Fishing apparatus for automatically bobbing the bait and signalling a catch

Claim 1

Fishing apparatus for automatically effecting mechanical bobbing of a baited hook on a fishing line and signaling when a fish has taken such bait, said apparatus comprising: fulcrum means for providing a substantially horizontal fulcrum; an elongated member adapted to have a fishing line connected to such member adjacent to one end thereof, said elongated member having a transverse slot defined therein, said slot having a first surface adjustably engageable with said fulcrum means where said elongated member is substantially horizontally balanced on said fulcrum means, and a second surface engageable with said fulcrum means where said elongated member is remote from the horizontal to generate a signal that a fish has taken the bait; oscillation means, coupled to said elongated member, for effecting oscillation of said elongated member about said fulcrum means, whereby said one end of said elongated member to which a fishing line is connected vertically reciprocates such line for bobbing of a baited hook on such line to attract a fish; and said first surface of said slot has a plurality of transverse grooves, and wherein said fulcrum means comprises a substantially horizontal member having an upstanding knife edge extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of such horizontal member and adapted to extend through said slot in selective engagement with one of said grooves whereby said first surface of said slot is supported on said knife edge and said elongated member is thereby adjustably mountable relative to said horizontal member to assume a balanced position on said knife edge.