Abstract:
A modular fish attractor with sectional components that can be used individually or connected in many different combinations. Interchangeable attractive elements within components include light-emitting diodes, chemoluminescent capsules, solenoids, vibrating motors, and electrical potential differences produced by single-pole sources.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/249,166, filed Mar. 19, 2003 for Fish Attractor. This application hereby incorporates by reference the above-referenced patent application in its entirety. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY  
         [0002]    Fishermen have known since antiquity that they can increase their catch by attracting fish to the vicinity of a lure or bait. The need to attract fish from a distance becomes especially acute when fishing in still, murky water where fish may not be able to see a lure or smell bait until it is very near.  
           [0003]    Observation of fish behavior has revealed that fish rely on and respond to a variety of sensory cues. For example, fish may respond to odiferous bait. Also, it has long been known in the art that fish are attracted to light sources. Commercial fisherman may use floodlights to attract fish to nets. Individual fishermen have adapted more compact floodlights for use on small boats. However, floodlights are bulky, awkward, consume considerable energy, and are illegal in some circumstances. Moreover, with the advent of very small batteries and low-wattage light sources, fisherman have found that fish are attracted to very small, low-intensity lights that are submerged in a fishing area.  
           [0004]    Field observation and research have revealed that fish respond to sensory inputs beyond those of sight and smell. It is known that fish may respond to sound in the form of compression waves produced by a vibration source. Such a source may be as simple as a submerged mechanical buzzer or as complex as an electronic device programmed to reproduce specific prey sounds. However, many such devices currently known in the art share the defects of being cumbersome, unreliable, expensive, and/or difficult to adapt to changing conditions.  
           [0005]    In addition to sight, smell, and vibration, fish also detect and respond to electrical potentials in surrounding water. When a voltage difference is created between submerged electrodes, fish have been observed to orient themselves and swim toward an anode. A sufficiently powerful electrical discharge can direct fish to an area and stun or even kill them. The practice of electrofishing relies on such energy discharges. But as with floodlights, electrofishing gear is bulky, awkward, consumes considerable energy, is illegal in some circumstances, and is in addition dangerous to the user and can be destructive both to fishing equipment and non-commercial fish species.  
           [0006]    An individual fisherman can obtain satisfactory results with far lower energy discharges. It is known that some predatory fish can locate prey by sensing the electrical discharges of fleeing prey or, in some cases, even find tiny prey hiding under sand or other obstructions that would preclude detection by sight, smell, or vibration. The potentials so detected may be only fractions of a volt.  
           [0007]    Some fishing lures have exploited this electrical sense by incorporating anode/cathode pairs exposed to the surrounding water and powered by batteries, piezoelectric devices, or even solar panels. Each has drawbacks: solar panels tend to be cumbersome and require light, piezoelectric devices require motion, and batteries can be heavy and short-lived. Since field experiments indicate that fish are attracted to an exposed electrode even when the electrode of opposite polarity is insulated from the surrounding environment, the current drain on a battery created by an exposed anode/cathode pair can be minimized by exposing only one electrode. A single-pole attractor allows the effective use of very compact, light batteries for extended periods of time.  
           [0008]    The present invention mitigates the drawbacks of known attraction devices by providing a simple, compact, inexpensive, reusable, self-contained single-pole fish attractor that can be quickly reconfigured to include a variety of light and vibration-emitting attraction devices as fishing conditions dictate. The present invention can be planted on the submerged bottom of a fishing area or attached to a line near bait or a lure. The present invention can be positively or negatively buoyant, functioning as a weight or bobber as needed. When the invention is configured to include a light source, the invention can be positioned to illuminate nearby bait or a lure.  
           [0009]    A typical embodiment of the present invention is a cylindrical acrylic rod section drilled and machined to create either one internal cavity opening to one end of the rod, or two internal cavities, each opening to an opposite end of the rod. The rod has a threaded connector at one or both ends. At least one cavity contains a single-pole source of low-voltage electrical potential. Conductive eyelets on the ends of the rod provide attachment points for fishing line and may function as electrodes. In addition, the cavity or cavities may be loaded with a variety of interchangeable attractive devices such as light-emitting diodes, chemoluminescent capsules, solenoids, and vibrating motors. Sections used individually can be sealed with watertight end caps. Sections may also be screwed together end-to-end to form many combinations of attractive elements.  
