Patent ID: 7334367

Claim:
A fishing rod, comprising: an elongate shaft defining an interior space and having opposed first and second ends; an energizing element positioned in said elongate shaft interior space for selectively storing and releasing energy; a stop mounted in said elongate shaft interior space and defining a stop opening; a cocking rod slidably mounted in said elongate shaft interior space for relative movement through said stop opening, said cocking rod being in communication with said energizing element for selectively transferring energy to said energizing element and for allowing said energizing element to selectively release said stored energy; a trigger attached to said cocking rod and being selectively movable between a first configuration immovable through said stop opening and a second configuration movable through said stop opening, said trigger being biased toward said first configuration; a rod tip adjacent said elongate shaft second end for selectively retaining an item of fishing tackle attached to a fishing line, said rod tip being in communication with said energizing element; a trigger release assembly proximate said trigger for moving said trigger from said first configuration to said second configuration, said energizing element releasing said energy stored therein when said trigger moves from said first configuration to said second configuration for imparting a force on said rod tip for automatically casting said item of fishing tackle; wherein said elongate shaft defines an elongate opening extending longitudinally therealong adjacent said elongate shaft first end; and wherein said fishing rod further comprises a cocking handle connected to said cocking rod and extending through said elongate opening defined by said elongate shaft for manually moving said cocking rod to a cocked configuration, whereby transferring energy to said energizing element for storage in said energizing element.