Fly-fishing float or strike indicator and attachment methods

Abstract

A fly fishing float and/or strike indicator is attached by an interference fit to a leader, by sliding the float up the leader to a thicker-diameter portion of the leader for a tight fit, and preferably a leader-compressing fit, between the leader and an axial bore in the float. A bore surface, that is non-compressible and/or less compressible than the leader, may be supplied as an insert around which a buoyant main body of the float is formed. The insert may also have features that prevent separation of the main body from the insert and that help transmit force on the main body to the bore surface for quick and efficient securement of the float to the leader by the interference fit.

1 . A fishing float for installation on a fly-fishing leader, the float comprising:
 a main body of compressible material formed around an insert of different material than the main body, the main body having a main body outer surface; and   the insert comprising:   an elongated longitudinal portion having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis between said first end and said second end, a longitudinal portion outer surface, and an axial inner bore surface forming a single axial bore wherein the axial bore surface is less compressible than the leader for compressing the leader when the float is installed on the leader;   wherein the elongated longitudinal portion is adapted to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the main body by said longitudinal portion outer surface comprising protruding members selected from a group consisting of radial protrusions, axial ridges, and texture, protruding perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis, a distance into the main body toward the outer surface of the main body, all or substantially all along the length of the longitudinal portion; and   a flange extending out from and around the longitudinal portion, perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis, into the main body toward the outer surface of the main body a greater distance than said distance that said protruding members protrude, so that the flange is adapted to prevent axial movement of the insert relative to the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein said flange is generally centered between said first and second ends of the elongated longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         3 . The float as in  claim 1  that does not comprise any rubber grommet inside said bore. 
     
     
         4 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein said bore has an enlarged region at one end of the float for forming an enlarged end opening. 
     
     
         5 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein the main body is a truncated cone shape, with generally flat opposing ends. 
     
     
         6 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein the main body is selected from a group consisting of closed-cell foam and closed-cell polystyrene. 
     
     
         7 . The float as in  claim 6 , wherein the insert is polypropylene. 
     
     
         8 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein the float has a length parallel to said longitudinal axis and a radius perpendicular to said length, and the float further comprises an axial side-slot extending all along the length of the float from the outer surface of the main body, through the main body and the insert, and into the bore, for radial insertion of the leader through the side-slot into the bore. 
     
     
         9 . The float as in  claim 8 , wherein the bore has a bore diameter and the side-slot has a width that is smaller than the bore diameter. 
     
     
         10 . The float as in  claim 1 , wherein the flange is adapted to prevent axial movement of the insert relative to the main body by having a radial top surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and nearer said first end, and a radial bottom surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and nearer said second end, wherein the main body extends radially along said top surface and said bottom surface. 
     
     
         11 . A fishing float for installation on a fly-fishing leader, the float comprising:
 a main body of compressible material formed around an insert of different material than the main body, the main body having a main body outer surface; and   the insert comprising:   an elongated longitudinal portion having a first end and a second end, a longitudinal axis between said first end and said second end, a longitudinal portion outer surface, and an axial inner bore surface forming a single axial bore wherein the axial bore surface is less compressible than the leader for compressing the leader when the float is installed on the leader; and   a flange extending out from and around the longitudinal portion, perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis, into the main body toward the outer surface of the main body, so that the flange is adapted to prevent axial movement of the insert relative to the main body;   wherein said flange is adapted to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the main body by said flange having a radial top surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and nearer said first end, and a radial bottom surface perpendicular to said longitudinal axis and nearer said second end, and apertures extending axially through the flange parallel to said longitudinal axis from said top surface to said bottom surface, wherein the main body extends through said apertures from the top surface to the bottom surface.   
     
     
         12 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein said apertures are spaced apart on the flange around the longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         13 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein said flange is generally centered between said first and second ends of the elongated longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         14 . The float as in  claim 11  that does not comprise any rubber grommet inside the bore. 
     
     
         15 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein said bore has an enlarged region at one end of the float for forming an enlarged end opening. 
     
     
         16 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein the longitudinal portion is adapted to prevent rotation of the insert relative to the main body by having—an outer surface comprising protruding members selected from a group consisting of: radial protrusions, axial ridges, and texture, extending parallel to the longitudinal axis all or substantially along the length of the longitudinal portion. 
     
     
         17 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein the main body is a truncated cone shape, with generally flat opposing ends. 
     
     
         18 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein the main body is selected from a group consisting of closed-cell foam and closed-cell polystyrene. 
     
     
         19 . The float as in  claim 18 , wherein the insert is polypropylene. 
     
     
         20 . The float as in  claim 11 , wherein the float has a length parallel to said longitudinal axis and a radius perpendicular to said length, and the float further comprises an axial side-slot extending all along the length of the float from the outer surface of the main body, through the main body and the insert and into the bore, for radial insertion of the leader through the side-slot into the bore. 
     
     
         21 . The float as in  claim 20 , wherein the bore has a bore diameter and the side-slot has a width that is smaller than the bore diameter. 
     
     
         22 . A fishing float for installation on a fly-fishing leader, the float consisting essentially of:
 a main body of compressible material formed around an insert of different material than the main body, the main body having a main body outer surface; and   the insert comprising:   an elongated tubular portion having an upper end and a bottom end, a longitudinal axis between said upper end and said bottom end, an outer surface, and an axial inner bore surface forming a single axial bore wherein the axial bore surface is less compressible than the leader for compressing the leader when the float is installed on the leader; and   a flange having a top surface and a bottom surface, and the flange extends out from and around the tubular portion, perpendicularly to said longitudinal axis, into the main body toward the outer surface of the main body, so that the main body extends radially along said top surface to the tubular portion and along said bottom surface to the tubular portion, to prevent axial movement of the insert relative to the main body.