           [0010]    A section is typically loaded with whichever attractive devices are deemed best for current conditions, the cavities are sealed with caps or adjoining sections, the section is attached to a fishing line, and the section is lowered into a fishing area and suspended at a desired depth. The fisherman is then free to employ any suitable fishing technique to catch fish drawn by the attractive elements.  
           [0011]    All of these features and advantages of the present invention, and more, are illustrated below in the drawings and detailed description that follows.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 shows a fish attractor cross-section including an LED, a battery, and a single-pole source.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 shows an upper end cap section with a conductive core.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 shows a fish attractor cross-section including an LED, a battery, and a single-pole source.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 shows an upper end cap section.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 shows a fish attractor cross-section including an LED, a battery, and a single-pole source.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 a fish attractor cross-section including a chemoluminescent capsule, a battery, and a single-pole source.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 shows a cross-section of an upper end cap section with a conductive core.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 8 shows a fish attractor cross-section including an LED, a battery, two single-pole sources, and upper and lower sectional connectors.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 9 shows a cross-section of an upper end cap section with a conductive core.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of a lower end cap section.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 11 shows a fish attractor cross-section including a vibrating motor, a magnetically-driven vibration source, a battery, two single-pole sources, and upper and lower sectional connectors.  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 12 shows a fish attractor cross-section including an LED, a battery, a vibrating motor, a magnetically-driven vibration source, and a single-pole source.  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 13 a  shows a cross-section of a compression switch.  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 13 b  shows a cross-section of an alternate embodiment of a compression switch.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 14 shows a cross-section of a vibrating motor assembly with an eccentric weight.  
         [0027]    [0027]FIG. 15 shows a cross-section of a vibrating motor assembly with an eccentric weight and an LED.  
         [0028]    [0028]FIG. 16 shows a cross-section of a vibration element containing magnetic balls.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 17 shows a top view of a vibration element containing magnetic balls.  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 18 shows a cross-section of a vibration element containing magnetic balls held apart by a magnetic disk.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 19 shows a top view of a vibration element containing a magnetic balls held apart by a magnetic disk.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 shows a section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A housing  100  can be made of waterproof, electrically-resistive materials such plastic, glass, ceramic, or other waterproof, electrically-resistive materials suitable for casting, forming, or machining that are known in the art. A light-transmitting material allows use of an internal light-emitting attraction device. A preferred material is a transparent acrylic plastic rod, which can be center-drilled to decreasing diameters to create an interior cavity  110  with a shoulder  120  dividing a small-diameter portion  111  from a large-diameter portion  112 . The cavity has an opening  130  and is tapped just inside the opening  130  to create a female threaded portion  140 . The threads may alternatively be cut or formed into the exterior surface  150 . Most components subsequently inserted within the interior cavity  110  would also have a circular cross-section, but square, rectangular, and many other cross-sectional shapes may be utilized.  
         [0033]    light-emitting diode (LED)  160  or other low-wattage illumination device is mounted on a non-conductive spacer  170  which is too large to pass into the small-diameter portion  111  of the interior cavity and which rests against the shoulder  120 . A compressible O-ring  180  holds a battery cathode  190  apart from the spacer  170  and a battery cathode contact  115 . A battery  125  rests within the large-diameter portion  112  against the O-ring  180 , with a battery anode contact  135  connecting the battery anode  145  to the LED  160 . The battery  125  may be any of a variety of cells, such as a Sanyo CR-1/3N manganese oxide-lithium or similar cell as commonly used in small photographic and electronic devices. Any suitable number of batteries may be used to achieve a desired voltage and configuration. An optional lower eyelet  155  may be provided for attachment of a line or leader. The LED  160  may be exchanged for LEDs or other light sources of different colors as may be deemed desirable for current water conditions or the type of fish sought.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 shows a second section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This section functions in part as an end cap for the housing  100 . A body  200  has a male threaded portion  210  proportioned to mate with the female threaded portion  140  shown in FIG. 1. The body  200  is typically made of the same non-conductive material as the housing  100 . A conductor  230  passes completely through the body  200  with an upper eyelet  240  attached to or forming the upper end of the conductor  230 . In alternative embodiments, the body  200  may be made of conductive material, eliminating the need for the conductor  230 . In alternative embodiments, bayonet, flange, or other connection methods may be used between sections or end caps.  
