초록 ▼

A live eel hook-insertion device. A hand-operated unit is disclosed that generally comprises a T-handle/trigger driving a spring-mounted plunger through a housing, an open-ended eel nesting tube at one end of the housing and defined by a lateral notch, and a distal yoke on the plunger for immobilizi

A live eel hook-insertion device. A hand-operated unit is disclosed that generally comprises a T-handle/trigger driving a spring-mounted plunger through a housing, an open-ended eel nesting tube at one end of the housing and defined by a lateral notch, and a distal yoke on the plunger for immobilizing an eel within the nesting tube. The T-handle trigger is actuated to trap the eel, whereupon a hook can be easily inserted into the eel. The nesting tube is further defined by a lengthwise notch to allow extraction of fishing line if the eel backs out of the nesting tube with hook attached. In use, the device is inserted into a bait well full of eels and the nesting tube is placed flat against the bottom. One eel will enter the nesting tube, whereupon the yoke is distended to trap the eel against the floor of the nesting tube. A hook with attached fishing line is inserted through the notch of the nesting tube and the eel is thereby hooked. A stationery hook-insertion device is also disclosed, and this comprises a hopper formed with a drain hole and an external neck at the drain hole, an articulated mounting bracket for the hopper, a tubular chute connected to the neck of the hopper and protruding downward therefrom, and a constricted yoke at the distal end of the tubular chute for immobilizing an eel inside said tubular chute with a portion of the eel protruding outward through the yoke for hook insertion. The eels tend to slide through the hole in the hopper and down the chute, extending its lips out of the chute for hooking the eel. Both disclosed embodiments eliminate the need to chase, catch, handle, or untangle live eels thus making this whole process of baiting them quick, clean, and easy.

대표청구항 ▼

I claim: 1. A live eel immobilizing device, comprising: a tubular housing joined sidealong to an open-ended nesting tube, an interior of said nesting tube defining a first end, a second end, and a small dark confined space for encouraging an eel to wriggle inside, said nesting tube comprising a slo

I claim: 1. A live eel immobilizing device, comprising: a tubular housing joined sidealong to an open-ended nesting tube, an interior of said nesting tube defining a first end, a second end, and a small dark confined space for encouraging an eel to wriggle inside, said nesting tube comprising a slot running end-to-end along said nesting tube, said slot allowing communication between the small dark confined space and an exterior of said nesting tube, said nesting tube also comprising a tubular shaped flare with a first end mounted within each of said first and second ends of said nesting tube, each of said flares comprising a lengthwise slot extending from said first end to a second end thereof, and said second end of each of said flares tapers from the lengthwise slot toward an outer circumference of said flare; a piston slidably confined inside said tubular housing and extending to a tip, the tip of said piston including an integral concave distal yoke for engaging an inner surface of said nesting tube, said piston being slidable within said housing until said tip abuts the inner surface of said nesting tube to yoke an eel there against and confine it during hooking, said piston being spring biased by a compression spring mounted on said piston. 2. The live eel immobilizing device according to claim 1, wherein said nesting tube is dimensioned to restrict entry to one eel at a time. 3. The live eel immobilizing device according to claim 1, wherein the distal yoke comprises a central concavity with four radial edge-defined concavities for engaging the inner surface of said nesting tube. 4. The live eel immobilizing device according to claim 1, further comprising a stationery handle attached to said housing and a movable handle attached to said piston for operation of said piston by squeezing said handles together.