Abstract:
A trolling planer board made of lightweight translucent material has a continuous light source for night fishing and a day or night easily perceptible strike indicator. The light, indicator, and their power supply are housed in a water-tight compartment away from the elements and fishing lines. The strike indicator may comprise a blinking light, a strobe light, a sound, or any other alerting means. Fishing line releases comprise only three moldable pieces, made of weather impervious material and can be used to maintain a hold on the fishing line or to release it, as desired. The planer, made of weather impervious material and having no exposed accessory parts that are sensitive to the elements, can be used in fresh or salt water. The planer&#39;s hydrodynamic design eliminates the need for planning board rods and heavy test lines and the weight of the power supply eliminates any need for additional weights.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This Divisional Application claims the benefit of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/431,827 filed May 8, 2003. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not Applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not Applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention relates generally to the sport of fishing and, particularly, to troll fishing using planer boards.  
         [0005]     The background information discussed below is presented to better illustrate the novelty of the present invention. This background information is not admitted prior art.  
         [0006]     To be successful at fishing, a fisherman must understand what motivates a fish to “bite.” In other words, a fisherman must know what stimuli will induce a fish into attacking its prey. Carnivorous fish stalk their prey as it moves through the water. That is, carnivorous fish strike at moving targets. So, to capture a carnivorous fish, a fisherman should provide for the bait to move through the water. This frequently is accomplished by fishing from a moving boat. The boat, along with its noisy engine, however, often “spooks” the fish. In fact, many fish species found in shallow waters routinely move away from a boat&#39;s path of travel. To overcome this problem, fishermen often use planer boards.  
         [0007]     There are two types of planer boards that are used for trolling. One is used only for deep water fishing. The other is used for fishing in shallow water or where fish are feeding near the surface and is the type of planer under consideration here. This type of board is often referred to as a “sideplaner” as it floats on the water&#39;s surface generally parallel to and at a predetermined distance from the side of a boat and is frequently used in salmon and trout trolling. Sideplaners are conventionally long plastic or wooden surface-running boards. Fishermen like to use the sideplaners as they make the presentation of the bait to the fish much more versatile than when a fishing line is simply run out behind a boat.  
         [0008]     Sideplaners can be attached directly to the fishing boat using a non-fishing line. In this case the fishing line or lines are attached to the non-fishing line at predetermined positions between the boat and the planer. This type of sideplaner is usually used when there is more than one fisherperson on the boat or when one person wants to fish with multiple lines.  
         [0009]     Multiple sideplaners can be attached to a boat. By adjusting the lengths of the non-fishing line that is tethering one or several planers to the boat, a number of planers can run along one or both sides of a boat.  
         [0010]     A smaller version sideplaner is attached directly to the fishing line. This planer has a strike release that releases the planer from the fishing line when a fish strikes.  
         [0011]     The proper distance for a planer to be from the side of boat depends on several factors, which include how clear the water is, the shallowness of the water, and how other boats are in the vicinity. Most often, tolling line lengths are of about 70 feet, but lengths of 200 feet are not uncommon.  
         [0012]     During daylight, a fisherperson has no difficulty keeping track of a planer&#39;s position because the planer floats on the water&#39;s surface. When fishing at night, however, seeing the planer, and knowing when a fish has struck, is problematic. It is, thus, clearly apparent that there is a need for a planer with a strike indicator that will alert the fisher people to the fact that a fish is striking.  
         [0013]     There have been a few attempts at making planers more visible. Some planers have parts painted with a reflective paint, but this only makes the planer more visible during day light hours, at the time when there is little problem keeping the planer in sight. There have been only a few attempts at providing a planer with a light indicator, but all have serious drawbacks.  
