Slip bobber rig

Abstract

A slip bobber rig having an elongated member carrying a slip bobber and a bobber stop with one end of the line securable to a fishing line and the other end of the line securable to an article of fishing tackle as well as a method of attaching a slip bobber to a fishing line without having to thread the fishing line through the slip bobber.

1 . A fishing apparatus configured to deliver a line stop to a fishing line, the fishing apparatus comprising:
 a hollow tube having an inner surface defining an inner diameter, an outer surface, a length defined by a first end and a second end, and a slot passing from the outer surface to the inner surface along at least a portion of the length of the hollow tube; and   a line stop encircling at least a portion of the outer surface of the hollow tube.   
   
   
       2 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the slot passes along the entire length of the hollow tube. 
   
   
       3 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to be placed on a fishing line, the line stop can be removed from either the first end or the second end of the hollow tube, and the hollow tube removed from the fishing line by passing the fishing line through the slot. 
   
   
       4 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the hollow tube is configured to be removed from the fishing line when both ends of the fishing line are connected to fishing articles having a dimension greater than the inner diameter of the hollow tube. 
   
   
       5 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the fishing apparatus comprises one or more of a fishing rod, a fishing reel, a hook, a slip bobber, a sinker, an article of fishing tackle, and a swivel. 
   
   
       6 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the line stop comprises a string or wire. 
   
   
       7 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the line stop comprises a knot. 
   
   
       8 . The fishing apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the knot comprises a partially prettied knot. 
   
   
       9 . A method for applying a line stop to a fishing line, the method comprising:
 providing a fishing apparatus comprising a line stop and a hollow tube, the hollow tube having an inner surface defining an inner diameter, an outer surface, a length defined by a first end and a second end, and a slot passing from the outer surface to the inner surface along at least a portion of the length of the hollow tube, and the line stop encircling at least a portion of the outer surface of the hollow tube;   placing a fishing line through the hollow tube from the first end to the second end;   advancing the hollow tube over the fishing line;   sliding the line stop off either the first end or the second end of the hollow tube; and   removing the hollow tube from the fishing line by passing the fishing line through the slot.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the line stop comprises a partially pre-tied knot and applying a line stop to a fishing line further comprises tightening the knot against the fishing line. 
   
   
       11 . A method of preparing a fishing line to use a slip bobber, the method comprising:
 providing a bead having a first opening and a second opening defining a channel through the bead, wherein the bead is made at least in part of an elastomeric material; and   placing the bead on a fishing line by passing the fishing line through the channel in the bead from the first opening to the second opening.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing a line stop on the fishing line. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising advancing the bead to the line stop, wherein the line stop has an outer diameter that is greater than the inner diameter of the channel through the bead. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the line stop is positioned around an outer surface of a hollow tube having an inner surface defining an inner diameter, the outer surface, a length defined by a first end and a second end, and a slot passing from the outer surface to the inner surface along at least a portion of the length of the hollow tube. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising removing the line stop from the sleeve onto the fishing line. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the line stop comprises a pre-tied knot and the method further comprises tightening the knot against the fishing line. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising placing a slip bobber on the fishing line. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the slip bobber has a channel passing through at least a portion of the length of the slip bobber and the channel has an inner diameter that is less than the outer diameter of the bead, whereby the slip bobber cannot pass over the bead. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising attaching an article of fishing tackle to the fishing line. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising advancing the bead over a knot or eyelet on the fishing line by passing the knot or eyelet through the channel in the bead and stretching the elastomeric material of the bead if necessary to pass the knot or eyelet through the bead.