         [0035]    When the male threaded portion  210  of the body  200  is screwed completely into the opening  130  of the housing  100 , an O-ring  220  seats around the opening  130  to seal the interior cavity portions  140 ,  112 ,  111  from the external environment. The battery  125  is forced downward, compressing the O-ring  180  and causing the battery cathode  190  to contact the battery cathode contact  115 , energizing the LED  160  and producing an electrical potential at the exposed end of conductor  230 , thereby creating both an electrical potential attraction source and a light-emitting attraction source. Gaskets and other sealing devices may be substituted for the O-ring  220 .  
         [0036]    If the upper eyelet  240  is conductive, it may also have the same potential, as may any attached conductive leader. The potential usually does not exceed positive or negative 0.75 volt. This potential may be controlled by selection of a diode, resistor, and other components. The circuit may also or instead be controlled by other switch configurations located within the interior cavity. Positive or negative buoyancy can be selected by choosing suitable materials and components, and by increasing or decreasing the overall volume of the interior cavity or cavities.  
         [0037]    In use, the sealed and activated fish attractor comprising the attached sections shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 would typically be suspended from a fishing line attached to the upper eyelet  240 , then lowered into a fishing area to a depth appropriate for the environmental conditions and type of fish sought. Another line might be attached to the lower eyelet  155  to suspend bait, a lure, and/or another fish attractor at a lower depth. The fisherman may also use a separate fishing rig to catch fish attracted to the vicinity of the fish attractor.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention, configured to accommodate a smaller battery  325 . The characteristics of the housing  300  are the same as those of the housing  100  in FIG. 1, except that the large-diameter portion  312  is shorter than the large-diameter portion  112  shown in FIG. 1 and the small-diameter portion  311  is correspondingly longer than the small-diameter portion  111  shown in FIG. 1. The additional length of the small-diameter portion  311  is filled by an elongated spacer consisting of an elongated spacer body  371  sized to fit the small-diameter portion  311  and a lip  372  sized to fit the large-diameter portion  312  and rest against a shoulder  320 . A battery cathode contact  315  passes from an LED  360 , which is mounted on the elongated spacer body  371 , through the elongated spacer body  371  and terminates in a coil  316 . A battery anode contact  335  passes from the LED  360  through the elongated spacer body  371  and terminates in a post  317 . In an alternative embodiment, a flat ring is substituted for the post  317 .  
         [0039]    The battery cathode  390  remains in contact at all times with the coil  316 . When the male threaded portion  210  of the body  200  is screwed completely into the opening  330 , the O-ring  220  seats around the opening  330  to seal the interior cavity portions  340 ,  312 ,  311  from the external environment. The battery  325  is forced downward, compressing the coil  316  and causing the battery anode  345  to contact the post  317 , energizing the LED  360 . Positive or negative buoyancy can be selected by choosing suitable materials and components, and by increasing or decreasing the overall volume of the interior cavity. The elongated spacer body  371 , lip  372  and the LED  360  may be exchanged as a unit to install an LED of a different color or with different electrical properties.  
         [0040]    The battery  325  may be any of a variety of cells, such as a Sanyo CR-1/3N manganese oxide-lithium or similar cell as commonly used in small photographic and electronic devices. Any suitable number of batteries may be used to achieve a desired voltage and configuration. An optional lower eyelet  355  may be provided for attachment of a line or leader.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 4 shows a section comprising an O-ring  420 , a male threaded portion  410 , an eyelet  440 , and a body  400  that is the same as the body  200  in FIG. 2 in all respects except that no conductor is present. The body- 400  screws into the housing  500  shown in FIG. 5 in the same manner as the body  200  shown in FIG. 2 screws into the housing  100  shown in FIG. 1. The components shown in FIG. 5 are identical to and function identically to those shown in FIG. 1, except that unlike the section shown in FIG. 1, the section shown in FIG. 5 has a battery anode conductor  535  that connects the battery anode  590  to the lower eyelet  555 , eliminating the need for the conductor  230  shown in FIG. 2. The body  200  in FIG. 2 could be used with the housing  500  shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 6 shows a housing  600  that is essentially identical to the housing  300  shown in FIG. 3. Unlike the section shown in FIG. 3, however, the section shown in FIG. 6 utilizes a chemoluminescent capsule  665  in a small-diameter portion  611  to produce light. Such capsules are known in the art and may be replaced with each use. A battery  625  rests against a shoulder  620  and has an impedance element  636  connected between a battery cathode  690  and a battery anode  645 , providing a desired voltage drop. The impedance element  636  may be a diode, resistor, or other suitable component as is known in the art. FIG. 7 shows a section identical to the section shown in FIG. 2. The section shown in FIG. 7 screws into the section shown in FIG. 6, with the conductor  230  connecting a battery anode  645  to the outside environment.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 8 shows a section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The upper part of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is identical to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3. However, the lower part has a second interior cavity  805  filled by a branching conductor  806  and extending through a male threaded portion  808  to extend from a second opening  832 . The conductor branches  807  emerge from the exterior surface  850  of the section at as many points as deemed desirable. An O-ring  823  provides a seal when the section shown in FIG. 8 is screwed into another section. In an alternative embodiment, a flat ring is substituted for the post  817 .  