         [0014]     One attempt offers a planer with a lighting system that is based on a rather complex electronic circuit. The circuit comprises a fishing line release mechanism, a cam that is activated by the fishing line release mechanism, a spring that is activated by the cam, and a contact that is activated by the spring. A light is positioned on a first surface of the planer that also holds the fishing line release mechanism, while the cam and the spring are on a second surface, which is perpendicular to the first surface. On the second surface there is another electrical contact which is positioned to overhang off of the second surface over the third surface that is opposite to the first surface. This means that the electricity needed to power the light has to travel from the battery located on the first surface, across the second surface to the closed contact point, then back across the second surface to the light on the first surface. In addition to a light indicator, this planer also offers a flag strike indicator. The flag is activated to spring up from its closed position at the same time that the light is activated. One of the major problems of this apparatus is that its battery, light, wiring, fishing line release, cam, two springs (one in the light circuit and one that acts to uplift the flag), and the contact are attached to the outside of the planer. This means that all of these pieces and the wiring are subject to corrosion, especially if the planer is used in salt water. Even if the water body is fresh water, corrosion rates are accelerated when the part to be corroded is in water. Another concern to fisher people is that all of these component parts are projecting out from three of the surfaces of the planer presenting multiple possibilities for the fishing line to become tangled with the projecting parts. The complexity of this system indicates a high manufacturing cost and fairly easy breakage of the many delicate parts. Undoubtedly, what is sorely needed is a planar that, while providing for a light and a strike indicator, has no electrical wiring or connections that are exposed to the elements, especially to water. What is equally sorely needed is a planer with a minimum amount of parts projecting from the surface to minimize the threat of a fishing line becoming tangled with the projecting parts.  
         [0015]     A sideplaner with a light powered from the power system of the boat has been suggested. This envisioned system, however, would suffer from the same problems discussed above. To supply power to the light on the planer from the boat would require electrical wiring that would either have to replace the line that holds the planer to the boat, i.e., wiring that could both provide electricity and hold the planer to the boat, or wiring that would accompany the non-fishing line. The wiring would be exposed to the elements and to the damage presented by them, as well as by the strain the wires can be expected to encounter while a fisherman is bringing in his fish, and also would pose a tangle hazard to the fishing line. Additionally, with these planers the light is powered only when a fish is striking. In other words, if the planer were to be used for night fishing, there is no way to track the position of the planer, except during the time a fish strikes. It is apparent that there is a long-felt need for a planer that can be kept lighted while fishing and yet, additionally, provides for strike indication during the day and at night.  
         [0016]     Accordingly, it would be a significant improvement in the art to provide a side planer that provided all the advantages currently provided by a planer and would also comprise a steady light to indicate the position of the planer in addition to a strike indicator to signal fisher people when a fish took the bait, wherein the electrical system of the planer would be safely stored inside the planer&#39;s water-tight shell so as not to be exposed to chemical or physical weathering processes and so as not to entangle fishing line. Such a planer should be light-weight, to maintain its position above the surface of the water, and should have as few metal parts as possible on the outside of the planer to avoid the effects of corrosion and any interruption of the power supply. The ideal planer would be made of as few parts as possible to reduce the cost of manufacturing and the hazards of breakage.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0017]     The present invention satisfies the urgent need in the art for a trolling assembly comprising a lighted planer board with strike indicator that offers the highest level of bait presentation while troll fishing in shallow water. The trolling assembly of the present invention comprises a planer board comprising an enclosed, hollow casing having at least one interior compartment. A first compartment is a watertight compartment fashioned to house the power supply, lighting system, strike indicator, and related electrical connections to keep all of the power-related elements sheltered from the risks of damage by the elements and, additionally, to keep the electrical components away from the fishing line, thus eliminating potential tangling hazards. At least one of the lights that is housed in the water-tight compartment may be set to emit continuous light when night fishing. The strike indicator, also housed in the water-tight compartment, is designed to alert fisher people when a fish has accepted the bait, regardless of when one is fishing, day or night.  
         [0018]     The novel planer board casing has an hydrodynamic tapered leading edge and an hydrodynamic curved edge between the inboard surface of the planer and the longitudinal lower surface. This curved edge directs the water flow beneath the board which reduces resistance between board and water and, thus, eliminates the need for heavy fishing equipment such as planning board rods and heavy test lines. Additionally, the trolling assembly, described herein, is lightweight, of few parts, and has no metal parts or other easily weathered parts exposed to the elements. The planar casing, made of light weight material is buoyant, but, if desired, additional buoyancy is achieved by placing a buoyant object in a second compartment in the hollow space of the board casing.  
         [0019]     The trolling assembly is towed by the fishing line and is held in a towing mode by one of the line releases. If it is desired to keep the trolling assembly securely attached to the boat while playing a fish, the fishing line may be fixedly secured to the fishing line release, or if it is desired to have the trolling assembly completely detach from the fishing line while a fish is being played, the fishing line may be secured to the release in a manner that will permit the planer to be released. The fishing line releases used by the planer each comprise only three parts that can be economically produced by many methods, including injection molding, and have no metal parts.  
