Abstract:
A fishing apparatus for simulating the catching of fish is taught herein. A preferred embodiment comprises a horizontal fish support, one or more fish-shaped members releasably mounted on the fish support, each fish-shaped member having a tapered mouth extending in front of the fish&#39;s mouth and a line slot that terminates in a patch of hook and loop material. A cast plug will carry a mating patch of the same material so that when the plug is drawn toward the user through the guide slot, the plug will engage the fish-shaped member, thereby pulling it away from the fish support in a manner simulating the catching of fish in actual water.

Description:
This application discloses an invention which is an improvement over the invention set forth in my prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,461, issued Mar. 10, 1992, on “Fishing Game Apparatus.” This application is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. Ser. No. 12/002,221 for “Game Imitating The Catching of Fish By Plug Casting,” filed Dec. 17, 2007, which is a continuation-in-part of my issued application Ser. No. 11/903,701, filed on Sep. 25, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,484,733 B2, issued Feb. 3, 2009, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of my issued application Ser. No. 11/788,271 filed on Apr. 19, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,392,987 B1, issued Jul. 1, 2008. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus or device which can be used to simulate fishing. More particularly, the apparatus of the present invention includes one or more artificial fish which are temporarily retained on a support and which are removed from the support using an operation which is similar to the action of fishing by casting a plug. The present application adds to application Ser. No. 11/788,271 the subject matter in four main areas: 
     (1) The game is provided with new supporting structure for the game itself as well as the game board; 
     (2) The game board is supported in a slightly different manner from the new support; 
     (3) The support for the game is modified such that parts of the game apparatus can be filled with floatable material so that the supporting structure can float on the surface of the water in which case the game board and wallpaper are omitted; and, 
     (4) The mouth piece for snaring the fish (as opposed to the mouth for the fish per se) is separable from the fish. 
     2. Prior Art 
     There are numerous games or devices wherein “fish” are involved as game pieces or tokens. However, the prior art does not disclose a fishing device or apparatus of the type disclosed herein. Actually, the closest prior art is set forth in applicant&#39;s own patent and the two pending applications all referred to above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a fishing device or apparatus wherein one or more flat vertical objects resembling fish are arranged in a horizontal row along a support. Each “fish” is provided with a releasable holding means for connecting the fish to its support. In one form of the invention, the releasable holding means consists of circular support openings in the fish, the support openings being removably received on or over a button or grommet, which, in turn, is received in a slot on the fish support; other releasable holding means include spaced clips mounted on the fish support and forming slots for receiving the sides of the fish shaped member therein. Other releasable holding means can be strips or patches of VELCRO® or even magnets. Each fish is also provided with an inclined entrance opening at the forward end of the fish. The center portion of each entrance opening is provided with a guide slot which connects with a circular snare opening located near the mouth of the fish. For the purpose of catching the fish, the would-be fisherman, or player, will utilize a casting rod with a winding reel, which form no part of this invention. The end of the line which connects with the fishing rod and the reel, however, will be provided with a plug which cooperates with the circular snare opening immediately below (or behind) the entrance opening of the fish. The plug is made of resilient material, such as rubber or plastic, and is provided with a nose piece adjacent the connection of the line to the plug. This nose piece is tapered from a diameter of smaller size than the snare opening in the fish to a diameter slightly larger than the diameter in the snare opening. Immediately beyond the larger diameter of the nose piece, the plug is provided with a recess so that when the plug is pulled into the snare opening, the nose piece will squeeze through the opening until the sides of the opening are lodged in the recess. Further pulling on the line will pull the fish off the support and the fish is now “caught”. 
     In order to assist the fisherman in directing his line into the guide slot and circular snare opening of each fish, the support is located to the rear of an essentially vertical game board or surface which includes at least one vertical gap which is ultimately in alignment with the guide slot in the fish. In one form of the invention, the game board is provided with a single vertical gap extending between two doors which are mounted for swinging opening movement along vertical hinge axes. The entire game board including the surfaces of the two doors is provided with a plastic film, or “wallpaper” on which scenes from a lake or seaside are depicted to provide reality to the game. The upper edges of the game board are tapered inwardly on opposite sides of the gap so that a fisherman, if he gets his line over the upper end of the game board, can manipulate the line, by sidewise tugging, into the gap. 