         [0044]    The section shown in FIG. 9 is identical to the section shown in FIG. 2 and functions in the same manner when screwed into the female threaded portion  840  to connect the battery anode  845  to the environment and to the post  817  to energize the LED  860 . The section shown in FIG. 10 functions as a bottom end cap when the section shown in FIG. 8 is used alone. A body  1000  can be made of plastic, glass, ceramic, metal, or other waterproof materials suitable for casting, forming, or machining. A female threaded portion  1040  is sized to mate with the male threaded portion  808  shown in FIG. 8. An optional eyelet  1055  provides an attachment point for fishing line or other components.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 11 shows another section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The section shown in FIG. 11 is generally identical to the section shown in FIG. 8 except that the first interior cavity  1110  has been elongated to accommodate a compression switch  1118  and a vibration source that includes a motor assembly  1163 , a sleeve  1166 , and a vibration element  1167 . In an alternative embodiment the sleeve  1166  could be integral with the vibration element  1167 . In still another embodiment the sleeve  1166  could be eliminated and the motor assembly  1163  could rest against a shoulder (not shown) positioned to separate the motor assembly  1163  and the vibration element  1167 .  
         [0046]    The compression switch  1118  depicted in FIG. 11 is shown in greater detail in FIG. 13 a.  As shown in FIG. 11, the compression switch may slide freely within the first interior cavity  1110 . In an alternative embodiment of the compression switch  1118  shown in FIG. 13 b,  the compression switch  1118  may have a lip  1378  (not shown in FIG. 11) that rests against a shoulder  1120 . The motor assembly  1163  is shown in greater detail in FIG. 14. The vibration element  1167  is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 16 and 17, with an alternative vibration element  1867  shown in FIGS. 18 and 19. In an alternate embodiment of the section shown in FIG. 11, the motor assembly shown in FIG. 14 may be exchanged for the motor assembly shown in FIG. 15, which is identical to the assembly in FIG. 14 except for the addition of an LED.  
         [0047]    If the section shown in FIG. 11 is to be used alone it can be sealed with the sections shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 in the same manner as the section shown in FIG. 8. Alternatively, the male threaded portion  808  shown in FIG. 8 can be screwed into the female threaded portion.  1140  shown in FIG. 11, sealing the first interior cavity  1110  and compressing the battery  1125 , forcing a battery pole  1190  against the compression switch  1118 . The compression switch  1118  in turn compresses the motor assembly  1163 , the sleeve  1166 , and the vibration element  1167 , thereby closing the compression switch  1118 , energizing the motor assembly  1163  and creating an electrical potential attraction source. The motor assembly  1163  then causes an eccentric weight  1161  to rotate, producing a vibration in the motor assembly  1163 . The vibration is transmitted throughout the fish attractor, creating sound in the form of compression waves in the surrounding medium.  
         [0048]    In the embodiment shown, the eccentric weight  1161  is a permanent magnet that moves a magnetic ball  1168  within the vibration element  1167 , producing vibrations of different frequencies. In an alternative embodiment, the vibration element  1167  may be eliminated and the section shown in FIG. 11 may rely on the motor assembly  1163  and eccentric weight  1161  to cause vibration. In an another embodiment, a solenoid vibration source as is known in the art may be used. In still another embodiment, any of a number of spring-powered or other non-electrical vibration sources known in the art may be used. The many possible vibration sources used in the present invention are interchangeable and easily installed. A specific vibration element may be selected for its ability to mimic prey species or simply to create an attractive anomaly that fish are impelled to investigate.  
