United States Patent (19) 11 Patent Number: 4,881,337 Mehl (45) Date of Patent: Nov. 21, 1989

54 METHOD OF LINING BAIT Primary Examiner-M. Jordan 76 Inventor: Donald N. Mehl, 5520 Dell La., Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Hugh D. Jaeger Minnetonka, Minn. 55345 (57) ABSTRACT 21 Appl. No.: 186,368 A method of constructing and assembling a lure including a stylet with a hole for pushing through a 22 Filed: Apr. 26, 1988 or bait such as a worm from one end to 51) Int. Cl* ...... A01K 97/00 another end, placing monofilament line through the (52) U.S. C...... 43/4 stylet, pulling the line back through the lure, affixing a 58) Field of Search ...... 43/1, 4, 42.24, 43.16 hook to one end of the line, placing at least a portion of 56) References Cited the hook into the lure, and connecting the other end of the line to a connection. The stylet can be U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS utilized with plastic worms, live worms, minnows, or 3,385,619 5/1968 Thomas et al...... 43/1 any other type of bait or artificial lures. The method 3,925,919 12/1975 Huth ...... 43/4 provides for the construction and assembly of a fishing 3,965,605 6/1976 Allen ...... 43/ 4,073,083 2/1978 Davis ...... 43/4 lure with a hook positioned in the rear of the bait, and 4,118,881. 10/1978 McFarlane ...... 43/4 a monofilament line extending through a mojor portion 4,674,220 6/1987 Bearce et al...... 43/4 of the bait. 4,706,403 11/1987 Reynolds ...... 43/4 4,709,498 12/1987 Wolski ...... 43/4 7 Claims, 10 Drawing Sheets