     In another form of the invention the game board comprises a plurality of doors which are mounted for swinging opening movement along horizontal hinge axes. A vertical gap is provided between each pair of adjacent doors. An optional flexible and adjustable plastic loop can be located at the upper end of the game board to provide a target for the fisherman to cast his plug between the loop and the upper end of the game board. This target loop can be inverted to provide a long distance casting target. The fish are mounted on a horizontal support behind and parallel to the game board. The guide slots in the fish are in alignment with the gaps in the game board. 
     Other variations in the invention include a new supporting structure for the game itself as well as the game board which permits the frame of the game to be impaled into the ground; the support for the game is modified such that parts of the game apparatus can be filled with floatable material so that the supporting structure can float on the surface of the water in which case the game board and wallpaper are omitted; and the mouth piece for snaring the fish (as opposed to the mouth for the fish per se) is separable from the fish. 
     Finally, there is provided another embodiment substantially as described above, wherein a hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro®) is used to attach the fish-like gaming piece to the support bar and/or used to engage the game piece and pull it toward the user when a successful catch has been made. In the preferred embodiment, the plug that is cast by the user will contain a circular (or other shaped) patch of hook and loop material that is selected to engage a corresponding piece on the fish. Additionally, it is preferred that a weight of some sort be affixed proximate to the end of the fishing line to assist the game player in casting the line toward the game apparatus. 
     In broadest terms, it should be noted and remembered that each of the foregoing embodiments is similar in that the fish game piece is engaged from a side opposite the game participant. That is, it is critical to the operation of the instant invention that the user cast a fishing line with a weighted engaging member affixed thereto past the game piece(s). The engaging member is then drawn back toward the player and engages the fish game piece from a side opposite the player. Whether such engagement is accomplished by wedging a plug into a snare opening or by mating together two complimentary pieces of hook and loop material, magnets, etc., that engagement must be made by casting a weighted plug beyond the target and then drawing it back toward the user until the game piece is engaged and then, subsequently, drawn to the user. 
     The foregoing has outlined in broad terms the more important features of the invention disclosed herein so that the detailed description that follows may be more clearly understood, and so that the contribution of the instant inventors to the art may be better appreciated. The instant invention is not to be limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various other ways not specifically enumerated herein. Further, the disclosure that follows is intended to be pertinent to all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Finally, it should be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting, unless the specification specifically so limits the invention. 
     While the instant invention will be described in connection with a preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view, of the present invention, with the back ground graphic being shown as legends on the doors and on the panel beneath the doors; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view, of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a right side elevation taken from  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of one of the fishes used in the game of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is an exploded view taken from  FIG. 1 , showing how the various parts are assembled; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial exploded view of the sub-assembly for the fish support; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear perspective view of the game board and its supporting structure; 
         FIG. 8  is a partial front perspective view particularly of the doors associated with the game board; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view similar to  FIG. 1  but showing the “catching” of a fish and the pulling of the fish through the doors; 
         FIG. 10  is a view similar to  FIG. 6  but showing an alternate embodiment of fish support. 
         FIG. 11  is a detail, in elevation, of the fish and fish support shown in  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a view, partly in section, showing details of the plug that is used in snaring the fish; 
         FIG. 13  is a view similar to  FIG. 1  showing a modified form of the game board including the cast over back bar and optional target loop; 
         FIG. 14  is a side elevation of the elements shown in  FIG. 13  with the loop adjustment being shown in an alternate position by dotted lines. 
         FIG. 15  is a view similar to  FIG. 14  but with the cast over back bar and the optional target loop being removed. 
         FIG. 16  is a view broadly similar to  FIG. 13  but showing the catching of a fish through one of the vertical doors with the target loop being inverted. 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded view showing the assembly of the device shown in  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 18  is a view of a “fish” which can be used in the game of the present invention. 
         FIG. 19  is a perspective view similar to  FIG. 13 , the differences being in the bottom of the support structure and the manner in which the game board is attached to this supporting structure. 
         FIG. 20  is a right side elevation taken from  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is a rear perspective of the invention shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 22  is an exploded and fragmentary perspective view of the structure at the bottom of the supporting structure shown in  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 23  is a view similar to  FIG. 22  but showing the bottommost portion of the supporting structure for the game arranged for impaling into the ground. 