         [0049]    Screwing the male threaded portion  808  shown in FIG. 8 into the female threaded portion  1140  shown in FIG. 11 also causes the branching conductor  806  shown in FIG. 8 to contact the battery anode  1145  shown in FIG. 11, thereby inducing an electrical potential in the conductor branches  807  shown in FIG. 8. The threaded male portion  808  shown in FIG. 8 may be sealed with the end cap shown in FIG. 10.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 12 shows another section of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The section shown in FIG. 12 has the same characteristics as the section shown in FIG. 3, except that a divider  1277  has been added to the small diameter portion  1211  to create a chamber  1214  with a magnetic ball  1268 , and a motor  1264  with an eccentric weight  1261  have been added to an elongated spacer body  1271  to create a combined vibration/LED attraction element. The chamber  1214  may contain more than one magnetic ball  1268  or other objects. When either the male threaded portion  808  shown in FIG. 8 or the male threaded portion  1108  shown in FIG. 11 is screwed into the female threaded portion  1240  shown in FIG. 12, the first interior cavity  1210  is sealed and the battery  1225  and the coil  1216  are compressed, causing the battery anode  1245  to contact the post  1217 , energizing the LED  1260  and the motor  1264 . In an alternative embodiment, a flat ring is substituted for the post  1217 .  
         [0051]    The motor  1264  then causes the eccentric weight  1261  to rotate, producing a vibration in the elongated spacer body  1271 . In the embodiment shown, the eccentric weight  1261  is a permanent magnet that moves a magnetic ball  1268  within the chamber  1214 , producing vibrations of different frequencies. In an alternate embodiment, the divider  1277  and the magnetic ball  1268  may be eliminated and the section shown in FIG. 12 may rely on the motor  1264  and the eccentric weight  1261  to cause vibration. Screwing the male threaded portion  808  shown in FIG. 8 or the male threaded portion  1108  shown in FIG. 11 into the female threaded portion  1240  shown in FIG. 12 also causes the branching conductor  806  shown in FIG. 8 or the branching conductor  1106  shown in FIG. 11 to contact the battery anode  1245  shown in FIG. 12, thereby inducing an electrical potential in the conductor branches  807  shown in FIG. 8 or the conductor branches  1107  shown in FIG. 11, respectively.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 13 a  shows an enlarged cross-section of the compression switch  1118  shown in FIG. 11. A sleeve  1321  is open at both ends and has a positive conductor  1331  embedded along its length and protruding slightly from each end. A plug  1322  has an upper negative conductor  1333  embedded in its core and protruding slightly from each end. The plug  1322  slides freely within the sleeve  1321  but is retained by retaining ring  1324 . A bi-plug  1326  also slides freely within the sleeve  1321  and has a lower negative conductor  1334  embedded in its core. An upper compression spring  1327  forces the plug  1322  and the bi-plug  1326  apart. A lower compression spring  1328  exerts opposing pressure against the bi-plug  1326 , so that the bi-plug  1326  receives pressure from both directions. A negative spring contact  1337  creates a conduction path between the lower negative conductor  1334  and the lower compression spring  1328 . The walls surrounding the lower opening  1329  of the sleeve  1321  may optionally be internally threaded to accept and retain an insert. In a preferred embodiment of the compression switch  1118  the sleeve  1321  and its internal components are cylindrical, but other cross-sectional shapes may be preferred and used for specific applications.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 13 b  shows an alternate embodiment of the compression switch shown in FIGS. 11 and 13 a.  A sleeve  1373  is open at both ends and has a positive conductor  1374  embedded along its length and protruding slightly from each end. A lip  1378  surrounds and may be positioned anywhere along the length of the exterior surface of the sleeve  1373 . A plug  1375  has an upper negative conductor  1376  embedded in its core and protruding slightly from each end. The plug  1375  slides freely within the upper portion of the sleeve  1373  but cannot slide downward past an upper shoulder  1320 . A bi-plug  1379  slides freely within the lower portion of sleeve  1373  but cannot slide upward past a lower shoulder  1329 . The bi-plug  1379  has a lower negative conductor  1381  embedded in its core. An upper compression spring  1382  forces the plug  1375  and the bi-plug  1379  apart a limited distance while retaining the plug  1375  and bi-plug  1379  within the sleeve  1373 . The upper end of the upper compression spring  1382  is retained by a retaining groove  1386  in the plug  1375 . The lower end of the upper compression spring  1382  is retained by an upper retaining groove  1389  in the bi-plug  1379 . In an alternate embodiment, the upper end of the upper compression spring  1382  may be retained by a friction fit with a lower portion  1387  of the plug  1375 , while the lower end of the upper compression spring  1382  may be retained by a friction fit with an upper portion  1388  of the bi-plug  1379 .  
