Abstract:
Flexible fishing lure tails and appendages having extending or projecting shoulder surfaces to facilitate a simulated swimming action by the drag and eddy principle of water flow. One or more shoulders are provided in the surfaces of the flexible fishing lure tails to facilitate the swimming action as the lure to which the tail or appendage is attached is retrieved through a water body. This swimming action due to the vibration of the tail and appendage segment and the body of the fishing lure is unique and simulates live lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows and the like, a primary characteristic that attracts fish. The tail and appendage segments can be removably or permanently fixed to both hard and soft body lures or molded in combination with a lure body of selected length, size, color and plastic composition characteristics to facilitate the desired swimming action and vibration and thus the attraction to game fish of every variety.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/175,561 filed on Jun. 18, 2002 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,857,220. 
   This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/299,468, filed Jun. 21, 2001. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Field of the Invention 
   This invention relates to fishing lures and more particularly, to soft plastic fishing lures and hard body fishing lures having tail portions and appendages fitted with projecting or extending shoulder segments that create a drag and eddy effect and simulate a swimming action as the lure is retrieved through a water body. This drag and eddy effect causes the tail and appendage portion of the lure to move back and forth and vibrate, which vibrates the body segment, responsive to a selected retrieval speed to attract fish. 
   One of the most effective lures in taking game fish, including game fish of the fresh water variety such as large mouth and small mouth bass, crappie and the like, as well as salt water varieties, including red fish, speckled trout and other fish, is the plastic lure, which can be molded into substantially any desired size, shape and consistency. Typical of these conventional plastic lures is a tail portion that has a rounded or ribbon shape and is connected to or integrally formed with the body portion at a narrowed area to facilitate a simulated swimming action when the lure is retrieved. These plastic lures are typically used with bare and weighted hooks, jig heads, spinner bait harnesses and other hook arrangements known to those skilled in the art to further facilitate the swimming action and to allow the lure to be fished at a variety of depths and retrieval speed in a water body. The plastic lures can be molded into worm configurations having beads or segments which can then be attached to a jig head, for example, and fished on the bottom of a water body as the lead or metal portion of the jig head causes the entire lure to sink, to facilitate bouncing the lure off the bottom in a swimming or crawling simulation. Typical of these lures are the lures detailed in the following patents: U.S. Pat. No. 2,994,982, issued Aug. 8, 1961, to S. A. Murawski; U.S. Pat. No. 3,445,953, issued May 27, 1969, to J. J. Dailey; U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,749, issued Jun. 22, 1971, to Edward R. Dieckmann; U.S. Pat. No. 3,748,774, issued Jul. 31, 1973, to Sherman G. Bryant; U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,882, issued Apr. 29, 1975, to Oscar J. Rask; U.S. Pat. No. 3,883,979, issued May 20, 1975, to William O. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,074,455, issued Feb. 21, 1978, to William O. Williams, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,841, dated Apr. 15, 1986, to Joseph C. Gish; U.S. Pat. No. 4,869,012, dated Sep. 26, 1989, to David L. Brenholt; U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,226, dated Feb. 18, 1992, to Norman L. Bazinet; U.S. Pat. No. 5,193,299, dated Mar. 16, 1993, to Robert P. Correll; U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,039, dated Oct. 10, 1995, to Henry F. Pisoni, et al; U.S. Pat. No. 6,141, 900, dated Nov. 7, 2000, to John A. Rudolph; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,164,006, dated Dec. 26, 2000, to Lyle M. Peterson; 
   It is an object of this invention to provide new and improved flexible fishing lure tails and appendages for various types of fishing lures, which tail portions and appendages are designed to vibrate and simulate a life-like swimming action and generate a vibration and life-like swimming action in the body portion when the lure is retrieved through a water body. 
   Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved flexible tail portions and appendages for various types of solid and flexible plastic fishing lures, which tail portions and appendages may either be molded integrally with the body portions of the lure or attached to the body portions, and are fitted with shoulder segments or projections to facilitate vibration and a life-like swimming action in both the tail and, by energy transmission, in the body portions, when the lures are retrieved at various speeds through a water body. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved, flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage system which is characterized by shoulder projections near the terminal resilient tail portion and appendage segment of the lures, to create a drag and eddy condition when the tail or appendage is attached or molded integrally with a fishing lure body of selected size, shape and design and is retrieved through a water body, to facilitate a life-like swimming motion of the entire fishing lure. 
