US 12,402,614 B2
Fishing jigs that securely hold natural worms, and related methods
John Rovetto, Plainfield, VT (US)
Assigned to Legacy Tackle LLC, Plainfield, VT (US)
Filed by Legacy Tackle LLC, Plainfield, VT (US)
Filed on Apr. 11, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/632,650.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/459,410, filed on Apr. 14, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0341292 A1, Oct. 17, 2024
Int. Cl. A01K 83/06 (2006.01)
CPC A01K 83/064 (2022.02) 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fishing jig for use with a natural worm having a body wall, the fishing jig comprising:
a body that includes a head and a shaft secured to the head, wherein the shaft has:
a distal end opposite the head of the body; and
a tapering shape that tapers toward the distal end and is designed and configured to receive the natural worm and progressively stretch the body wall of the natural worm in a circumferential direction as the natural worm is advanced onto the shaft;
a line-attachment structure secured to the body and designed and configured to receive a fishing line;
a fishing hook engaged with the shaft and projecting from the distal end of the shaft and extending in a direction away from the head; and
an impaler secured to the shaft at a location spaced from the distal end of the shaft, wherein the impaler has:
a piercing tip angled away from the distal end of the shaft; and
a length from the shaft to the piercing tip selected so that, when the natural worm is fully engaged with the jig, the impaler extends through the body wall of the natural worm so that the piercing tip is exposed to view;
wherein:
the taper of the tapering shape extends along the shaft between the body and the impaler;
the impaler is located on a side of the body opposite the line-attachment structure;
the shaft has a central shaft axis;
the line-attachment structure is located on a first side of the central shaft axis;
the impaler is located on a second side of the central shaft axis, the second side being on the opposite side of the central shaft axis relative to the first side of the central shaft axis; and
the head further includes an anti-snag feature on the head, the anti-snag feature located on the second side of the central shaft axis opposite the line-attachment structure, wherein anti-snag feature is formed by asymmetry of the head and is designed and configured to inhibit the impaler from snagging on an underwater structure during use of the fishing jig.