         [0054]    A lower compression spring  1383  exerts opposing pressure against the bi-plug  1379 , so that the bi-plug  1379  receives pressure from both directions. A negative spring contact  1384  creates a conduction path between the lower negative conductor  1381  and the lower compression spring  1383 . The upper end of the lower compression spring  1383  is retained by a lower retaining groove  1391  in the bi-plug  1379 . In an alternative embodiment, the upper end of the lower compression spring  1383  may be retained by a friction fit with a lower portion  1392  of the bi-plug  1379 . The walls surrounding the lower opening  1385  of the sleeve  1373  may optionally be internally threaded to accept and retain an insert. In a preferred embodiment of the compression switch  1118  the sleeve  1373  and its internal components are cylindrical, but other cross-sectional shapes may be preferred and used for specific applications. The polarities of the conductors may be reversed if circumstances warrant.  
         [0055]    The compression switch is designed to rest within an interior cavity between any combination of attractive components. When a section containing a compression switch is sealed with a cap or another section, a component at one end of the compression switch presses the component&#39;s positive post (usually a ring) against the compression switch&#39;s positive conductor  1331 ,  1374 , and the component&#39;s negative conductor against the compression switch&#39;s upper negative conductor  1333 ,  1376 . Another attractive component similarly presses against the opposite end of the switch, forcing the switch&#39;s upper negative conductor  1333 ,  1376  against its lower negative conductor  1334 ,  1381 , thereby closing the switch and energizing the components. This switch design is interchangeable with other components and easily installed in any section, replacing O-rings that are difficult to handle and easily lost while maintaining low-resistance connections between components without damaging the components with excessive pressure.  
         [0056]    [0056]FIG. 14 shows an enlarged cross-section of the motor assembly  1163  and the eccentric weight  1161  shown in FIG. 11. A low-wattage DC electric motor  1441  is mounted in a motor sleeve  1451  that has a reduced-diameter insert portion  1452 . The reduced-diameter insert portion  1452  may optionally be externally threaded to screw into the lower opening  1329  shown in FIG. 13 a  or the lower opening  1385  shown in FIG. 13 b.  A negative conductor  1438  terminates in a plate  1454  that substantially covers the end of the reduced-diameter insert portion  1452 . A positive conductor  1439  terminates in a conductive ring  1456  that surrounds the base of the reduced-diameter insert portion  1452 . The motor  1441  has a drive shaft  1442  protruding from its lower end, with an eccentric weight  1161  mounted on the lower end.  
         [0057]    When the reduced-diameter insert portion  1452  is inserted or screwed into the lower opening  1329  shown in FIG. 13 a  and the section is assembled as shown in FIG. 11, pressure on the battery  1125  forces battery cathode  1190  into contact with the upper negative conductor  1333 , which is forced into contact with the lower negative conductor  1334 , which is forced into contact with the plate  1454 . The battery anode  1145  is also forced into contact with the positive conductor  1331 , which is forced into contact with the conductive ring  1456 , energizing the motor  1441 . The structure shown in FIG. 13 b  operates in the same manner, with the reduced-diameter insert portion  1452  inserted or screwed into the lower opening  1385  shown in FIG. 13 b,  and pressure on the battery  1125  forcing battery cathode  1190  into contact with the upper negative conductor  1376 , which is forced into contact with the lower negative conductor  1381 , which is forced into contact with the plate  1454 . The battery anode  1145  is also forced into contact with the positive conductor  1376 , which is forced into contact with the conductive ring  1456 , energizing the motor  1441 .  