   Still another object of this invention is to provide flexible plastic fishing lures, including flexible, resilient and typically forked or blocked tail and appendage portions or segments, that incorporate a raised projection or shoulder to facilitate a tail vibration and an induced body vibration that is proportional to the speed of lure retrieval, and a life-like swimming action through the water based on the drag and eddy principle, as the lure is retrieved through the water body. 
   Yet another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved soft, flexible plastic fishing lure tail and appendage design which may be of any desired thickness and typically forked or blocked and incorporated in a plastic lure or a hard body lure of substantially any design, shape and size to simulate a life-like swimming action and facilitate a vibration of the tail and appendage portion as well as the body portion, responsive to retrieval of the lure through the water, the magnitude of which vibration and energy transmission to the body depends upon the tail and appendage design and the speed of retrieval of the lure. 
   A still further object of this invention is to provide new and improved tail portions of selected thickness and size which can be used on flexible and resilient plastic or hard body artificial lures such as lizards, worms, crawfish, grubs, minnows, tube baits, jig trailers and the like, of any desired size, color, shape and design, which tail portions include a projecting shoulder or edge of selected size on each side of the tail that cause a drag and eddy effect to create a vibration in the tail and body portions of the lure, which vibration simulates a natural swimming action, the intensity and energy of which vibration is transmitted to the lure body and is controlled by the speed of retrieval of the lure through a water body. 
   Another object of the invention is to provide a method for vibrating the tail and body of a fishing lure having at least a flexible tail extending from the body, which method includes providing a shoulder on the tail for vibrating the tail and the body when the lure is retrieved. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   These and other objects of the invention are provided in new and improved soft plastic or hard body fishing lures and lure tails and appendages of any desired design, size, color and configuration, and a method for inducing vibration in the lure bodies tails and appendages, the bodies of which fishing lures incorporate flexible and resilient tail portions of selected size and thickness, fitted with projecting shoulders, projections or enlargements of selected size that are typically forked or blocked and which react to water pressure according to the drag and eddy principle and undulate and “swim” through the water during retrieval with a vibration that is imparted from the tail to the body portion, the intensity of which vibration is directly proportional to the speed of retrieval of the lure through the water and the tail design. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a typical forked tail lure of this invention, having a forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 2  is a top view of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more particularly illustrating the swimming and vibrating motion of the forked tail portion during lure retrieval; 
       FIG. 3  is a side view of a block tail lure of this invention, having a block tail portion; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of the block tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 3 , more particularly illustrating an illustrative neck, neck extension and shoulder of the block tail portion; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of the block tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 3 , more particularly illustrating an alternative neck extension and shoulder configuration for the block tail portion; 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of the block tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 3 , more particularly illustrating yet another illustrative configuration of the neck extension and shoulder components of the block tail portion thereof; 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 1 , more particularly illustrating yet another design for the forked tail portion thereof; 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view taken along line  8 — 8  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 7 , more particularly illustrating thin fork tail neck, neck extension and fork extension configurations for the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of yet another embodiment of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 7 , more particularly illustrating an alternative thicker fork tail neck design for the forked tail portion, wherein the forked tail neck is of intermediate thickness; 
       FIG. 10  is a sectional view taken along line  10 — 10  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 9 , more particularly illustrating the intermediate fork tail neck thickness; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of yet another embodiment of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  7  and  9 , more particularly illustrating a forked tail neck which is thicker in construction than the forked tail neck illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 10 ; 
       FIG. 12  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating an increased thickness of the forked tail neck; 
