader loop is then disengaged from the crook and secured to the clip of a snap swivel at the end of the main fishline.

Abstract: This invention comprises a tool for baiting of fishing hooks and lines. The tool has a handle with a pair of telescoping needles; the first needle is hollow and slidably receives the second needle. Both of the needles have end recesses for receiving the point of a fishing hook. The first, outer needle also has a distal notch for attachment of a leader or fishing line while the second, inner needle has a distal aperture through which a leader or fishing line can be threaded.The handle slidably receives the inner needle and has detents to lock the inner needle in its extended and retracted positions. The inner needle is used for application of bait to small hooks or to a leader, while the outer, larger diameter needle is used for the application of bait to large hooks or to leaders. Both needles can be used to apply bait to multiple-hook fishing hooks.

Abstract: A baiting apparatus having a chute for feeding bait stock, a reciprocally moveable knife blade below the chute for slicing pieces of bait from the stock, a cam plate secured to operate with the knife blade, a cam follower in operative association with the cam plate, a lever mechanism operable by the cam follower, and a retainer secured to the lever mechanism for retaining and gripping the sliced piece of bait.

Abstract: A method for locating and catching fish in which a pH measuring device is lowered from the surface of a body of water constituting a fish habitat. During the lowering of the device, the depth at which the device is located is measured periodically, and the pH of the water at the several measured depths is determined. The several measured depths and the corresponding pH values are compared to determine the rate of change of pH per unit of depth. One or more discrete intervals of depth of the water over which the greatest rates of change of pH occur are identified. Upon completion of the lowering, the pH measuring device is removed from the water. A fish catching device is lowered in the water to a point located from about one to eight feet above a depth interval at which a marked increase in the rate of change of pH in the water has been identified as occurring.

Abstract: A method for selecting a fishing lure of a color or colors most visible and attractive to fish which includes the steps of observing the condition of the water to be fished to determine the relative clarity of the water, then measuring the light transmittance at the depth in the water to be fished. The water condition observed and the light transmittance value measured are then compared with a color chart upon which colors have been precorrelated to light transmittance values and water clarity conditions according to which color is most attractive to fish at a specific transmittance value and water condition. A lure color is selected on the basis of such comparison, and used to fish at the depth at which the water transmittance value has been measured.

Abstract: A bait threading device which can be easily carried in the pocket of a fisherman yet has a bait threading needle which can be readily extended to accommodate various sizes of bait. In addition to affording the threading of a fishing line through the bait, the device of this invention also includes a cap member which is designed to aid in the removing of a hook from a fish as well as a means of tying a fishing line to the hook. On one embodiment, the bait threader device of this invention also has the advantage of not only acting as bait threader but also providing a hook removal feature in a unitary construction.

Abstract: A device is described for attracting fish to an area of a body of water. The device includes a length of flexible airtight hose which can be inflated to form it into a circular buoyant frame. The circular area is covered with a sheet of flexible opaque material and the assembly is placed on the water and anchored in place. Small bait fish are attracted to the shadowed region under the opaque sheet, and the small fish attract larger game fish which can be sought by commerical and/or sports fishermen.

Abstract: A fish hook sneller and line cutter tool for forming a knot from a fishing line on a fish hook and cutting the fishing line is provided and consists of an elongated housing in a size approximating that of a pen/pencil having a sneller mechanism at one end and a line cutter incorporated within a clip on the housing.

Abstract: A fishing device for manually controlling a fishing line that utilizes the pulling force of a hooked fish to proportionally oppose that very same force without requiring an appreciable effort on the part of the user. A finger grip assembly is hingedly mounted to a line guiding assembly and the fishing line is passed between them. The fishing line is guided from one end to the other of the guiding assembly and passed through a passageway that diverts the pulling force to help sandwich the fishing line thereby frictionally opposing the pulling force of the hooked fish. Brake plates are mounted on the inner opposing walls to provide the frictionally opposing force indirectly.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for baiting circle hooks includes a baiting station and a surface upon which a piece of bait rests at the baiting station. A groove extends away from the surface. A piece of bait is positioned over the groove. As circle hook is fed to the baiting station the point and point bend of the hook are engaged and hidden by the groove, thus hiding the point of the hook from the bait as the point traverses past the leading edge of the bait. Thereafter, the hook is caused to rotate so that the point impales the bait. Preferably, the hook and bait are thereafter counter-rotated so that the bait piece fully engages the hook and resides on the hook bend.