         [0058]    [0058]FIG. 15 shows an enlarged cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the motor assembly  1163  shown in FIG. 11. The motor assembly shown in FIG. 15 is essentially the same as that shown in FIG. 14, except for the addition of an LED  1560  that is energized simultaneously with the motor  1441 .  
         [0059]    [0059]FIG. 16 shows an enlarged cross-section of the vibration element  1167  shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 17 shows an enlarged top view of the vibration element  1167  shown in FIG. 11. The vibration element  1167  is a hollow ring containing one or more unattached objects, at least one of which is a ball  1168  that can be attracted or repelled by the eccentric weight  1161  (not shown in FIG. 16 or FIG. 17), thereby forced to roll around the vibration element  1167  to create vibrations.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 18 shows an enlarged cross-section of an alternate embodiment of the vibration element  1167  shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 19 shows an enlarged top view of the same alternate embodiment. The vibration element  1867  shown in FIG. 18 is a hollow cylindrical section containing one or more unattached objects, at least one of which is a ball  1868  that can be attracted or repelled by the eccentric weight  1161  (not shown in FIG. 18 or FIG. 19), thereby forced to roll around the vibration element  1867  to create vibrations. The ball  1868  comprises two magnets bonded or encased together so that the exterior surface of the ball presents either two north or two south poles. A magnetic disk  1893  forms the lower surface of the vibration element  1867  and is oriented so that its surface nearest the ball  1868  presents a pole that opposes that of the ball  1868 , forcing the ball  1868  outward against the inner surface of the vibration element  1867 . When more than one magnetic object is present within the vibration element  1867 , the magnetic objects will have the same magnetic polarity as each other but the polarity opposite that of the magnetic disk  1893 , so that the objects are forced outward against the inner surface of the vibration element  1867  and will remain equidistant.  
         [0061]    The vibrations emanating from the vibration elements shown in FIGS. 16, 17,  18 , and  19  can be modified by irregularities in an inner surface of the vibration element, the objects within the vibration element, and/or variations in the speed of the motor  1441 . For example, the objects may be aspherical, or be dimpled like a golf ball. The vibrations may be constant or pulsed by control circuitry as is well-known in the art. All of the vibration sources disclosed herein cause the outer surfaces of the fish attractor to produce compression waves, or sound, in the surrounding aquatic environment, thereby attracting the attention of fish even in dark or murky water. The vibration element may have a polygonal or irregular cross-section.  
         [0062]    Generally, the attraction sources disclosed herein are configured to be interchangeable, so that they may be used in any combination and order within a section. Electric potential and light sources may be constant or pulsed by control circuitry as is well-known in the art, to simulate bait fish activity or simply to create an attractive anomaly. A section can be made with interior cavity sizes of any practical length, so that any number of different attraction sources may be used within that section. Further, any number of separate sections may be combined to produce an attractor with optimum characteristics for a given environment and mode of fishing.  
         [0063]    Although the attraction sources disclosed may be used alone with beneficial effect, a particularly effect method of employing the present invention is to exploit the tendency of many fish to stay near the thermocline (temperature discontinuity) that tends to form in many bodies of water. The user suspends at least two fish attractor sections at different levels, optimally above and below the thermocline. At least one section would contain a single-pole electrical potential source. Each section might also contain a light or vibration source. The sections would preferentially be suspended from different lines, but could be suspended from the same line if necessary. Once the fish attractor sections are activated and positioned the user may use organic bait on a hook or artificial lures as are known in the art to catch fish attracted to the vicinity.  
         [0064]    Three fish attractor sections can be used to attract fish from a still wider area. The sections are suspended from separate lines, one section Just below the surface, another at mid-depth, and a third at or near the bottom. Each section has an electrical potential attraction element. The section near the surface might contain a white or blue light source to simulate and attract bait fish such as minnows and shad. The mid-depth section contains a light source and a vibration source. The bottom section contains a light source to attract bottom-dwelling fish. As previously described, once the fish attractor are activated and positioned the user may use conventional bait or artificial lures fish attracted to the vicinity.  
         [0065]    The principles, embodiments, and modes of operation of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing specification. The embodiments disclosed herein should be interpreted as illustrating the present invention and not as restricting it. The foregoing disclosure is not intended to limit the range of equivalent structure available to a person of ordinary skill in the art in any way, but rather to expand the range of equivalent structures in ways not previously contemplated. Numerous variations and changes can be made to the foregoing illustrative embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.