         FIG. 24  is a cross-section through the horizontal member shown in  FIGS. 19 through 21  for supporting the lower portion of the game board. 
         FIG. 25  is a cross-sectional view through the back bar showing that it is filled with foam to make the frame floatable. 
         FIG. 26  is a view similar to  FIG. 19  but showing the support and fish in water without the game board and without the lower structure for the support of the game. 
         FIG. 27  is a view of a fish similar to that shown in  FIG. 18  but showing the opposite side of the fish associated with a removable mouth piece. 
         FIG. 28  is a perspective of the removable mouth piece shown in  FIG. 27 . 
         FIG. 29  is a view of another preferred embodiment, which utilizes hook and loop type materials to removably attach the game pieces to a support bar. 
         FIG. 30  is a close-up view of one aspect of the embodiment of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 31  is an alternative view of the embodiment  FIG. 30 . 
         FIG. 32  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 29 . 
         FIG. 33  is a detailed view of a preferred game piece which utilizes a hook and loop material as a way to engage the lure. 
         FIG. 34  is a detailed view of a preferred guide slot/plug combination suitable for use with the instant invention. 
         FIG. 35  illustrates another preferred embodiment which utilizes a game board on which a fishing-related scene is printed thereon. 
         FIG. 36  contains an illustration of another preferred embodiment, wherein the hook and loop fasteners on the game piece and support bar are similarly sized. 
         FIG. 37  contains a detailed view of a portion of the embodiment of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 38  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 36  as it would appear from a different viewpoint. 
         FIG. 39  contains a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 36 . 
         FIG. 40  contains another preferred embodiment which uses L-shaped brackets as a lower stand. 
         FIG. 41A  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 40  as it might appear when floating in a body of water. 
         FIG. 41B  illustrates the embodiment of  FIG. 40  as it might appear when weighted to rest on the bottom of the body of water. 
         FIG. 42  contains a front view close up of the embodiment of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 43  contains a rear view close up of the embodiment of  FIG. 40 . 
         FIG. 44  contains a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 40 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to the drawings in detail,  FIG. 1  shows a relatively flat game surface or board  20  which is disposed at a relatively large angle (preferably 45 degrees or more) with respect to a flat horizontal member  22  which is connected at its front  24  to the bottom of the game board  20 . The members  20  and  22  can be formed in a single piece or they can be formed separately and connected together. The game board  20  also includes a pair of vertical supports  26  which are secured to the game board  20  by means of rectangular pockets  28 . Each pocket  28  is provided with a slot  30  which cooperates with a ridge  32  on the vertical support  26 . Thus, when the vertical support  26  is inserted into the pocket  28  the ridge  32  will engage the slot  30  and “lock” the vertical support  26  in position with respect to the vertical game board  20 . 
     The horizontal member  22  is provided with rearwardly extending horizontal legs  34  and forwardly extending horizontal legs  36 . These legs are received at opposite ends of a pocket  38  which is formed at the bottom of the member  22 . Each pocket  38  is provided with a pair of slots  30  which cooperate with ridges  32  on the legs  34  and  36  in much the same manner as vertical support  26  cooperates with its pocket  28 . 