Abstract: The present invention is a baiting machine using entire fishes. The machine combines a guide known for the guiding of the point of the fish hooks, a corridor for the introduction of the baiting fish which is perpendicular to the trajectory of the fish hook point, a retractable wall prolongating the wall of the corridor on the downstream side of the trajectory of the fish hook and a second wall perpendicular to the first, said second wall being prolongated by an arm which can be caught by the fish hook in order to pivot the retractable wall about a pivoting axis situated toward the corridor and downstream with respect to the trajectory of the fish hook and an oblique ramp pushing back the head of the bait introduced along the longitudinal direction of the corridor toward the second wall of the retractable wall. The machine is usable for trawl line fishing.

Abstract: A downrigger fishing apparatus having a weighted line pulley in which the upper portion only of the pulley wheel is enclosed by and runs freely in a housing. The housing has an inlet and an outlet for the line and portions that are uniquely formed and related to the pulley wheel in a manner that prevents the line from jamming but at the same time provides sufficient clearance to permit both the pulley wheel and the line to run freely in use.

Abstract: A moveable underwater icewalker is disclosed. The icewalker comprises, a flotation base, a moveable rod connected to the underside of the base, a flotation arm attached to the rod and culminating in spikes at one end, a plurality of skates and a line attached to the bottom of the rod at one end and whose other end passes through an eyelet which is attached to the underside of the flotation base. By pulling on the line, the icewalker moves forward underneath a mass of ice. The icewalker may cover any distance in any direction that the user desires.

Abstract: An apparatus for hooking and possibly baiting of a fishing line which is provided with snoods (13), each snood having a head (8) adapted to be releasably connected to the neck of a fishing hook (7). The apparatus comprises a hook magazine (4) adapted for placing hooks in a stack and a pusher (6) for moving the hook (7) into engagement with the snood head (8). In order to retain snood heads (8) for coupling them to hook necks a stationary retainer element (9) and a cooperating movable retainer element (1) are provided, while a drive mechanism is provided for moving the movable retainer element in order to release the snood head after the pusher (6) has moved the hook neck into engagement with the snood head. One of the retainer elements (1;9) may have a recess (14) for placing of the snood heads (8), and the stationary retainer element (9) may be equipped with a protrusion (12) adapted to guide the snood heads (8) into the recess.

Abstract: A conveyer system for an elongated element which is provided with freely suspended thread formed projections spaced along the length of the element, such as a fishing line provided with freely suspended snoods. The system comprises and endless tightly wound helical spring (5) which is passed over turning rollers (6), and means (8) adapted to introduce the thread formed projections (1) between two windings in the helical spring. Two systems are described in which the conveyer system is associated with means used in long line fishing.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic apparatus for sorting out the deformed fish hooks or those having a broken point on the so-called trawl line. The apparatus comprises a fish hook positioning device bringing the fish hook (3) to circulate by being pulled by a leader (2) and guided by the shank (4) in a slide (15), where the transverse section corresponds. The slide is of a transverse section corresponding to the normal curvature (5) of the fish hook when the shank (4) is disposed in the axial direction of the channel of slide (15); the point and barb (6) circulating inside the slide and at least a first detector (40) of any type detects, in the case of a non broken fish hook, the presence of the point and the barb (6), other detectors being adapted for detecting the deformation of the shank and a selecting device (16) controlled by said detectors discriminates the non usable fish hook. The invention allows the automatic checking of the state of trawl lines.

Abstract: A method of orienting a fish using a pair of tine members and a pair of jaw members. The pair of tine members are simultaneously inserted into the respective gills of a fish, entering the gills from outside the fish. The jaw members are clamped around the torso of the fish directly below the fish's gills and at an acute angle with respect to the path of insertion of the tine members.

Abstract: A method for selecting a fishing lure of a color or colors most visible and attractive to fish which includes the steps of observing the condition of the water to be fished to determine the relative clarity of the water, then measuring the light transmittance at the depth in the water to be fished. The water condition observed and the light transmittance value measured are then compared with a color chart upon which colors have been precorrelated to light transmittance values and water clarity conditions according to which color is most attractive to fish at a specific transmittance value and water condition. A lure color is selected on the basis of such comparison, and used to fish at the depth at which the water transmittance value has been measured.