         [0020]     In a preferred embodiment, the trolling assembly of the present invention comprises: 
        i) a buoyant planer board having a water-tight compartment;     ii) at least one fishing line release extending from the planer board for the purpose of holding a fishing line;     iii) an easily perceptible strike indicator integral with the planer board;     iv) a power source housed in the water-tight compartment providing power to said strike indicator, and     v) an activation means operatively connected to the fishing line and the power source for the purpose of activating the strike indicator when a fish strikes.        
 
         [0026]     The activation means comprises a plunger having a first end and a second end with the first end of the plunger projecting out from the water-tight compartment proximate to the fishing line release and operatively connected to a fishing line, and with the second end of the plunger projecting into the water-tight compartment of the planer; 
        iv) a first electrical contact;     v) a second electrical contact;     vi) a biasing means operatively connected to the plunger to maintain the first and second electrical contacts apart, wherein when a fish strikes the fishing line release releases the fishing line exerting a pulling pressure on the plunger to work against the biasing means causing the first and second electrical contacts to connect and activating the strike indicator.        
 
         [0030]     The trolling assembly may further comprising a second fishing line release extending from the planer board for positively retaining the trolling assembly to a fishing boat by its connection to the fishing line.  
         [0031]     In one preferred embodiment, the body of the planer board comprises a hollow casing in which there is located at least one compartment that is a water-tight compartment. The continuous light source, the strike indicator, and the related power supply are housed in this water-tight compartment. Thus, in this embodiment, the planer board is made from a translucent material so that the light emanating from inside the water-tight compartment can be seen easily from some distance away. The continuous light source, useful when night fishing, may comprise one or several light sources connected in parallel, for providing continuously bright light.  
         [0032]     Various embodiments of the trolling assembly may have strike indicators comprising a blinking light, a audio device, a strobe light, or any other means to indicate that a fish has struck.  
         [0033]     Additionally, the planer board of the trolling assembly comprises: 
        i) an inboard surface, and     ii) a longitudinal lower surface where the edge that is formed by the conjunction of the inboard surface and the longitudinal lower surface is shaped to a hydrodynamic curved edge to direct the water flow to beneath the board.        
 
         [0036]     Another embodiment of the planar board of the trolling assembly further comprises a second compartment located in the hollow space of the planar board casing which contains a buoyant object capable of increasing the buoyancy of the planar board where such an object may be a light-weight, sturdy to the elements, foam block.  
         [0037]     Still yet another embodiment comprises a fin on the inboard surface of the planar board for directing the movement of the board. The fin may be integrally molded with the planer board or it may be fixedly attached to the planer board.  
         [0038]     The fishing line releases of the trolling assembly comprise: 
        i) a first clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and a first and second surface;     ii) a second clamping jaw having a distal and proximal end and a first and second surface, and     iii) a moveable clamping collar to fit about the first and second clamping jaws; wherein the first clamping jaw and the second clamping jaw are coupled at their respective distal ends to effectively bias their proximal ends apart from each other so as to provide a space into which a fishing line is threaded, and where the collar fits about the two parts to counter-bias the proximal ends toward each other to reversibly hold the fishing line. The fishing line release is preferably made of a non-metal material and may be manufactured by a molding process.        
 
         [0042]     Still other benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed specification and related drawings. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0043]     In order that these and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention may be more fully comprehended, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, and in which:  
         [0044]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the inboard side of a trolling assembly made in accordance with this invention.  
         [0045]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the outboard side of the trolling assembly as shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional plan view taken along  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2   
         [0047]      FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of either of the two releases shown in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0048]      FIG. 4   b  is a plan view of the release.  
         [0049]      FIG. 4   c  is a cross-sectional view of the release taken along c-c′.  
         [0050]      FIG. 4   d  is a plan view of the releases looking down c′.  
         [0051]      FIG. 4   e  is a plan view of the release shown in  FIG. 4   b  looking down the “d” direction.  
         [0052]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view (viewed from tapered end of planer) of the batteries and lights inside enclosure  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view (viewed from the front side of the planer) of batteries and lights inside enclosure  22  as illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  
         [0054]      FIG. 7  is a schematic cross-sectional view of the connections between the switch, lights, and batteries as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  (viewed from front side of planer).  