     The game board  20  has associated therewith a pair of doors  40  and  42  which are connected to the vertical supports  26  so as to swing hingedly with respect thereto. That is, the vertical uprights  26  (see now  FIG. 8 ) are provided with clamps  44  at the upper and mid portions of the uprights  26  to engage the upper and lower side edges of the doors  40  and  42 . For the purpose of keeping the doors in proper alignment with the vertical members  26 , each vertical member  26  is provided with a pair of outwardly projecting pins  46  which are adapted to be received in holes  48  along the sides of the doors  40  and  42 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the vertical space between the doors  40  and  42  can be considered as a vertical gap  50  which will be aligned with a guide slot in the fish as will be later explained. Extending to the rear of the horizontal support  22  is a horizontal tray  52  having a forward projecting tab  54  and vertical sides  56 . Spaced along the horizontal tray  52  between the vertical sides  56  are a plurality of circular sockets  58  which are adapted to receive a plurality of vertical tubes  60 . The lower end of each vertical tube  60  is provided with a vertical slot  62  which is adapted to be received over a radial member  64  on the inside of the socket  58 . The arrangement of the slot  62  and the radial member  64  is such that the lower end of the tube  60  is prevented from turning in the socket  58 . The upper end of each tube is provided with an inclined triangular member  66  which is connected to the tube  60  in any convenient manner. Each triangular member  66  is provided with a pair of slots  68  which are adapted to receive a pair of grommets  71  for a purpose which will hereafter appear. The upper end of each triangular plate  66  is also provided with a pair of upwardly and outwardly diverging arms  70  which are provided with rounded buttons  72  at the end thereof to prevent snagging of the line. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 7 , a pocket  76  is provided midway of the horizontal support  22  essentially equidistant from the pocket  38  but somewhat wider than the pockets  38 . The pocket  76  is provided with a slot  78  which is somewhat longer than the slots  30  in the pockets  38 . The forward end  54  of the horizontal tray  52  is adapted to be received in the pocket  76  and a ridge  80  thereon is adapted to engage the slot  78  of the pocket  76 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 4 , the game piece of the present invention is a fish shaped game piece  90  which has shows a depiction of a fish  92  thereon. However, the forward or right-hand end of the game piece  90  is provided with a projecting portion  94  which includes an inclined entrance opening  96  which leads to a snare opening  98  through a guide slot  100 . The game piece  90  is also provided with a pair of support openings  102  on opposite sides and “below” the snare opening  98 . As best shown in  FIG. 6 , the support openings  102  are adapted to fit over the grommets  71  which are attached to the inclined triangular plate  66 . A flexible loop  106  extends above the vertical supports  26  and is attached thereto by means of tabs  108 . The tabs are provided with holes through which the loop  106  may be inserted and which provide an adjustability as indicated by the dotted lines in  FIG. 7 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 5 , a vertical advertising plate  112  which is designed to have advertising thereon is attached to the vertical plate  20  by means of VELCRO strips or the like  114 . 
     The doors  40  and  42  are covered with plastic film or sheets  116  and  118 , which can sometimes be referred to as “wallpaper.” The purpose of the film  116  and  118  is to provide a design thereon which will simulate that appearance of a lake or other fishing location. Preferably, the films  116  depict an above water scene whereas the films  118  depict a scene below the water. 
     The manner in which the fish  90  of the present invention are snared or caught will now be described in relation to  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The person playing this game or sport will use any conventional rod and reel (not shown) using a conventional fishing line  122  of suitable strength and durability. For the purpose of the game the outer end of the line  122  will be provided with a “plug”  124  of special design for the purpose of the present invention. The plug  124  will be essentially conical in shape with an enlarged bulb  126  at the end thereof to provide suitable weight. The plug  124  is preferably made of resilient material such as rubber or plastic. The end of the plug  124  opposite from the bulb  126  connects with the line  122  and the shape of the plug permits reception thereof in the snare opening  98  For the purpose of catching a fish, such as game piece  90 , the person playing the game or sport will cast the plug  124  into the opening between the loop  106  and the game board  20 . It should be noted that the upper edges of the doors  42  and  44  are inclined toward the gap  50 . At any event, when the person playing the game casts the plug  124  into the opening below the loop  106 ; the line  122  will pass downwardly through the gap  50  against one of the arms  70  and into the inclined opening  96  at the forward end of the fish  90 . At this point the line will pass through the guide slot  100  into the snare opening  98 . Pulling on the line  122  will cause the plug  124  to engage the snare opening  98  to pull a fish off the grommet  71 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 10 , the game piece  90  (fish) still has the projecting portion  94  which includes the inclined entrance opening  96  which leads to a snare opening  98  (see now  FIG. 11 ) through a guide slot  100 . This compares with what has previously been shown in  FIGS. 4 and 6 . The support openings  102  have been eliminated and the corresponding grommets  71  are not employed. Instead, the projecting portion  94  is provided with a pair of opposite sideways projecting ears  130  below which are a pair of horizontal shoulders  132  which are adapted to rest against the upper ends of a pair of inclined clips or clamps  134 . Clips  134  are secured to the sides of the triangular plate  66  and are disposed at an angle along the sides of the triangular plate  66  to provide a slot or slots for the fish  90  to be received therein. For this purpose the sides of the fish  90  below the shoulders  132  are shaped in a form of a diverging or converging slope  136 . 