Abstract: A lure depth control, used primarily for trolling, for an outrigger of the type having a base, a boom including a fixed member engaging the base and a rotatable member carrying a pulley, and a reel carrying a cable strung over the pulley. The lure depth control includes a vane-like first marker which is secured to the fixed member of the boom and a second marker, also vane-like, which is secured to the rotatable member of the boom. The first marker preferably carries a spirit level for leveling relative to earth and the second marker carries indicia, which may be in the form of straight lines sloped relative to one another about the longitudinal axis of the boom, indicating, relative to the fixed first marker, percentage increase in length of sloping cable needed to reach a known vertical depth.

Abstract: A method for locating and catching fish in which a pH measuring device is lowered from the surface of a body of water constituting a fish habitat. During the lowering of the device, the depth at which the device is located is measured periodically, and the pH of the water at the several measured depths is determined. The several measured depths and the corresponding pH values are compared to determine the rate of change of pH per unit of depth. One or more discrete intervals of depth of the water over which the greatest rates of change of pH occur are identified. Upon completion of the lowering, the pH measuring device is removed from the water. A fish catching device is lowered in the water to a point located from about one to eight feet above a depth interval at which a marked increase in the rate of change of pH in the water has been identified as occurring.

Abstract: A submersible fishing aid, for use in a body of water, having a floatable fishing buoy with means to attach one or more fishing lines therefrom, a retrievable capsule detachably supported to the fishing buoy, the retrievable capsule being also secured to the fishing buoy by means of a line, a weight detachably affixed to the fishing buoy having a line extending from the weight to the fishing buoy, a mechanism for detaching the weight when the fishing buoy is placed in the water so that the weight settles to the bottom of the body of water to float the fishing buoy at a height above the water bottom selected by the length of the line extending from the weight to the fishing buoy and a mechanism operable by a selected event such as, at a selected time, a sonar signal or a fish pulling on one of the hooks attached to the fishing buoy, to cause a detachment of the retrievable capsule from the fishing buoy which floats to the surface permitting the fishing aid to be retrieved.

Abstract: An apparatus for hooking and possibly baiting of a fishing line (1) which is provided with snoods (2) arranged in spaced relationship along the length of the line and each provided with a head (3). The apparatus is provided with a rotatable table which mounts a hook store (13), possibly a bait store (14) and a slide member (15) which, under rotation of the table performs a rectilinear radial movement for the purpose of bringing a fishing hook (17) from the hook store (13) into engagement with a snood head, possibly through a bait (18) from the bait store (14).

Abstract: A hand held jig for holding fishing tackle lures and hooks securely while affixing a resilient line thereto. A body of suitable material has a fixed jaw at one end and a handle at the other end and a laterally movable jaw parallel to the fixed jaw in co-operation therewith for holding the fishing gear.

Abstract: An apparatus for releasing a fish hook from an elongated snood head which has a transversely-extending opening and a U-shaped leaf spring which has projections which extend outwardly therefrom and branches which are spreadable to release the leg of the fish hook. The apparatus including a housing which is movably mounted on a slide guide, the housing including a longitudinal cavity in which the elongated snood head is positionable and a conical entry portion, a plurality of wire guides which obliquely extend towards the longitudinal cavity and which have inner ends that extend into the longitudinal cavity to cooperate with the projections of the U-shaped leaf spring. A cock is pivotally connected to the housing, the cock having a slotted point which extends into the longitudinal cavity and a caster, and a stationary cam along which the caster of the cock moves.

Abstract: A fishing net hanging jig, for tying a net to either the float or lead line, is formed of an upright stanchion, rigidly mounted upon a support, and an L-shaped member having a horizontal leg, which is horizontally adjustably secured to the stanchion, and an upright vertical leg. A thin pointer is provided upon the upper end of the stanchion, and a line support fork is provided upon the upper end of the vertical leg. The space between the pointer and fork is acurately set by horizontally adjusting and then locking the horizontal leg to the stanchion. A cord is passed through a number of mesh loops of the net and is tied to the line by supporting the line at the last tied knot and stretching the line to the pointer. The next knot may be tied at, or around the pointer, and then the line may be pulled free of the pointer and may be re-positioned for tying the next sequential knot.