       FIG. 13  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating an alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension elements of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 14  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , illustrating still another preferred embodiment of the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 15  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating yet another configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 16  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating an alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension, and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 17  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating a still further alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 18  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11 , more particularly illustrating yet another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 19  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating yet another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 20  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating still another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 21  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 1  illustrating yet another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 22  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 23  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating still another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 24  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating yet another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 25  is a sectional view taken along line  12 — 12  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIG. 11  illustrating another alternative configuration for the fork tail shoulder, neck extension and the fork extension of the forked tail portion; 
       FIG. 26  is a side view of a thin fin lure having extended flexible, resilient, caudal and anal fins and fitted with a flexible, resilient forked tail portion as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 27  is a side view of a dual vertical forked tail lure having a pair of flexible, resilient dual forked tail portions having configurations as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 28  is a side view of a dual block fin lure having flexible and resilient dorsal block fin and caudal block fins similar in design to the block tail portions illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  and also having a flexible, resilient forked tail portion as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25  and a pair of flexible and resilient streamer fins extending from the forked tail portion thereof; 
       FIG. 29  is a front perspective view of a dual horizontal forked tail lure which is characterized by flexible and resilient dorsal and caudal block fins similar in design to the block tail portions as illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  and also having a pair of flexible and resilient forked tail portions separated by a slot and oriented substantially in the horizontal plane; 
       FIG. 30  is a perspective view of a removable tail lure having a soft or hard body portion and a typically flexible and resilient forked tail portion or a block tail portion connected to the body portion by means of a tail connector; 
       FIG. 31  is a perspective view of a spinner bait lure having a soft body portion impaled on a jig head hook, which jig head hook is molded on a wire harness having spinners, in conventional fashion and which soft body portion is fitted with a flexible and resilient forked tail portion connected to the body portion by means of a tail connector; 
       FIG. 32  is a side view of a jig head, the hook of which is impaled in a flexible, resilient forked tail lure body, typically having a forked tail portion of the design illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 33  is a side view of an alternative jig head fitted with a flexible, resilient beaded worm body, typically terminating in a flexible, resilient forked tail portion illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 34  is a top view of a hard body or flexible, resilient crawfish lure having a pair of flexible, resilient forked claws, which forked claws are typically designed in similar fashion to the forked tail portions as illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 35  is a top view of a segmented worm lure which is characterized by an elongated, flexible, resilient worm body fitted with a tail connector and a flexible and resilient segmented worm lure forked tail portion or appendage, typically having the same design as the forked tail portion illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25 ; 
       FIG. 36  is a side view of a multiple shoulder forked tail lure having a body portion and multiple, flexible, resilient shoulders on a flexible, resilient tail portion, such as the forked tail portion of the forked tail lures illustrated in FIGS.  1  and  7 – 25  or the block tail portion of in the block tail lures illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6 ; 
       FIG. 37  is a slotted tail lure having a flexible, resilient, slotted tail portion fitted with projecting slot extensions for exhibiting a swimming action; and 
       FIG. 38  is a grooved tail lure having a body portion and a flexible, resilient grooved tail portion having a tail groove on both sides thereof through the grooved tail shoulder portion, thus enhancing the swimming action. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, in a first embodiment of the invention a forked tail lure is generally illustrated by reference numeral  1 . The forced tail lure  1  is typically characterized by a soft, resilient, flexible, typically plastic forked tail lure body  5  shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or small bait fish of selected size and color and having a simulated caudal fin  2 , an anal fin  3  and a pectoral fin  4  on the forked tail lure body  5 . A hook  6  includes a hook shank  6   b  which is embedded in the forked tail lure body  5  as illustrated, with the hook point  6   c  projecting from the forked tail lure body  5  forwardly of the caudal fin  2 , as illustrated and a hook eye  6   a  on the opposite, forward-protruding end of the hook shank  6   b  for attachment to a fishing line (not illustrated). In a typical retrieval, the line of a rod and reel combination (not illustrated) is attached to the hook eye  6   a  and the forked tail lure  1  then retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, in conventional fashion. 