       FIG. 12  shows the plug  124  in slightly greater detail than previously disclosed. That is, when the line  122  passes through the guide slot  100  in the fish  90  and the line  122  is pulled so that the plug  124  enters the snare opening  98 . The plug is also provided with a recess or shoulder  140  which prevents the plug from being disengaged from the fish  90 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a relatively flat game surface or board  150  which is disposed at a relatively large angle (preferably 45 degrees or more) with respect to the flat surface upon which the game board is mounted. The game board  150 , more particularly, is provided with a pair of legs  152  which connect to a frame structure  154  to which the game board  150  is attached. The upper portion of the frame  154  for the game board  150  is provided with a horizontal tube or pipe  156  upon which a plurality of fish  158  can be mounted behind and parallel to the game board  150 . Preferably the horizontal support is provided with a plurality of pieces of VELCRO  160  which mate with similar pieces of VELCRO  162  on the fish  158 . Each fish  158  is also provided with a snare opening  98  previously described. 
     The game board  150  in  FIG. 13  is provided with a plurality of vertical doors which are separated by vertical gaps  166  and which are mounted for swinging movement along horizontal axes beneath the bottom ends of the gaps  166 . The game board  150  is also secured to the frame structure  154  by means of screws  168 . 
     In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13 , the target loop  106  is slidably received in a pair of holes in an optional horizontal pipe or back bar  170  which connects at one end to a short pipe  172 , at the end of which is a right angled connection  174 . The right angle connection  174  connects over the end of the horizontal pipe  154  and is removable as shown in  FIG. 15 . 
       FIG. 16  shows the manner in which a fish  158  is caught, similar to the prior description of catching a fish in relation to  FIGS. 6 and 9 . The end of the plug  124  opposite from the bulb  126  connects with the line  122  and the shape of the plug permits reception thereof into the snare opening  98  in the fish  158 . The person playing the game will cast the plug  124  over the optional back bar  170  and between the twin uprights of the target loop  106 . The line  122  passes downwardly through the gap  166 , and thence downwardly through the guide slot  100  into the snare opening  98 . Thereafter, pulling on the line  122  will cause the plug in the snare opening  98  to pull the fish off the VELCRO attachments  160  and  162 . 
     In  FIG. 19  (as is also shown in  FIG. 20 ) the main structural member for supporting the game is a central vertical pipe  180  which has an upper end connecting mid-way with the horizontal pipe  156  (fish support). The lower end of the pipe  180  connects, in one modification, with an elbow  182  which in turn connects with a horizontal yoke  184 . The yoke  184  is comprised of a pair of horizontally extending prongs  186 . A horizontal top member  188  connects the two arms  186  in parallel relation and a central connector  190  is mounted on the arm  188  to be received in the lower horizontal opening in the elbow  182 . 
     In the position shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20 , the arms  186  of the yoke  184  are horizontal; it is intended that the horizontal position of the yoke will permit the game to be supported in an essentially vertical position. In order to stabilize the vertical disposition of  FIGS. 19 through 21  a weight  200  can be laid across the prongs  186 . 
