Method of bait mounting

An improved fishing device and method comprising a shank, a rearwardly located means for attaching fishing line, one or more forwardly located fishhooks, and a forwardly located bait restraining means, such as a forward-facing hook. The device is preferably inserted, rearward end first, into the mouth of a bait fish such that the rearward portion and bait restraining means lie within the bait, and the fishhook or fishhooks protrude from the point of insertion. The bait restraining means is then engaged with the bait such that when the device is pulled in a forward direction by a fishing line, the bait remains secured to the device yet is substantially uninjured and unimpaired by the device.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for catching game 
fish with preferably live bait fish. More particularly, the invention 
relates to a method and apparatus which uses a mounting means to secure an 
improved fishhook inside the bait wherein the attached fishing line and 
one or more hooks protrude from the point of insertion. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Numerous fishhooks with means for securing bait thereto are found in the 
prior art. However, many of these known devices have significant 
disadvantages. For example, many require the bait to be impaled on a game 
hook or other restraining means in a manner that can injure the bait or 
inflect pain. Consequently the bait either soon dies or is so affected or 
restricted in movement that it presents an unnatrual appearance. Further, 
known fishing devices typically have significant amounts of hardware 
surrounding the bait. Such external hardware not only may produce an 
unnatural appearance to the bait, but may also cause an unnatural feel of 
the bait fish to the game fish during a strike. 
Many known devices are also prone to becoming embedded deep within the game 
fish, which can not only cause significant injury to the game fish, but 
also make extracting the device from the game fish difficult. Further, 
known devices and techniques have proved disappointing with certain 
fishing techniques and when used for certain difficult to hook game fish, 
such as muskellunge and other North American pike. Many are also prone to 
being snagged by underwater obstructions, making use with certain 
techniques difficult. 
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a fishing device 
which holds bait without causing the bait to move unnaturally. A related 
object is to provide a fishing device which will not do significant injury 
to the bait. Another object is to provide a fishing device which can be 
used without surrounding the bait with significant external hardware. 
A further object is to provide a device and method which fascilitate 
successful hooking of desired game fish, while reducing injury to game 
fish. Another object of this invention is to provide a fishing device 
which is substantially weedless. Finally, it is a general object to 
provide such a device which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture, and 
easy to use. Other objects and features of the invention will become 
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following specification when 
read in light of the attached drawings. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to an improved fishing device which includes 
a shank having means for attaching fishing line at or near its rearward 
end, at least one fishhook at or near its forward end, and a mounting 
means near the forward end. The rearward end of the shank with the means 
for attaching fishing lilne is adapted to be inserted preferably inside of 
a bait fish, such as into the mouth cavity or gullet through its mouth. In 
the preferred, game fishhooks remain outside of the bait fish and point 
rearward relative to the bait. To secure the device within the bait fish, 
the mounting means preferably engages the lip of the bait to provent the 
device from being expelled and to permit the bait to be manipulated in a 
forward direction by the fishing line. The mounting means engages the bait 
fish without significantly impairing its natural movement. 
The present invention further relates to a method of attaching bait to a 
fishing line wherein the line is attached to the back end of a fishing 
device. The back end is then inserted into the bait, such as through the 
mouth of a bait fish. Hooks at the opposite, front end of the fishing 
device remain outside of the bait. A forward-facing mounting means near 
this front end is then engaged with the bait, preferably to its lip from 
the inside. As a result, the fishhooks and fishing line protrude from the 
point of insertion, while the remaining portions of the device are located 
within the mouth cavity of the bait fish itself.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals designate 
like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown 
in FIGURE 1 a preferred embodiment of the fishing device 10 with a bait 
fish 11 secured thereto. More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3 a shank 
2 terminates rearwardly into an eyelet 12 to which a fishing line 4 is 
attached. Other means for attaching fishing line to a fishing device may 
similarly be used, either at or proximate to the rearward end of shank 2, 
including snaps, swivels, or, as shown 35 in FIG. 8, leaders. 
A plurality of game fishhooks 6, 7 are attached to the forward end of shank 
2. The fishhooks 6, 7 comprise an end portion 19, and a nonlinear middle 
portion 21. The end portion 19 preferably defines a point and may include 
a barb or similar restrictive means. The nonlinear middle portion 21 may 
be curved as in a traditional fishhook, bent, or otherwise turned such 
that once the end portion 19 engages the game fish, the pulling force of 
the game fish will typically not allow it to be pulled back out of the 
game fish through the point of entry. 
A bait mounting means 8 is also provided, comprising a middle portion 25, 
and an end portion 27 defining a point. The end portion 27 of the bait 
mounting means 8 may also comprise a barb or other restrictive means. 
Furthermore, the middle portion 25 of the bait mounting means 8 is 
rearward to the end portion 27. Thus, when the fishing line is pulled 
forward in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, the portion of the bait 
fish engaged by the bait mounting means 8 will seat against the middle 
portion 25 and prevent the bait from slipping off of the device 10. 
In a presently preferred embodiment, bait mounting means 8 comprises a hook 
which is attached in a forward-facing direction to shank 2 by soldering or 
other known methods. This mounting hook is generally smaller than the game 
fishhooks 6, 7. 