   A forked tail portion  7  is typically integrally molded with the forked tail lure body  5  and extends from the forked tail lure body  5  at a forked tail neck  9  of selected thickness and proportions. A forked tail projection or shoulder  8  extends along both sides of the forked tail portion  7  transverse to the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure  1  and is convex in shape throughout its entirety and protrudes outwardly in a lateral direction from the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure  1 . On each side of the forked tail portion  7 , the forked tail shoulder  8  defines the boundary between the rear curved margin of a neck extension or appendage  9   a  of the tail neck  9  and the complementary front curved margin of a concave tail fork  10 . The forked tail shoulder  8  extends rearwardly along a pair of fork extension curvatures  11   a  to define a pair of fork extensions  11 , divided at the tail fork  10 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 2 . 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 7–12  of the drawings, the forked tail lure  1  is illustrated with forked tail necks  9  of varying thickness, as more particularly illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  10  and  12 , respectively, to facilitate a swimming action which is either more or less pronounced as to the degree of movement and vibration of the forked tail portion  7  for a selected speed of retrieval. For example, as illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 12  of the drawings, under circumstances where the forked tail neck  9  is relatively thin in cross-section ( FIG. 8 ), side-to-side movement of the forked tail portion  7  in a simulated swimming action will be faster and very pronounced and will create more vibration in the forked tail portion  7  and generated in the forked tail lure body  5 , than it would in a circumstance where the forked tail neck  9  is thicker, as indicated in  FIG. 12 , for a given speed of retrieval of the forked tail lure  1  through a water body. Additionally, the wider the fork tail shoulder  8 , the slower the “wiggle” or oscillation and the wider the degree of oscillation or side-to-side movement of the forked tail portion  7  during retrieval of the forked tail lure  1 . Moreover, the angle or slope of the neck extension or appendage  9   a  with respect to the longitudinal axis of the fork tail neck  9  also determines the speed and degree of oscillation of the forked tail portion  7 . The speed and degree of “wiggle” or oscillation of the forked tail portion  7  illustrated in  FIGS. 8 ,  10  and  12  resulting from the drag and eddy effect of the water pressure against the forked tail shoulder  8  and the degree of vibration in the forked tail lure body  5  for a selected retrieval speed is therefore a function of the flexibility and resiliency of the plastic material of construction, the thickness of the forked tail neck  9 , and the extent of protrusion, size, shape and angle of the forked tail shoulder  8  of the forked tail lure  1 . Various alternative shapes of the forked tail portion  7  are detailed in  FIGS. 13–25  of the drawings. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 3–6  of the drawings, a block tail lure is generally illustrated by reference numeral  14  and includes a block tail lure body  20 , shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or bait fish and having a simulated caudal fin  2 , anal fin  3  and pectoral fins  4 . A block tail portion  15  is either molded integrally with or attached to the block tail body  20  as heretofore described with respect to the forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and the block tail portion  15  is characterized by a linear block tail shoulder  16  which extends transversely across the width of the block tail portion  15  without curvature, unlike the forked tail portion  7  illustrated in the forked tail lure  1 . As further illustrated in  FIGS. 4–6 , the block tail shoulder  16  includes a block tail shoulder neck  17  of selected size and thickness and a block tail extension  18  that connects the block tail neck  17  to the block tail shoulder  16 . The degree of curvature and the length of the block tail extension  18  may vary, along with the size and thickness of the block tail shoulder  16 , to define a desired degree of vibration of the block tail portion  15  and the block tail body  20 , for a selected speed of retrieval of the block tail lure  14 . As further illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , it has been found that a block tail shoulder taper  19  in the rear extending edges of the block tail shoulder  16  further enhances the swimming action and the vibration of the block tail portion  15  and block tail body  20 . As in the case of the forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a hook  6  can be inserted in the block tail lure body  20  for retrieval purposes, as heretofore described. Moreover, the speed and degree of side-to-side “wiggle” or oscillation of the block tail portion  15  and the vibration generated in the block tail body  20  at a selected retrieval speed is a function of the width of the block tail shoulder  16  and block tail neck  17 , as well as the resiliency of the block tail neck  17  and the angle of the block tail shoulders  16  with respect to the longitudinal axis of the block tail neck  17 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 26  of the drawings, in another embodiment of the invention a flexible, resilient, typically plastic thin fin lure  22  is illustrated, with a thin fin lure body  23  that generally simulates a bait fish or minnow and a caudal fin  2  and anal fin  3  that are large, thin, resilient and flexible in order to undulate and “swim” as the thin fin lure  22  is retrieved through a water body. The caudal fin  2  and anal fin  3  typically extend from the thin fin lure body  23  rearwardly and are attached to a forked tail portion  7  at the top and bottom thereof. The forked tail portion  7  is typically characterized by a tail fork  10 , defined by a forked tail shoulder  8  and including a curved neck extension or appendage  9   a , along with fork extension curvatures  11   a  that extend the forked tail shoulder  8 , to define the forked tail portion  7 . Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a block tail portion  15  illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  may be substituted for the forked tail portion  7  to achieve an alternative swimming action and vibration in all portions of the thin fin lure  22 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 27  of the drawings, a dual vertical forked tail lure  24  is illustrated having a typically flexible, resilient, plastic dual forked tail lure body  25 , connected to or integrally formed with a dual forked tail portion  26 . As in the case of the lures illustrated heretofore, the dual forked tail portion  26  includes a pair of forked tail portions  7 , connected to the dual forked tail lure body  25  by a forked tail neck  9  of selected thickness and length. The vertically-oriented forked tail portions  7  of the dual forked tail portion  26  are separated by a horizontal tail portion slot  27 , and each includes a forked tail shoulder  8 , defining the curved rear margin of a corresponding neck extension  9   a  and the curved front margin of a tail fork  10 , and including a fork extension curvature  11   a , extending from the forked tail shoulder  8  to define a pair of fork extensions  11  and the tail fork  10 , as illustrated. The shoulder  8  extends along both sides of each of the forked tail portions  7  transverse to the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure  24  and is convex in shape throughout its entirety and protrudes outwardly in a lateral direction from the longitudinal axis of the forked tail lure  24 . Accordingly, as the dual vertical forked tail lure  24  is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, both of the forked tail portions  7  of the dual forked tail portion  26  flutter, “swim”, and vibrate as heretofore described with respect to the forked tail portions  7  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 , and generate a corresponding “swimming” action in the dual forked tail lure body  25 , to simulate the swimming action of a bait fish. In an alternative embodiment, the dual forked tail portion  26  in the vertical dual forked tail lure  24  can be replaced by dual block tail portions  15  (only one of which is included in the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6 ). Further in the alternative, a forked tail portion  7  can be combined with a block tail portion  15  in the dual vertical forked tail lure  24 , as desired. 
   Referring to  FIG. 28  of the drawings, a dual block fin lure  30  is illustrated and is typically constructed of flexible, resilient, typically plastic material of suitable composition. The dual block fin lure  30  includes a dual block fin body  31 , fitted with a simulated dorsal block fin  32  and a caudal block fin  33 , each terminated at the ends thereof with a block tail shoulder  16 , typically defined as heretofore described and as illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  of the drawings. Accordingly, each of the block tail shoulders  16  provided in the dorsal block fin  32  and the caudal block fin  33  includes a block tail neck extension  18 , extending from the relatively flat, thin surface area of the flexible and resilient dorsal block fin  32  and the caudal block fin  33 , respectively, to the block tail shoulder  16 , as further illustrated in  FIGS. 4–6  of the drawings, the dorsal block fin  32  and the caudal block fin  33  being similar in design to the block tail portion  15  in each of  FIGS. 4–6 . A pair of flexible, resilient streamer fins  34  may be extended from a forked tail portion  7 , typically connected at a forked tail neck  9  to the dual block fin lure body  31  of the dual block fin  30 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 28 . Furthermore, the forked tail portion  7  may typically include a neck extension or appendage  9   a  that extends from the forked neck  9  to the forked tail shoulder  8 , and fork extensions  11  and fork extension curvatures  11   a  further define the curvature of the forked tail shoulder  8 . Accordingly, when the dual block fin lure  30  is fitted with a hook  6  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) and retrieved through a water body, the dorsal block fin  32 , caudal block fin  33  and the forked tail portion  7 , as well as the neck extension  9   a  and the dual block fin body  31 , all undulate and “swim” from side-to-side, to further simulate the swimming of a bait fish through the water. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that alternatives in the dual block fin lure  30  are possible, such as by way of example, replacing each or either of the block tail shoulders  16  in the dorsal block fin  32  and the caudal block fin  33 , respectively, with a forked tail portion  7  and replacing the single forked tail portion  7  with a block tail shoulder  16 , or any combination of these tail portion configurations. 