     In order to support the game board  150  from the structure, a horizontal connecting pipe  202  extends forward (to the left as it appears in  FIG. 20 ) from the lower central portion of the vertical supporting pipe  180  and at right angles thereto. The left-hand end of the connecting pipe  202  connects at right angles with a horizontal supporting pipe  204  which is forward and below the fish supporting horizontal member  156  but parallel thereto. The horizontal supporting pipe  204  has an inclined flat surface  206  which extends for the length of pipe  204  and which mates against the back side of the game board  150 . This inclined surface is provided with strips of VELCRO  208  which hold the game board  150  in place. The upper portion of the game board  150  will rest against the side of the horizontal member  156  and the fish  168  will rest between this horizontal pipe  156  and the game board. As indicated in connection with  FIG. 18 , the fish are provided with VELCRO pieces or strips  160  which mate with pieces of VELCRO  208  arranged along the inclined side edge  206  of the horizontal pipe  204 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 22 , this represents an exploded fragmentary view of the bottom of  FIGS. 20 and 21  and shows the vertical pipe  180  connecting with the elbow  182  which, in turn, connects with the yoke  184  through the connector  190 . This represents the position also shown in  FIGS. 19 and 20  where the weight  200  is used to hold the game in a vertical position. If the game is being played in an area where there is grass, the elbow  182  is eliminated and the yoke  184  is connected to the lower end of the vertical pipe  180  through the connector  190 . In this arrangement, as shown in  FIG. 23 , the game can be placed in a vertical position by impaling the prongs  186  into the ground (not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 26 , the upper portion of the supporting structure for the game is shown as floating on water  210 . In order to make the device floatable (buoyant), however, the optional back bar  170  is filled with a foam material  212  as shown in  FIG. 25 . The front pipe  156  is also filled with foam material so that the “game” as floating in the water consists primarily of horizontal pipes  156  and  170  with the fish  168  being supported on the bar  156  by means of the VELCRO strips  160 , previously described. Alternatively, and preferably, the pipes  156  and  170  are foam molded by any of the several foam molding processes provided in the marketplace. Under the circumstances, since the game is already in the water, the game board  150  with the wallpaper thereon can be eliminated for the purposes of  FIG. 26 . 
       FIGS. 27 and 28  show an alternative embodiment for the snare opening  98 . 
     Referring back to  FIG. 18 , the fish  158  is coated with clear plastic material and the forward right-hand end thereof is provided with the snare opening  98  which connects with the mouth of the piece through a slot  100 . It is contemplated for the purposes of  FIGS. 27 and 28  that the forward piece which includes the snare opening  98  and the connecting slot  100  will be a separate piece. Thus, in  FIG. 27  which is the reverse side of the fish shown in  FIG. 18 , the snare opening  98  is located in a removable plastic mouth piece  214  which is somewhat Y-shaped. The removable mouth piece  214  has a horizontally extending portion or tab  216  which is adapted to overly the forward end of the fish as shown in  FIG. 27 . The left-hand end of the removable mouth piece  216  is provided with a pair of diverging arms or wings  218  which are provided with inclined edges  220  for the purpose of assisting the line in reaching the snare opening  98 . 
     When casting for fish using the arrangement shown in  FIGS. 19 through 22 , the fisherman playing the game will cast his plug through the opening provided by the loop  106  and over the optional back bar  170 . The user will then pull on the line and draw the plug over the back bar  170  until it crosses over the same while at the same time maneuvering the line into one of the slots between the vertical doors  164 . When the line falls down the slot and the plug is engaged in the snare opening  98 , pulling on the line thereafter will cause the fish  156  to be removed from the pipe  156  and one or more of the vertical doors  164  will pivot, as will indeed the entire game board  150 , so that the fish  158  will be removed from the bar  156 . After removal of the fish from the bar  156  the game board  150  will return to its position of rest against the bar  156 . 
     Whereas the present invention has been described in particular relation to the drawings attached hereto, it should be understood that other and further modifications of the present invention, apart from those shown or suggested herein, may be made within the spirit and scope of this invention. No particular claim or significance should be attached to the materials employed in the various components of the invention. Purely for purposes of explanation and completeness, the fish  90  can be made from a thin plastic material such as 020″ PVC/Vinyl. Fish graphics can be applied to one or both sides of the fish by decal or screen printing. The plug  124  can be made by injection molding using a soft rubber or plastic material. 
     The tubing  106  can be polyethylene tubing, for example. The tubing and other structural elements shown in  FIGS. 19 to 26 , especially the fish support  156  and the optional back bar  170 , are preferably made by foam molding because the game must be capable of floating as shown in  FIG. 26 . A suitable place to have the foam molding done is Taylor Foam of Oklahoma City, Okla. 
     The game board  20  and base member  22  can be made of ABC plastic ⅛″ thick. The tubes  60  and associated connections can be made from PVC plastic tubing. The “wallpaper”  116  and the coverings for the various doors can be made from graphics decal sheets. The doors themselves can be made from PVC plastic sheets @0.020″ thickness with graphics decals attached. 