         [0055]      FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view of a fishing line attached to the planer before a fish strikes.  
         [0056]      FIG. 9  is a schematic plan view of a fishing line attached to the planer after a fish strikes and the fishing line has been released from release  74 .  
         [heading-0057]     Definitions  
         [none]    
       
          “Side-planer” a planer that is drawn through the water at the side of a moving boat.  
          “Front side of planer” refers herein to the side of the planer from which plunger  80  protrudes, also referred to as the “inboard side”.  
          “Rear side of planer” refers herein to the side of the planer that is opposite the front side of planer, also referred to as the “outboard side”.  
          “Distal end” in reference to the clamping jaws  41  and  43 , distal end, as used herein, refers to those ends that are opposite to the ends of the clamping jaws in which the fishing line is held.  
          “Proximal end” in reference to the clamping jaws  41  and  43 , as used herein, refers to those ends of the clamping jaws into which the fishing line is inserted. 
 
 A List of the Reference Numbers and Related Parts of the Invention 
 
           10  Trolling assembly  
           12  Hollow case, or casing, of planer board of trolling assembly  10   
           13  Backend surface  
           14  Back or outboard surface of planer board casing  12   
           15  Longitudinal upper surface  
           16  Front or inboard surface of planer board casing  12   
           17  Longitudinal lower surface  
           18  Tapered end of planer board  
           20  Light switch  
           22  Water-tight cover for battery and lights compartment  
           24  Handle for lifting water-tight cover  22 .  
           25  Compartment that may be used for additional buoyant material  
           26  Means to attach cover  22  to outboard surface  14  of case  12   
           27  Separating wall between water-tight compartment  30  and compartment  25   
           30  Water-tight compartment for batteries and lights  
           32  Batteries  
           34  Water-tight seals  
           36  Sealing rim  
           38  Spring  
           40  Release (not attached to planer)  
           41  First clamping jaw of release  40   
           42  Attachment member of release  40  with spring action tab closure  
           43  Second clamping jaw of release  40   
           44  Moveable clamping collar of release  40   
           45  First groove; located on top tab-like half  41  of release  40  for holding fishing line  
           47  Second groove; located on top tab-like half  41  of release  40  for holding fishing line  
           48  Space between first clamping jaw  41  of release  40  and second clamping jaw  43  of release  40  through which a fishing line is threaded  
           49  Button stop  
           50  Lightweight buoyancy insert  
           52  First contact  
           54  Second contact  
           55  Third groove; located on bottom tab-like half  47  of release  40  for holding fishing line  
           57  Fourth groove; located on bottom tab-like half  47  of release  40  for holding fishing line  
           60  Board to which lights are attached  
           62  Blinking light  
           64  Non-blinking lights  
           68  Curved edge of planer board  
           70  First line release  
           72  Linking member for linking first line release  70  to planer  
           74  Second line release  
           76  Linking member for linking second line release to planer  74   
           78  Fin for guiding fishing line  
           80  Plunger  
           82  Fitting for plunger  80   
           84  Crochet-like hook of plunger to hold fishing line  
       
     
         [0109]     It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale. In certain instances, details which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention or which render other details difficult to perceive may have been omitted. It should be understood, of course, that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein, but encompasses many embodiments as are discussed throughout the specification. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0110]     Referring now particularly to the drawings,  FIG. 1  presents a perspective view of trolling assembly  10 , which is to be understood to be an exemplary embodiment of this invention, and demonstrates how the above mentioned disadvantages have been overcome. It should be noted that the disclosed invention is disposed to embodiments in various sizes, shapes, and forms. Therefore, the embodiments described herein are provided with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as illustrative and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments described herein.  
         [0111]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of trolling assembly  10  for towing by a fishing line from the port side of a fishing boat (not shown). It should be understood that another embodiment for towing by a fishing line from the starboard side of a boat is the mirror image of the embodiment shown. Planar board casing  12  of trolling assembly  10 , has spaced, generally parallel, inboard and outboard surfaces  16  and  14 , respectively. Inboard surface  16  and outboard surface  14  are connected by longitudinal capping surface  15 , longitudinal capping surface  17 , and back end surface  13 . Inboard surface  16  tapers to leading forward edge, or end,  18  until it joins (meets) outboard surface  14 . Planer casing  12  is generally hollow and will be discussed in more detail below. Tapered leading edge  18  of casing  12  will always be facing inboard, tapering from the outboard body wall  16  toward edge  18 . This provides a positive attack angle carrying the trolling assembly away from the lateral side of the boat as the assembly is pulled by the boat through the water.  