   Referring to  FIG. 29  of the drawings, a dual horizontal forked tail lure  37  is illustrated and is characterized by a typically flexible, resilient, plastic, dual horizontal forked tail lure body  38 , shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or small bait fish and having a dual horizontal forked tail portion  40 , with simulated pectoral fins  4 , a dorsal block fin  32  and a caudal block fin  33 , the latter two fins of which are equipped with block tail shoulders  16 , respectively. As in the case of the dual block fin lure  30  illustrated in  FIG. 28 , in the dual horizontal forked tail lure  37 , both the dual block fin  32  and caudal block fin  33  are each characterized by a curved block tail neck extension  18  that extends from the expanse of the dorsal block fin  32  and the caudal block fin  33 , respectively, to the extension of the block tail shoulder  16 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 29 . The dual horizontal forked tail portion  40  of the dual horizontal forked tail lure  37  is resilient and flexible and connected to or formed integrally with the dual horizontal forked tail lure body  38  at a forked tail neck  9  of selected size and length and includes a pair of horizontal forked tail portions  7 , separated by a tail portion slot  39  and each provided with a forked tail shoulder  8  that curves rearwardly to define fork extensions  11  along corresponding fork extension curvatures  11   a . Accordingly, the dual horizontal forked tail lure  37  may be retrieved through a water body by means of a hook embedded therein, typically as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The dorsal block fin  32  and caudal block fin  33  then vibrate and “swim” through a vertical plane, while the dual forked tail portions  7  of the dual horizontal forked tail portion  40  vibrate and “swim” through a horizontal plane, both planar vibrations effecting a vibration and simulated swimming action of the dual horizontal forked tail lure body  38 . It is understood that the dual horizontal forked tail portion  40  can be replaced on the lure body  38  with a dual horizontal block tail portion (not illustrated), wherein a pair of block tail portions  15  ( FIG. 3 ) instead of the forked tail portions  7 , as illustrated, extend from the forked tail neck  9 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 30  of the drawings, a removable tail lure  42  is illustrated, having either a hard or soft plastic, removable tail lure body  43  with optional simulated pectoral fins  4  and typically fitted with treble hooks  44 . A flexible, resilient, typically plastic forked tail portion  7  is attached to the removable tail lure body  43  at a forked tail neck  9  by means of a tail connector  46  such as wire, a pair of screw-eyes or other connection known to those skilled in the art, to facilitate “swimming” movement of the forked tail portion  7 , as well as the removable tail lure body  43 , as the removable tail lure  42  is retrieved through a water body. Alternative forked tail portions  7  can be attached to the removable tail lure body  43  by simply removing and re-attaching the tail connector  46 . It will be appreciated that the selection of the tail portion element of the lure can include the block tail portion  15  illustrated in the block tail lure  14  shown in  FIGS. 3–6  of the drawings, as well as other tail configurations, including the forked tail portion  7  configurations illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 31  of the drawings, a spinner bait lure  49  is illustrated which may be generally the same design as the removable tail lure  42  without the treble hooks and thus, may include a removable flexible, resilient, typically plastic forked tail portion  7 , which is attached to the spinner bait lure body  50 , fitted with a wire harness  51  attached to a jig head  57 . The wire harness  51  is typically conventional in design and has a harness bend  52  for attachment to a fishing line and retrieval of the spinner bait lure  49  through a water body, wherein the forked tail portion  7  “swims” and vibrates, thus generating a corresponding simulated swimming of the spinner bait lure body  50  and a pulsating action of the skirt  60 . Alternatively, a modified jig head  57   a , typically as illustrated in  FIG. 33 , may be fixed to the wire harness  51  and a lure such as the forked tail lure  1 , block tail lure  14 , thin fin lure  22 , dual block fin lure  30  or the dual horizontal forked tail lure  37 , as well as any other selected lure having a tail portion design of this invention, may be attached to the jig head hook  59  of the jig head  57   a , as desired, with similar simulated swimming results. 
