Abstract:
A multiple hook fishing rig facilitating selective adjustability of hook spacing in order to accommodate bait of different sizes. A fishing rig includes a fishhook connected to a sliding line, with the sliding line being coupled to a primary line via a user positionable tension device. A method of using a fishing rig is also disclosed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) from provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 60/853,730 filed Oct. 24, 2006 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to fishhooks and more particularly to a hook rig for securing one or more fishhooks in an adjusted, predetermined position on a line or leader. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The double hook rigging of bait on a tackle line for catching game fish has been notoriously time consuming and frustrating for fishermen. The bait which is normally in the form of a small fish must be attached in such a way as to impart life-like action to the fish and to retain the bait in a very natural position to simulate the bait as it would normally appear if it were swimming. Several devices have been proposed in the past that have attempted to accomplish this result but all have failed for one reason or another. 
         [0004]    Furthermore, even with riggings that have been created which do properly attach a bait fish to the same, the line used in making the rigs is normally relatively rigid so as to give the same the proper strength. This rigidity of the line, however, also prevents the bait from having a natural swimming appearance when trolling. 
         [0005]    Trolling minnow rigs have been provided wherein fishhooks are mounted in tandem relation on a fish line leader, as by tying knots in the leader. No satisfactory way was provided for quickly, manually adjusting the spacing between the hooks to accommodate bate of varying sizes, or to provide requisite tensional connection between the bait and the spaced hooks. 
         [0006]    The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a fishing rig which allows a user to selectively adjust the spacing between one or more fishhooks in order to accommodate a variety of different baits sizes. In one embodiment, the fishing rig includes a fishhook connected to a sliding line, with the sliding line being coupled to a primary line via a user positionable tension device such as, for example, a slip knot. 
         [0008]    An object of the present invention to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art described above by providing a fishing rig which is used to support bait fish in such a way that the same appears to be life-like when trolling. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fishing rig which is inexpensive to produce and which is relatively easy to utilize. 
         [0010]    It is an even still further object of the present invention to provide a fishing rig which can be used to properly support bait fish of varying sizes. 
         [0011]    It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a fishing rig which utilizes two hooks of any size and style that the angler chooses and which can be adjusted to rig baits of varying sizes. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view of a fishing rig embodying the principles of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a side elevational view of another embodiment of a fishing rig embodying principles of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]      FIG. 1  shows a fishing rig constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally as  10 . The rig  10  includes a stationary hook  12  connected at one end of a leader line  14 , and a sliding hook  16  connected at one end of a secondary line  18 . Secondary line  18  is connected via a tension device  20  to leader line  14  at a location away from stationary hook  12 . Secondary line  18  is passed through an eyelet  22  of stationary hook  12  and connected in a sliding manner via tension device  20 . A conventional swivel  24  may be connected to another end of leader line  14 . A ring  26  is attached to the swivel  24  for connection to a fishing line in a known manner. 
         [0015]    The length of lines  14 ,  18  may be chosen as desired depending on the size of the bait fish to be carried thereby. It has been found, however, that a length of between approximately 8 to 14 inches should satisfy substantially all needs. As will be seen, the tension device  20  allows for attaching the bait fish to the rig in an adjustable manner so that, if desired, a longer line can be utilized to hold even relatively small bait fish. 
         [0016]    Hooks  12 ,  14  may assume a variety of configurations. For example, hooks  12 ,  14  may be single or multiple barb hooks. Hooks  12 ,  14  may include one or more weighted jig heads  200  as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0017]    Similarly, lines  14 ,  18  may include a variety of different materials or assemblies. For example, lines  14 ,  18  may be monofilament or multi-filament polymer lines. In another embodiment, lines  14 ,  18  may be of metallic material, such as metal leader lines. 
         [0018]    Rig  10  may additionally include one or more spinners or beads (not shown) as readily appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art. Additionally, rig  10  may include other types of end connections than swivel  24  and ring  26 . 
         [0019]    Tension device  20  slidably connects the sliding line  18  to stationary line  14 . In one embodiment, tension device  20  includes a knot  30 , such as a snell knot. Knot  30  may also be connected to a small bead  32  to assist in positioning the tensioning device  20  relative to stationary hook  12 . While the snell knot and bead combination may be particularly desirable, other types of knots may be used to define tension device  20 . Those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate a variety of alternative knots useful for slidably connecting the lines  14 ,  18  together. In one embodiment, lines  14 ,  18  may be tied to respective hooks  12 ,  16  via 5 loop snell knots with knot  30  being a 3 loop snell knot. 
         [0020]    In use of the rig  10 , the sliding hook  16  is adjustable from or toward the stationary hook  12  by gripping the knot  30  and/or bead  32  between thumb and forefinger, and manually moving the knot  30  and bead  32 . As a result, sliding hook  16  moves away from its original position as indicated by dotted line  16 ′. When the approximate required spacing of the hooks  12 ,  16  is accomplished, the barbed end of stationary hook  12  may be passed through the front portion of a bait, and then sliding hook  16  is adjusted with reference to stationary hook  12  so that the barbed end of hook  16  may be passed through a tail portion of the bait. If necessary, the sliding hook  16  may be further adjusted so that the bait will be securely positioned. 
         [0021]    Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.