     The fish can be attached to their supports by several different kinds of releasable holding means; for example the releasable holding means can be grommets, or clips or VELCRO® strips as shown herein. However, other releasable holding means could be employed such as magnets (not shown), adhesive (not shown), adhesive strips (not shown) or suction cups (not shown). 
     Finally, there is provided another embodiment substantially as described above, wherein a hook and loop material (e.g., VELCRO®) is used as a mechanism for engaging a game piece and pulling it toward the user when a successful catch has been made. In the preferred embodiment, the weighted plug that is cast by the user will urge a circular (or other shaped) patch of hook and loop material toward a corresponding piece of this material that has been placed on the rearward side of the game piece, thereby snagging it.  FIG. 29  illustrates a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the invention. 
     Fishing game  2700  includes a plurality of preferably fish-shaped game pieces  2705  which are suspended from support bar  2725  through the use of pieces of hook and loop fabric  2720  that have been affixed to the rearward side thereof. Although it is preferred that each game piece  2705  have the general outline and shape of a fish, that is not strictly required. The instant invention would operate similarly if the game piece were, for example, rectangular in shape with a proportionally sized image of a fish printed thereon. Additionally, although printing the image of a fish on the surface of the game piece  2705  is certainly one preferred way of placing the image there, other technologies could alternatively be used (e.g., embedding an image of a fish in clear plastic, etc.) and those of ordinary skill in the art will be able to readily devise such. 
     Weight  2710  (e.g., a brick or similar dense and heavy item) is positioned on the base of the game stand and helps keep the support bar  2725  and target hoop  2740  in upright position while the game is played. Additionally, this embodiment is especially well-suited for use in shallow water, as the weight  2710  helps keeps the game  2700  firmly planted on the bottom of, e.g., a shallow swimming pool or in the shallows of a body of water. Of course, in other embodiments the brick  2710  might be replaced with a buoyant material such as STYROFOAM®. In that instance, the entire invention  2700  would tend to float on or near the surface of the water and, thus, would be suitable for use in water of any depth. 
     Stability bar  2745  is preferably provided and helps prevent the advance of the game  2700  toward the user when the fishing line with game piece  2705  attached is pulled toward the user and, when counterbalance weight  2730  is in place, prevents backward rotation of the instant invention when the optional target hoop  2740  is used. Game board  2715  is designed to be positioned between the gamer and the game piece  2705  so that at least a portion part of the fish body is obscured (e.g., all but the head) and, in some embodiments, will have one end resting against counterbalance weight  2730  and the other (i.e., the end with the gaps  2760 ) end positioned near the upper ends of the fish gaming pieces  2705 . This aspect of the invention can be seen more clearly in  FIG. 32 . 
       FIGS. 30 and 31  illustrate in greater detail the base of the instant gaming embodiment  2700 . In this embodiment, adhesive pad  2735  is placed on extension member  2745  in order to help secure the game board  2715  to the base of the game  2700  and keep it in place during game activity. In some preferred embodiments (e.g.,  FIG. 35 ), the game board  2715  might have a real or stylized image of an underwater view containing fish, plants, etc. In other embodiments, the image might be divided into an upper above water view and a lower underwater view. That being said, although a fishing motif that is printed on the game board  2700  would certainly be preferable there is no requirement that the image be fishing related. 
     Turning next to  FIG. 32 , this figure illustrates how the instant game apparatus  2700  might appear with the game board  2715  in place. As can be seen in this figure, in a preferred arrangement, the game board will be positioned in such a manner as to largely obscure the fish game pieces  2705  which are suspended from the support bar  2725 . Preferably, the line slot  3110  of each of the fish game pieces  2705  will be arranged to appear within one of the gaps  2760  in the game board  2715  when the unit is assembled and ready for operation. Thus, a participant will preferably be able to see only the upper extent (e.g., the mouth) of the game piece  2705  from the normal position during play. This helps assure that there will be some degree of surprise on the part of the participant when the game piece  2705  is retrieved using the plug apparatus discussed below. 