   Referring now to the jig head  57  illustrated in  FIG. 32 , the jig head  57 , is characterized by a jig head eye  58  for attachment to a retrieving line (not illustrated) and a jig head hook  59  is embedded in the typically lead or other metallic jig head  57  and extends outwardly from the rear of the jig head  57 , typically oriented upwardly and forwardly, where it may optionally be engaged by a weed guard  59   a , also extending from the jig head  57 . A jig head skirt  60  is characteristically further attached to the jig head  57  or to the jig head hook  59 , where it joins the jig head  57  to conceal the jig head hook  59 . A resilient, flexible, typically plastic lure such as the forked tail lure  1 , block tail lure  14 , thin fin lure  22 , dual block fin lure  30 , dual horizontal forked tail lure  37  or other lure detailed herein may be impaled on the jig head hook  59  as indicated in  FIG. 32  and the combination of the jig head  57  and the typically forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIG. 32  may be retrieved, with the flexible, resilient forked tail portion  7  and the forked tail lure body  5  undulating and swimming and the jig head skirt pulsating in a life-like manner in the water body. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 33  of the drawings, a flexible, resilient, typically plastic beaded worm body  63  may be attached to a modified jig head  57   a  generally in the same manner as the forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIG. 32 , except that the tip of the jig head hook  59  is reinserted in the beaded worm body  63  rearwardly of the head thereof, to render the lure weedless. The beaded worm body  63  may be provided with a desired number of integral body beads  64  to define a beaded worm body  63  of selected length. The beaded worm body  63  is typically terminated by a flexible, resilient forked tail portion  7 , which operates in the same manner as the forked tail portion  7  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25  as heretofore described, to impart a life-like swimming action, accentuated by the flexible beaded worm body  63 , to the modified jig head  57 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 34  of the drawings, a crawfish lure is generally represented by reference numeral  67  and typically includes a flexible, resilient crawfish lure body  68  configured generally in the shape of a crawfish and having a crawfish lure tail  69  extending therefrom. A pair of flexible, resilient forked claws  70  project as appendages from the crawfish lure body  68  and are each terminated by a claw fork shoulder  73 , defined by a pair of claw forked neck extensions or appendages  75 , each extending from a curved claw fork neck  74  in each of the forked claws  70 . Claw fork extensions  72  extend from the claw fork shoulder  73  to define a claw fork  71 , and the entire forked claw  70  design may be the same as the forked tail portions detailed in applicant&#39;s  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 . Alternatively, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that each of the claw shoulders  73  may be designed in the same manner as the block tail shoulder  16  illustrated in  FIGS. 2–6 . In use, the crawfish lure  67  is normally attached to a hook (not illustrated) that is typically embedded in the crawfish lure tail  69  or the crawfish lure body  68 , such that the crawfish lure  67  is retrieved rearwardly, thus allowing the flexible, resilient forked claws  70 , as well as the crawfish lure body  68  and the crawfish lure tail  69 , to vibrate and “swim” in the same manner as the forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 35  of the drawings, a flexible, resilient, typically plastic segmented worm lure  77  is illustrated, having multiple worm segments  78  of desired size and number extending from a worm head  79  to a smaller tail connector  81 . A flexible, resilient, typically plastic segmented worm lure tail portion  80  is connected to the tail connector  81  and typically includes a segmented worm lure tail shoulder  85 , designed in essentially the same manner as the fork tail shoulder  8  of the fork tail portion  7  of the forked tail lure illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 . A worm lure tail fork extension  83  extends from the segmented worm lure tail shoulder  85  at each end of a worm tail fork  82 , and a worm lure tail extension  84  extends from the tail connector  81  to define the enlarged segmented worm lure tail shoulder  85 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 35 . In use, the worm head  79  is typically embedded on a hook such as a hook  6  illustrated in  FIG. 1  or the jig head hooks  57  and  57   a , illustrated in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , respectively, to facilitate attachment of a retrieval line (not illustrated) and as the segmented worm lure  77  is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed, the segmented worm lure tail portion  80  vibrates and “swims” in the same manner as the forked tail portion  7  of the forked tail lure  1  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 – 25 , but with an accentuated vibration that transfers energy to, and extends along the length of the worm body  77   a , due to the flexible tail connector  81 , to attract fish. Alternatively, it will be appreciated that the segmented worm lure tail portion  80  may be replaced by a block tail portion  15  illustrated in  FIGS. 3–6  to achieve a similar composite “swimming” function. 
