Patent ID: 6813857
Filing Date: 2004-11-09
Classification: A01K

Abstract:
A snag-resistant fishing lure assembly intended to be retrieved by a fishing line pulling the assembly through the water in a retrieval direction along a retrieval path, the lure assembly comprising:a fishing lure, a snag guard to resist snagging of the lure by an obstacle during the retrieve, and a connection mounting the snag guard to the fishing lure; the fishing lure comprising a body and at least one fishhooks attached to the body, the body comprising a front portion, a rear portion, a body cross section between the front and rear portions, and first and second outer surfaces on the body cross section located on generally opposite sides of the body and separated by a first width dimension, the front portion preceding the rear portion during retrieve, the front portion adjacent said body cross section diverging outwardly as it extends to said body cross section when viewed from above, wherein the body cross section is a relatively non-narrow cross section of the body; the snag guard comprising means for attaching the lure assembly to an attachment point along the fishing line, the means for attaching and attachment point spaced ahead of the entire fishing lure in the retrieval direction during retrieve, the attaching means having a second width dimension transverse to the retrieval direction and configured to be engagable with an obstacle without substantial risk of snagging, the first width dimension substantially greater than the second width dimension; the snag guard further comprising substantially straight, elongate first and second guard members extending from the attaching means away from each other and towards the lure body during retrieve, the first guard member extending from the attaching means to adjacent the first outer surface and the second guard member extending from the attaching means to adjacent the second outer surface wherein the body cross section is between the guard members, the guard members extending without abrupt changes in direction that could otherwise snag an obstruction; and each guard member comprising a forward portion extending from the attachment means and an end portion adjacent the body, the forward portion spaced ahead of the entire fishing lure during retrieve so that an obstacle encountered during retrieve engages the guard member ahead of the fishing lure, the end portion being adjacent the respective first outer surface and second outer surface and in substantially tangential alignment with the rear portion of the lure body during retrieve; wherein an obstacle engaging the snag guard during retrieve slides smoothly along the first or second guard member and slides smoothly from such guard member to the rear portion of the lure body thereby reducing the risk of snagging.