Abstract: A fishing leader is threaded through a worm or worm-like bait as follows. In one form, an elongated, narrow diameter tool is inserted at an entrance point near one end of the bait and pushed longitudinally through the bait until it exits near the other end of the bait. The end of the leader opposite the fish hook is attached to the tool, and the tool is withdrawn from the bait, which pulls the leader through the bait with the hook near the exit point and the end of the leader opposite the hook, through the entrance point where it can be connected to fishing line. In the other form of the tool, the end of the leader opposite the hook is first attached to the tool and then the tool and the leader are pushed through the worm in the opposite direction until the fish hook is near the entrance point of the tool and the other end of the leader is out of the exit point of the tool. The tool is then withdrawn from the worm leaving the leader in place.

Abstract: Plankton sample taking apparatus comprises a net coupled to a container having an open mouth separably fitted into a coupling member. The adjacent parts of the container and the coupling member are nested and configured to form a wedging seal therebetween.

Abstract: A fishing decoy made up of thin sheets of transparent material with a plurality of inflatable fish images projected thereon, for the purpose of attracting fish to a particular fishing area. The transparent sheets carry a plurality of fish images in color, with a pictorial of seaweed and the like surrounding the fish images so that they appear to be swimming in their natural habitat. The transparent sheets have an air flotation chamber extending along the upper edge and a series of weights attached along the lower edge to maintain the sheet in a substantially vertical plane. Wave action and other external forces cause a rippling action in the sheets giving the fish images the appearance of swimming and a more life-like appearance.

Abstract: Method or apparatus for unwinding gangions from a longline fishing line by first wrapping all of the gangions in a first direction about the longline and thereafter unwrapping them to leave them relatively free from the longline. Wrapping and unwrapping can be accomplished by running the longline through a series of hollow cylinders having permanent magnets mounted on the interior surface. The cylinders are rotated in opposite directions. As the gangions enter the first of the cylinders, the hooks are attracted to the magnets in the rotating cylinders and are rotated about the longline so as to wind all of the gangions in a common direction. Thereafter, the hooks are attracted to the magnets in the second cylinder, which is rotating in the opposite direction, thereby unwinding the gangions. In this manner, regardless of the original wrap of the gangions about the longline, each can be completely unwrapped and left dangling from the longline.

Abstract: An information system for trawler operation includes a radio link between the bridge or other vessel control station and each of a plurality of fishing devices on the vessel. Each fishing device has a radio transmitter that sends signals from which the vessel operator can determine for such fishing device, such variables as line speed, line tension, line payout and the like. Suitable sensing mechanisms are provided together with appropriate electrical circuitry.

Abstract: A novel apparatus for semi-automatically baiting the hooks of long-line used in commercial deep sea fishing. The apparatus includes a bait holding receptacle, a slotted separator positioned in or in association with the receptacle and extending from substantially end to end thereof, whereby ground-line with leader periodically attached to the ground-line is passed behind the separator such that a gangion portion of the leader extends through the slot in the separator and the hook of the leader secures itself to a piece of bait held in the bait holding receptacle.

Abstract: A fish aggregating system for deployment in bodies of water for recruitment of fish for commercial and sport harvesting. The fish aggregating system utilizes various methods for attracting fish and the system may be configured for use under various meteorological and oceanographic conditions. The fish aggregating system may be utilized in an anchored or floating mode.

Abstract: Apparatus for handling a fishing line having hooks spaced apart along it, such as is used in "long line" fishing, as the line is hauled in from the sea, comprises a rail-member, means for hauling the line in a direction at an angle to the rail-member and a guide-member which is engaged by successive hooks of the line as it is hauled, to guide the hooks into engagement with the rail-member, whereby the movement of the line at an angle to the rail-member causes the hooks to slide along the rail-member so as to separate them from the line and feed them towards a storage rail.

Abstract: An unmanned self-propelled submarine vehicle is provided with a material exchanger-container having a vertical axis of symmetry aligned with both the vehicle's center of gravity and its center of volume. The exchanger-container has a moveable diaphragm which divides the interior into two compartments, a lower ballast compartment equipped with an unloading apparatus and an upper compartment adapted to receive collected material. Ballast is unloaded during material loading to maintain the weight of the vehicle constant during loading.

Abstract: To determine a desirable type of bait, size of bait, size of fishing line, retrieval speed of the line, color of the bait and the general conditions for fishing, the present invention includes a microcomputer which responds to electrical input signals provided through data entry keys representing specific values or ranges of the environmental conditions of season, surface temperature, water depth, time of day, structure, cove location, cover, water clarity, and wind speed. The specific nature of the general environmental conditions are entered through the data entry keys. This input information is utilized by the microcomputer to select desirable types of baits from a data base of lures contained within the present invention. Different ones of the input conditions are utilized to determine the other preferable types and uses of fishing equipment.

