Fishing Fly With Sliding Treble Hook

This invention relates generally to artificial fishing flies and more particularly to a fly which includes a trailing treble hook having a unique manner of connection with the fly body so that the treble hook can float or slide toward and away from the fly body.

In accordance with the invention, a fly body is equipped with a rearwardly extending loop formed from fishing line or another relatively stiff material. The loop is extended through the eye of the treble hook and is looped around its shank in order to connect the treble hook with the fly body. This manner of connecting the treble hook provides a relatively loose, slip tight connection which permits the treble hook to float or slide generally along the length of the loop toward and away from the fly body. This movement of the treble hook attracts fish to the fly and situates the treble hook in an advantageous position for a strike when, as often happens, a fish bites short of the main hook. At the same time, the treble hook functions as a keel and helps to balance the fly in the water so that it does not move in an unbalanced or otherwise instable fashion. These benefits are attained without adding significantly to the cost or complexity of the fly and without requiring costly or unusual parts.

Other and further objects of the invention, together with the features of novelty appurtenant thereto, will appear in the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the specification and are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fishing fly constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to a fishing line;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the fly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view taken generally along line 3--3 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the treble hook of the fishing fly in a position where it has slipped forwardly along the flexible loop which connects it with the fly body.

Referring now to the drawings in more detail, numeral 10 generally designates an artificial fishing fly constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The fly 10 includes an elongated body 12 having a head 14 at one end. The head 14 is provided with a pair of eyes 16 (only one of which is visible in the drawings) and with a plurality of hair bristles 18 which extend generally rearwardly from the head 14 in a fan shape. The head 14 is equipped with an attachment eye 20 to which a fishing line 21 may be tied. The body 12, head 14, eyes 16 and bristles 18 may be colored as desired.

The eye 20 is formed on a relatively large fish hook 22, the shank of which extends through the body 12. The curved hook portion of the fish hook 22 extends from the tail end of the body 12 and terminates in a barb 24.

In accordance with the present invention, the tail end of the fly body 12 is provided with a flexible loop 26 which may be constructed of fishing line or any other relatively stiff line. The opposite ends of the loop extend into the tail end of the body 12 and are secured by any suitable means such as a sleeve 27 glued or otherwise secured on the shank of the fish hook 22. The loop 26 is thus connected with the fly body 12 to extend behind it.

The fly 10 also includes a treble hook which is generally identified by numeral 28 and which includes three relatively small hooks 30 with their shanks 32 extending adjacent to one another and terminating at a common eye 34. The treble hook 28 is connected with the fly body 12 by means of the loop 26. The connection is a slip type connection which is established by extending the loop 26 through the eye 34 and then looping the loop around all three of the hooks 30 such that the loop eventually loops around the shank 32 of the treble hook, as best shown in FIG. 3. The slip connection allows the treble hook to slide back and forth on the loop 26.

In use, the fly 10 is used for fishing in the normal manner. The slip connection between the treble hook 28 and the loop 26 allows the treble hook to float or slide back and forth along the length of the loop 26. The eye 34 can slide along the loop 26 toward and away from the fly body 12 as the loop simultaneously moves along the length of the treble hook shank 32. The treble hook 28 can "float" in this fashion toward and away from the fly body 12 between the position of FIG. 3 where the treble hook is a relatively great distance behind the fly body and the position of FIG. 4 where the treble hook is relatively close to the fly body.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the treble hook 28 is in a trailing position relative to the body 12, and the sliding motion of the treble hook that is permitted by the slip connection is helpful in attracting and catching fish. Because the treble hook is at a trailing position relative to the main fishhook 22 the hooks 30 are positioned advantageously for a strike in the event that a fish bites short of the main hook, as frequently occurs. The treble hook is able to float or slide back and forth and thereby help balance and stabilize the fly 10 so that it does not make unnatural movements that might frighten fish. The manner in which the treble hook is mounted allows it to function as a keel for stability of the fishing fly 10, and this further enhances the ability of the fly to attract fish.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.

Since many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without department from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.