         [0112]     Also shown in  FIG. 1  is first fishing line release  70  linked to planer board inboard surface  16  by linking member  72  about mid-height of inboard surface  16  and proximate to tapered leading edge  18 . Second fishing line release  74 , located at mid-height back end surface  13 , is linked to the planer board by linking member  76 . Further discussion of the structure and use of fishing line releases  70  and  74  is given below in conjunction with  FIGS. 4   a - 4   e . Briefly, a fishing line is connected to fishing line release  70  which may be used to hold the trolling assembly to the boat while a fish is played or to release the trolling assembly from the boat as a fish is played, as desired. After attaching the fishing line to fishing line release  74 , it is then threaded through plunger  80 , which can be seen in  FIGS. 1, 2 , and  3  located proximate to fishing release  70 . The function of plunger  80  to activate the strike indicator when a fish strikes will be explained in detail below. From plunger  80  the fishing line is then attached to release  74  which will release the line when a fish strikes.  
         [0113]     Light switch  20  is shown positioned on longitudinal cap surface  15  to provide for at least one light (which light is housed in water-tight compartment  30 ) to be illuminated while fishing in the dark so that the location trolling assembly  10  can be easily seen.  
         [0114]     Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  is fin  78  integrally formed with planer casing  12  during the molding process. It is to be understood, however, that fin  78  can be affixed to casing  12  in any other manner that will accomplish a fixation. In the embodiment shown, fin  78  projects perpendicularly from inboard surface  16  to enhance the stability of planer board  10 , but may be formed at any other angle to surface  16  to achieve a desired effect.  
         [0115]      FIG. 2 , a perspective view of the planer board&#39;s outboard side  14 , shows water-tight cover  22  covering water-tight compartment  30  (shown in  FIG. 3 ). Handle  24  provides for sure grasping of water-tight cover  22  when it is to be positioned over the water-tight compartment or when removing the cover. Water-tight cover  22  is fixed firmly over the water-tight compartment using water-tight seal  34  and four fasteners  26 .  
         [0116]      FIG. 3 , a cross-sectional view of planer assembly  10  taken along  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 , shows the two compartments located in the hollow space of casing  12 , compartment  25  and water-tight compartment  30  separated by separating wall  27 . Compartment  25  may be used to hold a lightweight buoyancy insert, such as foam block  50 . In the embodiment shown, casing  12  is formed by injection molding and, thus, being hollow, is naturally buoyant. However, the addition of a buoyancy insert, such as foam block  50 , ensures that trolling assembly  10  is maintained in a vertical position while in the water. The weight provided by batteries  32  (see  FIG. 5 ) housed in water-tight compartment  30  provide for trolling assembly  10  to be maintained in a stable, vertical position. Because of the weight provided by batteries  32  no extra weights are normally required.  
         [0117]     As seen in  FIGS. 1-3  and in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , first fishing line release  70  is attached to inboard surface  16  of planar board casing  12  by linking member  72  and is structurally identical to second fishing line release  74 , which is attached to back end surface  13  of planar board casing  12  by linking member  76 . Novel fishing line release  40  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   e .  FIG. 4   a  is a perspective view of release  40  as it appears ready to use.  
         [0118]     Fishing line release  40  comprises three separate and unique parts: first clamping jaw  41 , second clamping jaw  43 , and moveable clamping collar  44 . Except for each clamping jaw having a complementary mating part of snap-like fitting  42  on the distal end of their inside surface, the inner surfaces of first clamping jaw  41  and second clamping jaw  42  would be mirror images of each other. To assemble the three parts of release  40 ; first complementary part of snap tab  42 , on the distal end of the inner surface of first clamping jaw  41  (the inner surface is that side of first clamping jaw  41  that is opposite to the side fitted with button stop  49 ), is fitted to the second complementary part of snap tab  42  that is located on the inner surface of second clamping jaw  42 . The molded shape of the two clamping jaws ensures that when the jaws are snapped together at their distal ends, as just described, their proximal ends are biased to maintain a separation distance referred to as space  48  through which a fishing line is threaded. Space  48  is best seen is  FIGS. 4   c  and  4   d . To ensure that the release is firmly clamped about the fishing line, moveable clamping collar  43  is placed about the clamping jaws starting from the distal end and moved toward the proximal end until it reaches the button stop.  
