Patent Publication Number: US-2007119090-A1

Title: Fishing lure

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to the general art of fishing, and to the particular field of fishing lures.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Fishing lures are typically attached to a fishing line and pulled through the water by a fisherman. Lures which simulate live bait have been used for many years and are available in various sizes and shapes. Many fishermen prefer lures instead of live bait for various reasons, including ease of handling and the economic advantages of not having to purchase or capture live bait.  
      Fishing lures generally comprise essentially two components, namely some sort of fish-hooking component or mechanism and some sort of body member which serves the plural functions of carrying the fish-hooking component, providing a weight by which the fish-hooking component may be propelled, providing the connection between the fish-hooking component and the fishing line, and providing an appealing attraction which hopefully will entice a fish to strike the lure and thereby be caught.  
      It is known in the art to provide fishing lures which simulate the movement of various types of live bait. Typically, such lures must be pulled through the water by the fisherman at a relatively high speed in order to simulate the movement of live bait. Further, the simulated movement is usually limited to one particular type of movement. Some lures simulate the color or shape of various types of live bait. Still other types of lures emit sounds which ostensibly attract fish  
      More specifically, plug type lures for casting and trolling, resembling small baitfish, are known in the prior art. Numerous theories have been developed to explain why some lures attract and trigger the striking instinct of a gamefish. Among these theories, varying emphasis has been placed on the role of the shape, color, sound and motion of a successful lure.  
      One theory holds that gamefish are strongly attracted to weak, injured fish which move in erratic injured actions. It is claimed in this instance that the movements and sounds of the bait draw strike after strike until a predator gamefish hooks itself.  
      The effectiveness and movements of a lure are dependent upon features which are specific to the construction of the lure. These features have ranged from internal baffles to gas discharge means in the prior art.  
      The action of an injured minnow as it moves through water includes a large amount of tail action relative to its forward motion. A fish observing the motion of the injured minnow recognizes it as easy prey and will attack it.  
      Therefore, the art has included examples of lures that simulate the darting behavior and sounds of an injured baitfish with the object of enhancing the chances of attracting the target fish. More specifically, the art has included examples of fishing lures which simulate the action of an inured minnow.  
      However, the inventor has observed that while lures that simulate movements of an injured minnow are more effective than other types of lures, a dying baitfish, such as a minnow, is even more attractive to a game fish.  
      Therefore, there is a need for a fishing lure that simulates the movements of a dying minnow as the lure is pulled through the water by the fisherman.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by a fishing lure that simulates the swimming action of a dying minnow as the lure is pulled through the water by a fisherman. The lure includes a fin on the front end thereof and the lure flops onto its side and imitates the motion of a minnow struggling to live similar to that of a dying minnow moving through the water as the lure is pulled through the water by the fisherman.  
      While game fish will be attracted to injured fish, the game fish will instinctively know that a dying fish is even easier prey. Accordingly, a dying baitfish will be still more attractive to a game fish than even an injured baitfish.  
      Using the lure embodying the present invention will permit a fisherman to attract game fish by simulating the movements of a dying baitfish as the lure is pulled through the water by the fisherman. The dying baitfish is more likely to attract a target fish than a lure that merely simulates the swimming motion of a healthy baitfish and will still more attractive to a game fish than even a baitfish that is simply injured.  
      Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected by the following claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES  
      The invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views.  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fishing lure embodying the present invention.  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along line  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      Referring to the figures, it can be understood that the present invention is embodied in a fishing lure  10  that simulates a dying minnow when pulled through water.  
      Lure  10  comprises a body  12  formed of soft flexible material, such as rubber or soft plastic and which can be decorated to appear like a minnow with scales  14 , eyes  16  and the like. Lure  10  is adapted to move through water when pulled by a fisherman. Body  12  is able to assume either a dying-minnow orientation lying on its side or a swimming-minnow-orientation.  
      Body  12  has a first end  20  which is a forward end when the body is pulled through the water, a second end  22  which is an aft end when the body is pulled through the water and a longitudinal axis  24  which extends between first end  20  and second end  22 . Body  12  further includes a first side  30  which is a top side when the body is oriented in the dying-minnow-orientation, a second side  32  which is a bottom side when the body is oriented in the dying-minnow-orientation and a width axis  36  which extends between first side  30  and second side  32 . Body  12  further includes a first surface  40  which is a top surface when the body is in the swimming-minnow-orientation, a second surface  42  which is a bottom surface when the body is in the swimming-minnow-orientation and a height axis  44  which extends between first surface  40  and second surface  42 .  
      Fish hooks, such as hooks  60  and  62  are fixed to body  12  by eyes  64  and  66  respectively. A fin  70  is mounted on first end  20  of the body and includes a first end  72  located adjacent to first surface  40  of the body, a second end  74  which is located adjacent to second surface  42  of the body and a longitudinal axis  76  which extends between first end  72  of the fin and second end  74  of the fin and which is oriented to extend in a direction that is essentially parallel to height axis  44  of flexible body  12 .  
      Fin  70  further includes an arcuate end  80  which is a leading end when flexible body  12  is pulled through the water, a base end  82  which is fixed to first end  20  of flexible body  12  and a transverse axis  86  which extends between arcuate end  80  and base end  82  of the fin and which is oriented to extend in a direction that is essentially parallel to longitudinal axis  24  of the flexible body.  
      Fin  70  further includes a first side  90  which is located adjacent to first side  30  of flexible body  12  and a second side  92  which is located adjacent to second side  32  of the flexible body.  
      As can be understood from  FIG. 1 , fin  70  is fixed to flexible body  12  at a location that is spaced apart from the longitudinal axis of the flexible body and which is also spaced apart from the height axis of the flexible body whereby the fin is off-center with respect to the flexible body. The fin is also shaped and oriented so that when the lure is pulled through the water, the fin will force the lure onto its side and work in conjunction with the flexible nature of the body to cause the lure to undulate up and down on its side as it moves through the water. This undulating motion resembles that of a dying fish as it struggles through the water. This will attract a game fish as the game fish will mistake the lure for a dying food fish.  
      An alternative form of the lure includes a weight element  100  in flexible body  12  and located in the flexible body to cause the flexible body to be oriented so height axis  94  of the flexible body is oriented in a horizontal plane with first side  30  on top and width axis  36  is in a vertical plane when the flexible body is in the water.  
      As discussed above, the fin is shaped and oriented to cause the flexible body to undulate with the first and second surfaces of the flexible body undulating up and down in a vertical plane as the flexible body is pulled through the water as indicated by arrow  102  in  FIG. 2 . The shape and location of fin  70  can work in conjunction with the weight element to further enhance the undulating motion of the lure as it moves through the water.  
      A connector element  106  can be used to ensure the integrity of the lure. In one form of the invention, connector element  106  is a steel cable which will ensure the integrity of the lure but which will also permit the above-discussed undulating movement of the lure as it moves through the water under the influence of fin  70  and weight element  100 . The head section  108  and the tail section  110  can be formed of hard plastic if desired. The connector element  106  may connect the head section  108  and the tail section  110  together.  
      While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.