Silent Fisherman gadget

[Shellbelly]

I saw this on the bay and had to bring it in for review and comment.  It's a casting device.  I would guess it's for spinners.

Familiar with this?

If nothing else, it could sling a water balloons at the grandkids.   

[JasonGotaProblem]

Methinks it's a means of testing a rod by neing able to reproduce the exact motion repeatedly. The nitty gritty beyond that? Beats me.

[oldmanjoe]

    A casting device ?      I think it a tip up !

[Bill B]

Yeah I'm thinking tip up for ice fishing perhaps.  Bill

[Reeltyme]

I can't go with the ice fishing route. I see no need for a variable spring loaded tube with a catch/release, on the ice. A homemade tester for casting action of rods? Seems extreme. Doesn't appear to be factory made. Maybe it wasn't meant for anything to do with fishing. It would make a great apple thrower!

[Penn]

Possibly for launching bait from the surf? 

tony

[Wompus Cat]

Actually that is only 1 of a (set of 40 ) Flap  Jack  Delivery System for the Russian Troops out in the Field and the Syrup Brush is missing off it .
On the bottom it should have stamped into it
Система доставки откидных домкратов.

[Keta]

It looks like a automatic hook setter to me.

[Shellbelly]

It's labeled, "Silent fisherman".  Patent pending.

A tip-up would be the opposite of this thing.  Think catapult here...or trebuchet if you want to get fisticated.

My kid-brain says dirt clod launcher into the plastic army men.

[oldmanjoe]

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2944360A/en

[JasonGotaProblem]

If those springs make any sound at all its false advertising.

[philaroman]

it's an automatic hook-setter for a bank rod
Absent Fisherman is not catchy 
being absent, allows the fisherman to be really, really quiet...  almost silent 
the contraption can make as much noise as it wants 

[Reeltyme]

If those springs make any sound at all its false advertising.

If no one is around to hear it?? You know the whole tree/forest thing.

[Paul Roberts]