   Referring to  FIG. 36  of the drawings, a multiple shoulder forked tail lure  87  is illustrated, having a typically, flexible, resilient multiple shoulder forked tail lure body  88 , shaped generally in the configuration of a minnow or small bait fish with a simulated caudal fin  2  and anal fins  3 , as well as pectoral fins  4 , and further including a flexible, resilient, typically plastic multiple shoulder tail portion  89 , provided with multiple transverse shoulder forked tail portion shoulders  91 . Typically, the forked tail portion shoulders  91  are aligned in substantially parallel relationship with respect to each other across the forked tail neck  9  of the multiple shoulder tail portion  89 . A multiple shoulder tail portion fork  90  is provided in the extreme rear end of the multiple shoulder tail portion  89  and extends outwardly to define a pair of multiple shoulder tail portion fork extensions  92 , as illustrated. The projecting multiple tail portions shoulders  91  serve to create a multiple drag and eddy effect in the multiple shoulder tail portion  89  and cause the multiple shoulder tail portion  89  to vibrate and “swim” and the multiple shoulder forked tail lure body  88  to also “swim”, when the lure is retrieved. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 37  of the drawings, a slotted tail lure  94  is provided and has a typically flexible, resilient, plastic slotted tail lure body  95  with a simulated caudal fin  2 , anal fin  3  and pectoral fins  4 . A flexible, resilient, plastic slotted tail portion  96  is attached or shaped integrally with the slotted tail lure body  95  at a slotted tail neck  99  of selected thickness and length and includes a slotted tail shoulder  98 , defined by a slotted tail neck extension  100  that projects from the slotted tail neck  99  rearwardly of the slotted tail lure body  95 . A tail slot  97  is provided adjacent to the slotted tail shoulder  98  and defines a pair of slot extensions  97   a , to facilitate a unique vibrating function of the slotted tail portion  96 , which generates a corresponding vibration in the slotted tail lure body  95 , when the slotted tail lure  94  is attached to a hook or a jig head such as the hook  6  illustrated in  FIG. 1  or the jig head hook  57  and  57   a , illustrated in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , respectively, and the slotted tail lure  94  is retrieved through a water body at a selected speed. 
   Referring to  FIG. 38  of the drawings, in another embodiment of the invention, a grooved tail lure  101  is detailed and includes a flexible, resilient grooved tail lure body  102  which is characteristically manufactured of a soft plastic material. A typically soft plastic, grooved tail portion  103  is either formed integrally with or attached to a grooved tail neck  108  that extends from the grooved tail lure body  102 , and a grooved tail neck extension appendage or  109  of the grooved tail neck  108  is characterized by a tail groove  104  that extends through a grooved tail shoulder  105  on each side of the grooved tail portion  103 . A grooved tail fork  106  is provided in the grooved tail portion  103  and extends bidirectionally to define a pair of grooved tail fork extensions  107 , as further illustrated in  FIG. 38 . Accordingly, attachment of the grooved tail  101  to a hook such as the hook  6  illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  and the jig head hook  57  and  57   a  illustrated in  FIGS. 32 and 33 , respectively, facilitates “swimming” of the grooved tail lure  101  and the grooved tail lure body  102  through the water, and vibration of the grooved tail portion  103  simulates the “swimming” action. 
   It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the various tail portions, tail portion combinations and appendages described above with respect to applicant&#39;s drawings can be used with variations of either the forked tail portion  7 , block tail portion  15 , dual forked tail portion  26  and various other combinations described above, to facilitate the objective of effecting a hard body or flexible fishing lure that is able to “swim” through the water and vibrate at various retrieval speeds to closely simulate a “swimming” lizard, worm, crawfish, grub, minnow, tube bait and the like. Furthermore, these lures can be impaled on hooks of various design and attached to jig heads such as the jig head  57  and modified jig head  57   a  and fitted with a harness, as in the case of the spinner bait lure  49 . Various other hook combinations and jig head combinations and the like known to those skilled in the art can be used in connection with the flexible fishing lure tails and appendages of this invention. 
   It will be further appreciated by those skilled in the art from a consideration of the drawings that the various tail and appendage neck areas can be varied in size and length, along with the size, shape and angle of the respective projecting shoulder pairs to create a vibration of selected proportions in all portions or segments of the lures, at any selected speed of retrieval of the lures through the water body. As described above, this total lure vibration is more pronounced in the thinner the tail or appendage neck and the more pronounced the shoulder projections at a selected retrieval speed. Furthermore, the respective body portions of the lures of this invention to which the tail vibration is imparted, can be constructed of hard plastic, wood, fiberglass and other materials, as well as molded of soft, flexible, resilient plastic materials of suitable composition, according to the knowledge of those skilled in the art. Since the vibration and “swimming” action of these respective tail and appendage assemblies depends upon the drag and eddy principle, that is, the shoulder causing drag in the water and the sloped rear shape or angle of the shoulder creating an eddy behind the tail portion, the shape of the respective neck and shoulder projections is also a factor in controlling the degree of vibration of the tail assembly and thus, the body portions, for any given speed of retrieval. 
   It has further been found that the forward projecting edges of each of the shoulders described above must be round rather than squared off, in order to create the desired lure “swimming” action. The rear edges of the shoulders for example, at the respective forked extensions may be square, but the forward edge elements of the shoulders should always be rounded. 
   While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.