         [0119]     So that the fishing line release does not prematurely release the fishing line, the fishing line can be more securely attached to the fishing release in the following manner. After the fishing line is threaded through space  48 , the line may be wrapped about the proximal end of the release and inserted into grooves  45  and  47  located on the first clamping jaw and then into grooves  55  and  57  located on the second clamping jaws (see grooves illustrated in  FIGS. 4   b ,  4   c , and  4   e ).  
         [0120]     The arrangement of the electrical elements in water-tight chamber  30  are shown in cross-section in  FIG. 5 . The power source, in the embodiment shown, is from a pair of batteries  32 . The on and off status of light  64  is controlled by light switch  20 . Plunger  80  is positioned to be partly inside the water-tight compartment and partly outside of the compartment so that crochet-like hook  84  that is located on the end of plunger  80  extends out from water-tight compartment  30  to project out from the inboard side of the planer proximate to fishing line release  70 . Crochet-like hook  84  provides the means to connect a fishing line to the plunger. Spring  38  and second contact  54  are fixed to the end of plunger  80  that is secure inside water-tight compartment  30 . Spring  38  biases second contact  54  away from first contact  52  fixed to sealing rim  36 . Inside sealing rim  36  is water-tight seal  34 , in the embodiment shown, seal  34  is an o-ring.  
         [0121]     When a fish strikes the fishing line is released from line release  74  but remains attached to crochet-like hook  84  of plunger  80  and to line release  70  so that the pull of the fish on the line pulls plunger  80  further out of the water-tight compartment causing second contact  54  to come into contact with first contact  52  providing for the circuit to close (see idealized wiring scheme shown in  FIG. 7 ) which allows current to power blinking light  62 . In the embodiment shown, blinking light  62  is the strike indicator, indicating that a fish has taken the bait. The blinking light can be seen in daylight or dark. It should be understood that the strike indicator could take many forms, such as a pulsating strobe light or an audio effect.  
         [0122]      FIG. 6  shows an arrangement of the electrical elements in cross-section. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 6 , it can be seen that night illumination is provided by four lights  64  that, as is illustrated in  FIG. 7 , are connected in parallel to reduce the risk of all the lights going out at the same time.  
         [0123]      FIGS. 8 and 9  show, schematically, how the strike indicator of trolling assembly  10  is used to indicate when a fish is striking. In  FIG. 8  illustrates how to rig a fishing line to the board of this invention to tow trolling assembly  10 . This is done by having the line from the boat clamped first to release  70 . Looping the clamped fishing line through the four grooves on the release (as described above) after it is threaded through the space between the clamping jaws will keep the line from slipping. The line is then attached to the crochet-like hook of plunger  80  and then clamped to release  74 .  
         [0124]      FIG. 9  illustrates how the trolling assembly reacts when a fish strikes. When a fish pulls on the fishing line, line release  74  will release the fishing line so the planer board reorients. The fishing line remains attached to plunger  80  and, if desired, to release  70 . After the fishing line is released from release  74 , the pull on the line pulls plunger  80  opposite to how it is biased by the spring that is attached to the end of the plunger that is located inside the water-tight compartment. The taut fishing line pulls the plunger further out from the water-tight compartment through the inboard side of planer board forcing contacts  52  and  54  together creating the closed circuit that activates the blinking light strike indicator. If the fishing line is kept attached to release  70 , the trolling assembly can easily be pulled in with the catch.  
         [0125]     The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used specific and defined nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the specific details are not required in order to practice the invention. Thus, the foregoing descriptions of the specific embodiment of the lighted trolling planer board with strike indicator are presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made to the features, embodiments, and methods of making the embodiments of the invention described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the described methods, embodiments, features or combinations of features but include all the variation, methods, modifications, and combinations of features within the scope of the appended claims such as the number and kind of lights used for night fishing, the shape and size of the planer board, the materials from which the board is made, the number of compartment in the hollow space of the board, more or less hollow space in the board casing, and the particular means used to indicate a strike, to name just a few examples. The invention is limited only by the claims.