Patent ID: 8365459

Claim:
A replaceable buoyant member system configured to receive a fishing line at one end and a replaceable fishing cartridge at an other end, the system comprising a stem guide having a fishing line receiving portion and a buoyant member attachment portion, wherein the fishing line receiving portion is a first end of the stem guide and comprises a line shoulder therein for releasably receiving a fishing line, the line shoulder in the form of a first slot extending from an opening at an outer surface of the stem guide and terminating at a second slot oriented generally perpendicularly to the first slot, the first and second slots being at a position within the stem guide, the slots both communicating with an extending between diametrically opposed openings in the stem guide to allow a fishing line to pass through the stem guide within the slots, the fishing line receiving portion being free of a movable element to enclose the opening at the outer surface of the stem guide; and the buoyant member attachment portion is a second, opposite end of the stem guide and comprising a bottom surface and a linear, elongated prong, the prong extending generally perpendicularly from the bottom surface, the prong having a surface along at least a portion of a length of the prong wherein the surface of the prong is configured to permit a buoyant member to be mounted over the prong and removed without damaging the prong such that the stem guide can be used again; wherein the linear, elongated prong extends along a longitudinal axis of the stem guide and is collinear with the fishing line receiving portion; and wherein the bottom surface is located between the prong and the line shoulder and is configured to limit longitudinal movement of a buoyant member over the prong when a buoyant member is mounted over the prong and the bottom surface extends outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the stem guide.