Fishing jig with interchangeable jig head

Abstract

A fishing jig system with an interchangeable jig head is disclosed for permitting a variety of jig heads with different configurations and functions to be used with a single jig hook and avoid having to remove the jig hook from a fishing line to reconfigure the fishing jig. The jig system includes a hook having a shank portion and an eye portion, with the shank portion and the eye portion meeting at a juncture. A modular mounting member is mounted on the hook at the juncture for removably receiving a fishing accessory. A fishing accessory, such as a jig head, is removably mounted on the modular mounting member, and the fishing accessory has a recess formed therein for slidably receiving at least a portion of the modular mounting member such that the accessory may be removed and replaced without removing the jig hook from the fishing line.

1 . A modular fishing accessory for removably mounting on a hook having a shank portion and a modular mounting member mounted on the hook, the system comprising: 
 a fishing accessory for removably mounted on the modular mounting member, the fishing accessory having a recess formed therein for slidably receiving at least a portion of the modular mounting member.    
   
   
       2 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the recess includes a passage portion for receiving an insertion portion of the modular mounting member.  
   
   
       3 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 2  wherein the passage portion of the recess extends completely through the fishing accessory.  
   
   
       4 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 2  wherein the passage portion of the recess has a substantially uniform width between proximal and distal ends of the recess.  
   
   
       5 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 2  wherein the passage portion is substantially cylindrical.  
   
   
       6 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 2  wherein a distal end section of the passage portion of the recess has a flared shape.  
   
   
       7 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the recess includes a slot portion for receiving a mounting portion of the modular mounting member.  
   
   
       8 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 7  wherein the slot portion of the recess is formed by spaced, substantially parallel surfaces in an interior of the fishing accessory.  
   
   
       9 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 7  wherein the slot portion extends over a substantially 90 degree arc of an interior of the fishing accessory.  
   
   
       10 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the recess includes a passage portion for receiving an insertion portion of the modular mounting member, wherein the recess includes a slot portion for receiving a mounting portion of the modular mounting member, and wherein the slot portion of the recess is in communication with the passage portion of the recess.  
   
   
       11 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the recess includes a passage portion for receiving an insertion portion of the modular mounting member, wherein the recess includes a slot portion for receiving a mounting portion of the modular mounting member, wherein the passage portion of the recess has a longitudinal axis, and wherein a boundary of the slot extends substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the passage portion.  
   
   
       12 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the recess includes a passage portion for receiving an insertion portion of the modular mounting member, wherein the recess includes a slot portion for receiving a mounting portion of the modular mounting member, and wherein the slot portion extends from the passage portion in a substantially perpendicular orientation to the passage portion.  
   
   
       13 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein an exterior surface of the fishing accessory has a substantially spherical shape.  
   
   
       14 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the fishing accessory comprises a metallic material for weighting the hook.  
   
   
       15 . The modular fishing accessory of  claim 1  wherein the fishing accessory comprises a material that has a density less than water such that the fishing accessory is buoyant.  
   
   
       16 . A modular fishing hook accessory mounting system for removably mounting a fishing accessory on a hook, the system comprising: 
 a hook having a shank portion and an eye portion;    a modular mounting member mounted on the hook for removably receiving a fishing accessory; and    a fishing accessory removably mounted on the modular mounting member, the fishing accessory having a recess formed therein for slidably receiving at least a portion of the modular mounting member;    wherein the modular mounting member includes a pair of spaced securing fingers removably insertable into the recess of the fishing accessory for removably securing the fishing accessory to the hook.    
   
   
       17 . The modular fishing hook accessory mounting system of  claim 16  wherein an exterior surface of the fishing accessory has a substantially spherical shape.  
   
   
       18 . The modular fishing hook accessory mounting system of  claim 16  wherein the fishing accessory comprises a metallic material for weighting the hook.  
   
   
       19 . The modular fishing hook accessory mounting system of  claim 1  wherein the fishing accessory comprises a material that has a density less than water such that the fishing accessory is buoyant.