Method and apparatus for joining a fishing line to another fishing component, for adjusting the buoyancy of fishing components, and for cutting a fishing line

1. An apparatus for cutting a fishing line, said apparatus comprising:

a hollow shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, said lumen disposed along a longitudinally-extending hollow shaft axis, wherein said proximal end of said hollow shaft is formed of a first material and said distal end of said hollow shaft is formed of a second material, wherein said second material is harder than said first material;

a slot formed in said hollow shaft and communicating with said lumen, said slot comprising a transversely-extending portion, a first leg extending parallel to said hollow shaft axis and a second leg extending parallel to said hollow shaft axis, wherein said transversely-extending portion of said slot extends at an angle relative to said hollow shaft axis, and further wherein said first leg terminates closer to said distal end of said hollow shaft than said second leg; and

a cutter shaft movably disposed within said lumen so as to selectively cross said slot, whereby to cut a fishing line disposed in said slot, wherein said cutter shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein said proximal end of said cutter shaft is formed of a third material and said distal end of said cutter shaft is formed of a fourth material, wherein said fourth material is harder than said third material, wherein the cutter shaft comprises two concentrically-disposed cylinders, an inner cylinder of the two concentrically-disposed cylinders extending through an outer cylinder of the two concentrically-disposed cylinders and protruding beyond the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having a planar peripheral rim at a distal end of the inner cylinder.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cutter shaft is spring biased within said lumen.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fishing line is cut via a mechanical shearing action between said cutter shaft and said hollow shaft.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first material comprises plastic.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second material comprises stainless steel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third material comprises one from the group consisting of stainless steel and plastic.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said fourth material comprises carbide.

8. A method for cutting a fishing line, the method comprising:

providing an apparatus comprising:

a hollow shaft having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therebetween, said lumen disposed along a longitudinally-extending hollow shaft axis, wherein said proximal end of said hollow shaft is formed of a first material and said distal end of said hollow shaft is formed of a second material, wherein said second material is harder than said first material;

a slot formed in said hollow shaft and communicating with said lumen, said slot comprising a transversely-extending portion, a first leg extending parallel to said hollow shaft axis and a second leg extending parallel to said hollow shaft axis, wherein said transversely-extending portion of said slot extends at an angle relative to said hollow shaft axis, and further wherein said first leg terminates closer to said distal end of said hollow shaft than said second leg; and

a cutter shaft movably disposed within said lumen so as to selectively cross said slot, whereby to cut a fishing line disposed in said slot, wherein said cutter shaft comprises a proximal end and a distal end, and further wherein said proximal end of said cutter shaft is formed of a third material and said distal end of said cutter shaft is formed of a fourth material, wherein said fourth material is harder than said third material, wherein the cutter shaft comprises two concentrically-disposed cylinders, an inner cylinder of the two concentrically-disposed cylinders extending through an outer cylinder of the two concentrically-disposed cylinders and protruding beyond the outer cylinder, the inner cylinder having a planar peripheral rim at a distal end of the inner cylinder;

positioning a fishing line in said slot; and

moving the cutter shaft within said lumen so as to cross said slot, whereby to cut the fishing line.