Patent ID: 7131232

Claim:
Apparatus for temporarily securing a handle of a fishing rod in a fixed position while using said rod in fishing, for maintaining said fixed position during the interval between fish strikes and upon occurrence of a fish strike, and for allowing a user of said apparatus and rod to readily release said handle immediately upon occurrence of said strike, comprising: a fixed hollow tubular holder for said handle of said fishing rod, said tubular holder having a top and having a principal longitudinal axis and having a first opening in one end of said tubular holder and having an inner diameter sufficient in size to allow said handle to be readily inserted in one end of said holder, said holder having a second opening on a portion of said top of said holder; a clamp, formed of a single piece of metal, said clamp being hingedly attached to said top of said tubular holder at a location at least substantially at a first edge of said second opening, and disposed principally above said second opening, said clamp having a length such that when said user pushes said clamp down against said top of said holder an end of said clamp passes just under a lip in a second edge of said second opening; said clamp having a bottom portion with sides forming a third opening with a width slightly less than the diameter of said handle and having a height such that when said user pushes said clamp down against said top of said holder said sides of said clamp are pushed apart slightly by said handle, and upon being pushed down further by said user said sides of said clamp compressively engage said handle.