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F G. 4 4,881,337 1. 2 through the slotted hole, and pull the line back through METHOD OF LINING BAT the bait and removed from the stylet. A hook is then tied and secured to that end of the line, the eye of the CROSS REFERENCES TO CO-PENDING hook, is pulled into the bait, a portion of the shank is APPLICATIONS pulled into the bait, and the barb of the hook is set into This patent application is related to the subject matter the bait. of a design patent application, Ser. No. 184,175, filed One significant aspect and feature of the present in Apr. 21, 1988, entitled “Fishing Lure'. vention includes a stylet which pulls monofilament through the bait easily. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION O Another significant aspect and feature of the present 1. Field of the Invention - The present invention invention is a or a fishing lure which retains pertains to a fishing lure, and more particularly, pertains natural free movement. There are no external lines to to the method of constructing and assembling a fishing snag or catch weeds or for to feel. lure and the apparatus for construction and assembling Still another significant aspect and feature of the a fishing lure. 15 present invention is a fishing lure which can be quickly 2. Description of the Prior Art - There have been two assembled while fishing. popular prior art fishing lures for bass and walleye fish A further significant aspect and feature of the present ing, one referred to as the "Texas ' and the other referred to as the "Stinger Hook'. invention is a fishing lure where when the fish grabs the The of FIG. 1 has the hook placed at the 20 fishing lure, known as the bait, the hook is easily set into front end of the bait because there is no way for the the fish's mouth. to easily thread the line through the bait. The BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS very active fish will grab the entire rig from behind, and when this occurs there is no problem. Most of the time, Other objects of the present invention and many of however, the fish will grab only part of the bait from 25 the attendant advantages of the present invention will behind. When attempting to set the hook, the bait is be readily appreciated as the same becomes better un simply pulled from the fish's mouth and there is a result derstood by reference to the following detailed descrip of not hooking the fish. tion when considered in connection with the accompa A traditional rig with a Stinger Hook of FIG. 2 pro nying drawings, in which like reference numerals desig vides two hooks in the bait joined with a connecting line 30 nate like parts throughout the figures thereof and which tends to get twisted around the bait. The con wherein: necting line and stinger hook also restricts natural free FIG. 1 illustrates a traditional fishing rig as prior art; movement of the bait and catches weeds and debris. FIG. 2 illustrates a traditional fishing rig with a The fish can feel out the stinger line and spit out the bait stinger hook added; before the hook can be set. The stinger attachment is 35 FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a fishing lure of the bulky and easily tangled. Sometimes the stinger line present invention; breaks because light testline is required and fish are able FIG. 4 illustrates a bottom view of the fishing lure; to break away from this light testline. FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the fishing lure; The present invention overcomes the disadvantages FIG. 6 illustrates a rear view of the fishing lure; of the prior art by providing a fishing lure which re 40 FIG. 7 illustrates a front view of the fishing lure; flects the natural action of the bait and provides for a FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of a stylet; disguise placement of a fishing hook in the most opti FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of the pointed end mum location for successful hooking of the fish. of the stylet; Also, the present invention enables the fisherman, FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional view of the pointed end while fishing, to quickly construct and assemble the lure 45 of the stylet; and, utilizing the most effective type and color bait to suit FIGS. 11-14 illustrate the method of constructing changes in fishing conditions. and assembling the fishing lure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED The general purpose of the present invention is a 50 EMBODIMENTS method of constructing and assembling a fishing lure including a stylet with a hole for threading of monofila FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of a fishing lure 10, a ment line through bait. The fishing lure includes a hook , by way of example and for purposes of positioned in the bait in a disguised natural configura illustration only and not to be construed as limiting of tion of the bait. The stylet provides for the method of 55 the invention. The plastic worm includes a proximal constructing and assembling a fishing lure with a hook end 12, a distal end 14, and a longitudinal body 16. A positioned in the rear of the bait with the fishing line run monofilament fishing line 18 protrudes through the through the bait and secured to the hook. The bait can worm, and secures to a eye 20 of a hookshank 22 with either be natural bait, such a minnow or worm, or arti a barb 24 positioned in the worm. A slip sinker 26 and ficial bait, such as any polymer type of fishing bait. an adjustable stop 28 can be positioned on the fishing According to one embodiment of the present inven line. tion, there is provided a stylet including a looped or FIGS. 4-7 illustrate other views of the fishing lure as knob end, a longitudinal end, a pointed end, and a slot set forth in the brief description of the drawings where ted or round hole behind the pointed end for accepting all numerals correspond to those elements previously an end of a monofilament line. The stylet is pushed 65 described. through the bait, such as a minnow or a worm, from a FIG. 8 illustrates a stylet 50 including a finger slot 52, rear portion to a front end portion and out through the a pointed end 54, a slightly flattened portion 56 and a front end portion, thread in a monofilament line hole 58 for threading of the fishing line. 4,881,337 3 4. FIG. 9 illustrates an enlarged view of the sharpened a. inserting a configured stylet with a point at one tip with the flattened portion and the hole for threading end, finger grasping member at another end, and a of the fishing line. hole with substantially flattened diametrically op FIG. 10 illustrates a sectional view of the sharpened posed surfaces on all sides of the hole and on both tip on the stylet 50. The stylet can have an angled point 5 sides about the hole of the stylet, the hole is located of about 10'. The slot can be of a range of about adjacent to the point, into the fishing bait and out 0.25x0.050 with rounded edges. of the fishing bait; b. threading an end of the fishing line through the MODE OF ORERATION hole and having an overlapping portion of the FIGS. 11-14 illustrate the method of construction of 10 fishing line whereby said flattened surfaces aids in a fishing lure using a stylet. the ease of threading a fishing line through the FIG. 11 illustrates inserting the stylet through the stylet and back through the fishing bait; fishing bait and then threading the line through the c. pulling the stylet back through the bait with the slotted hole of the stylet. fishing line in the hole; and, FIG. 12 illustrates removing the stylet from the fish- 15 d. removing the fishing line from the stylet. ing lure with the line in place through the hole of the 2. Process of claim 1 comprising the steps of: stylet. a. tieing the end of the line onto a hook; and, FIG. 13 illustrates tieing the line about the eye of a b. pulling out any line slack. hook. 3. Process of claim 2 compring the steps of: FIG. 14 illustrates sliding the bait down the line and 20 a pulling the line with the hook whereby the hook onto the hook and then positioning the hook and the shank slightly engaging into the bait and the barb barb for weedless fishing. slightly engaging into the bait. Various modifications can be made to the present 4. Process of claim 1 wherein said bait is a worm. invention without departing from the apparent scope 5. Process of claim 1 wherein said bait is a plastic hereof. 25 WO. I claim: 6. Process of claim 1 wherein said baid is artificial. 1. Process of placing a fishing line in a fishing bait 7. Process of claim 1 wherein said bait is a minnow. comprising the steps of: 2k k xx t

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