       FIG. 33  illustrates the preferred embodiment of the fish game piece  2705 . As is clear in this figure, in a preferred arrangement, the line slot  3110  extends from the upper end of the game piece  2705  and terminates within the body of the hook and loop fabric  3105 . One reason for this preferred arrangement is illustrated in greater detail in  FIG. 34 . Preferably, a user will cast a plug  3210  (which might either float or sink) in the general direction of fishing game  2700  with the hope that the fishing line  3215  will be directed into the line slot  3110 . If that happens, when the user retrieves the line  3215  into the fishing reel as is conventionally done, the line  3215  will pull plug  3210  and hook and loop element  3205  toward the game piece  2705  through which the line  3215  passes. At some point, the hook (or loop) material  3205  will come into contact with and removably mate with its corresponding element  3105  which is attached to the rearward face of the game piece  2705 , thereby engaging the fish  2705  and allowing it to be retrieved back to the user. It is important to note that the material  3205  engages its corresponding element  3105  on the side of the game piece  2705  that is opposite from the user. 
     According to still another preferred embodiment, there is provided a fish gaming system  3300  which does not utilize an extension member  2745 , but instead is kept vertical solely by weighting element  3325 . The fish game pieces  2705  are outfitted with two hook and loop fabric sections ( FIG. 33 ). The upper section  3105  is preferably designed to mate with a corresponding element  3205  which is urged toward the line slot  3110  by plug  3210  when the line  3215  is drawn back into the reel. The second hook and loop material section  3330  is positioned to mate with corresponding element  3325  which is found on the support bar  3375 . As before, weighted element  2710  is preferably arranged to hold the game  3300  in an upright orientation in shallow water or to help float it, depending on whether the element  3325  is a brick or STYROFOAM®, etc. 
     In  FIG. 36 , the embodiment  3400  has stabilizing bar  3504  to increase the stability of the game  3400 . Counterbalance weight  2710  will preferably be used to help maintain the game board  3305  in place when the game board is positioned on the support  3375 . Note that, in some preferred embodiments, one or more bolts  3340  will be used to affix the weight  3325  to the base of the game  3330 . Additionally, it is preferred that upright pins  3315  be provided to maintain some amount of separation between the game board  3305  and the support member  3375 . This allows the fish  2705  to be withdrawn more readily when the user engages it. 
       FIGS. 37 and 38  illustrate in greater detail the arrangement of a preferred base of the game  3300 .  FIG. 39  illustrates how the height of the target loop might be adjusted depending on the desires of the user. 
     Turning next to the embodiment of  FIG. 40 , there is provided a fishing game substantially as illustrated above but wherein the horizontal support bar  3375  is supported by two L-shaped legs  4010 . As is indicated in this figure, in one preferred arrangement, cylindrical floats  4020  will be placed over the legs  4010  in order to make the game buoyant when it is placed in water. 
     In  FIG. 41A , the instant embodiment is illustrated as it might appear when floating on a body of water. As is generally indicated by this figure, the cylindrical floats  4020  will tend to raise the legs above the water level and tilt the support bar  3375  forward. The game pieces  2705  will remain attached by their hook and loop connectors until the gaming angler snags one of them with a toss. In this preferred embodiment, the target hoop  3385  might be made to be buoyant to help maintain the proper orientation of the game while it floats on the surface of the water. 
       FIG. 41B  illustrates how the embodiment of  FIG. 40  might appear if it were partially submerged in a body of water by placing weight  2710  in the position indicated. In this arrangement, the legs  4010  rest on the bottom of the body of water and weight  2710  (e.g., a brick) might be placed on top of the horizontally extending portion of the legs  4010 . 
       FIG. 42  contains a close-up view of the base of the embodiment of  FIG. 40 . Note that both floats  4020  and weight  2710  are in place. In practice, a user would likely use one or the other but it certainly possible that the floats  4020  could be left in place and overpowered by the weight  2710 . In some preferred embodiments, the floats  4020  will be made to be removable. That is not a requirement, though, and it is certainly possible that the floats  4020  might be permanently attached. 
       FIG. 43  provides the rearward view of the embodiment of  FIG. 42 . 
     Finally,  FIG. 44  contains a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 40 . As should be clear, the target hoop will preferably be made to be adjustable in height to accommodate, e.g., different water depths. As before, a weight  2710  and a float  4020  are both illustrated as being present although, typically, either one or the other would be used. 
     Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the invention, a monitor and method of operation of the monitor that fully satisfies the objects, aims and advantages set forth above. While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art and in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit of the appended claims.