Abstract: A device for reopening an ice-bound water source is disclosed. Once a hole is provided in a frozen water source, the tubular member is inserted into the hole where it becomes frozen in place. The ice block which will form in the interior region (28) of the tubular member can be ejected. The tubular member itself is heated by a fluid circulating and heating means (62) which runs heated fluid between the walls (20 and 22) of tubular member (12). The heated fluid allows for release of the ice block and dislodgment of the entire unit from the frozen surface of the water supply.

Abstract: A fish hook storage magazine for storing the hooks of a longline during baiting and longline shooting is formed with a slipway for slidably supporting the hooks. The hooks are formed with a spacer which is mounted on the shank of the hook. The slipway and spacer have complementary interlocking profiles which permit lengthwise movement of the spacer with respect to the slipway while preventing removal of the hooks in a direction perpendicular to the slipway and rotation of the hooks about their shank. A bait applying mechanism is also provided which includes a bait support for supporting bait during hooking and a guide for guiding the bait support relative to the hook support to permit relative movement therebetween along a baiting path whereby the bait supported on the bait support is supplied to each hook of a gang of hooks mounted in the magazine. A bait cutting mechanism is also provided for cutting the bait after it is applied to the hooks.

Abstract: To prevent bait from acquiring human odors in the process of handling the bait during each baiting a fish line, the fisherman's hands are first wiped with an absorbent towel impregnated with an anise odor containing substance. This leaves a residual anise odor on the hands which is picked up by the bait in amounts sufficient to mask human odors. In a convenient form the anise odor containing substance may be added to whatever solution impregnates the damp or wet paper towels commercially available for hand cleaning purposes.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for storing at least one fish hook in a channel, preferably an arcuate channel positioned around an axis and having a cross section complimentary to the fish hook shape, with the eye portion of the fish hook disposed radially outward from the axis of the channel and with the axis of the opening of the eye disposed parallel to the axis of the channel, and preferably with a plurality of fish hooks being protectively disposed in the channel with spring means urging the fish hooks toward one end of the channel against a resilient containment member confining the fish hooks to the channel at the end thereof adjacent openings in the apparatus of a size approximating that of the fish hook eye and positioned adjacent the fish hook eye at the location at which the fish hook is restrained by the containment member, the openings being divergent on at least one side of the fish hook eye such that a fish hook may be urged by the spring means to the end of the channel, contained there by the containmen

Abstract: A method for attaching detachable snells to a fishing line while the line system is being set out from a moving vessel at sea. The snell and the line have cooperating coupling members consisting of a peg with stop studs rotatably attached to the line and a radially elastic ring attached to the snell, the ring being detachably fastened to the peg by being pressed down into a locked position behind the stop studs. The line is drawn through an apparatus having a peg orienting means, and the pegs pass a discharge opening on a ring magazine where each peg is brought into engagement with the central opening of a discharged ring and carries the ring along with it to pass between two converging surfaces whereby the ring is pressed down into a locked position on the peg. The converging surfaces consist of a pressure surface for the ring provided with a guide/clearance groove for the peg, and a backstop surface for the peg.

Abstract: In a hand held tool for tying a knot connecting a fishing line to the eye of a fishhook, an elongated generally planar body, is provided with a fishhook supporting forwardly projecting tube and a pair of resilient fins diverging from its rearward end. A laterally projecting lug having a transverse slot holds an intermediate portion of the line. The line free end, after being threaded through the eye of the fishhook, is entrained transversely across the tips of the diverging fins and wrapped a plurality of times about the tube and extended through the opening formed by the fins and line and secured by a slot at the juncture of the fins. The knot and fishhook is then removed forwardly off the tube and the knot tightened against the eye of the fishhook.

Abstract: A non-rotatable arbor, fastened by belt to waist-line of fisherman and used in combination with conventional fly-reel, onto which shooting-monofilament is wound by hand for axial departure on subsequent forward cast, thus enabling much longer casts by eliminating need for shooting-head during forward trajectory to pull coils of said monofilament, conventionally suspended from mouth or left-hand of wading fisherman, from water having appreciable viscosity and surface-tension.