As viewed in FIG. 4, game fishhooks 6 and 7 in a preferred embodiment may 
diverge with respect to the medial, vertical plane. Bait mounting means 8 
in a preferred embodiment lies in the medial, vertical plane extending 
away from the fishhooks 6, 7. It is understood, however, that other 
arrangements are possible, such as locating the mounting means 8 between 
fishhooks 6, 7, or rotatably mounting the mounting means 8 to the shank 2 
to permit limited or full rotation about shank 2. 
Although the preferred embodiment comprises two game fishhooks, other 
numbers of game fishhooks are also possible. If only one hook is used, the 
bait would have less hardware protruding from it, and this would give the 
bait a more natural appearance. However, as the game fish attempts to eat 
the bait, the single hook is typically less efficient in hooking the game 
fish than a larger number of hooks. When more than one fishhook is used, 
the fishhooks should preferably be spaced away from each other as in FIG. 
4. 
FIGS. 5 and 6 disclose alternative embodiments of the invention, wherein 
the portion of the bait means 8 which engages the bait fish 11 is located 
forward to shank 2. As shown in FIG. 5, an extension 20 may be added to 
the mounting means 8. In other embodiments as represented by FIG. 6, a 
means for mounting the mounting means 8 is provided which may be forward 
of shank 2. For example, a bridge 22 or other means may be attached to one 
or more of the hooks, at or forward of shank 2, and the bait mounting 
means 8 attached thereto. In use, the fishhooks 6, 7 are therefore 
positioned closer to the body of the bait fish 11, which may provide a 
more natural appearance. 
Alternatively, in order embodiments the bait mounting means 8 may be 
positioned further down the shank 2 such that, in use, game fishhooks 6, 7 
extend further forward, causing the fishhooks to protrude further from the 
bait fish. FIG. 7 discloses an embodiment of the invention having an 
adjustable attachment means 15 which adjustably secures the bait mounting 
means 8 at selectable locations relative to shank 2, to permit a variety 
of configurations and to permit adjustments to differing bait fish. 
In use, and referring to FIG. 1 and 11, the fishing line 4 is attached to 
the line attaching means, such as eyelet 12 or other attaching means such 
as a leader 35 (FIG. 8), if used. Eyelet 12 and shank 2 are then 
preferably inserted into the mouth of the bait fish until the bait 
mounting means 8 is just inside the bait fish's mouth 13. The bait 
mounting means 8 is then lifted and pulled forward such that the pointed 
end portion 27 of the bait mounting means 8 engages the bait, such as 
upper lip 14, generally from the inside out. Other points of attachment 
are similarly possible. 
When the bait mounting means is attached in this preferred manner, the 
shank and eyelet lie in the mouth cavity 32, gill area, or gullet of the 
bait fish. Only the bait mounting means penetrates the body of the bait 
fish, and this penetration is preferably done to the upper or lower lip of 
the bait fish which are typically not sensitive to pain. As a result, the 
bait fish is free from significant pain which might otherwise affect its 
natural movement. 
Furthermore, because a significant portion of the device is internal, there 
is little hardware surrounding the bait fish. This leads to a more natural 
movement of the bait, and provides a more natural "feel" to a game fish 
during a strike, particularly to game fish which typically "mouth" bait 
before ingesting it. 
Finally, in the preferred embodiment shown, the game fishhooks point in a 
direction substantially opposite to the pull of the fishing line. As a 
result, the fishing device is substantially weedless and amenable to many 
fishing is techniques and to use in otherwise difficult structure and 
cover. 
When the game fish takes the bait into its mouth and the fisherman "sets" 
the hook, the resulting pull of the fishing line 4 will cause the device 
10 including shank 2 to pivot slightly. As a result, the game fishing 
hooks 6, 7 generally engage the inner mouth parts of the game fish. If the 
game fish reacts, the resulting jerking motion will facilitate setting of 
the hook. 
Hooking a game fish by this method has significant advantages. First, it 
has been observed that fish caught using the present invention are more 
likely to be hooked in the mouth region, rather than in the gullet. Thus, 
the game fish is not significantly harmed, and may be successfully 
released. Second, smaller fish typically are less prone to get ensnared by 
this device, thus increasing the percentage of desirable strikes. Finally, 
notable success in hooking difficult game fish, such as muskellunge, has 
been achieved. 
The preferred bait for this invention is live bait fish. However, a variety 
of baits can be used, including artificial bait fish and non-living bait 
fish. 
It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only the 
preferred embodiments of the invention, and that numerous modifications or 
alterations may be made therein without departing from the spirit and 
scope of the invention. By way of example only, more than one bait 
mounting means 8 may be provided. For example, a preferred embodiment in 
which the bait mounting means 8 includes two forward-facing hooks is shown 
in FIGS. 8-11. The means for attaching the bait moutning means to the 
fishing device may provide offset relative to the medial vertical plane, 
or may permit degrees of freedom to the mounting means, such as rotation 
about the shank or a degree of lateral displacement relative to the shank. 
The present embodiments are therefore, to be considered in all respects as 
illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes which come within the 
meaning and range of equivalents of the claims are intended to be embraced 
therein.