Expandable bait keeper for soft fishing lures

A castable fishing lure, comprising:

• a) a hook having a point, a shank, and an eye;
• b) the eye being for attachment to a fishing line;
• c) a bait keeper comprising:
• i. an anchor comprising a tapered tip, a sleeve, and plural barbless ribs, the sleeve having first and second ends, the ribs coupled to the first end of the sleeve, the ribs projecting in a diverging arrangement from the first end of the sleeve in a direction opposite of the sleeve first end, the ribs each having a free end;
• ii. the ribs being flexible and capable of moving from a deployed position to a retracted position, wherein when the ribs are in the retracted position, the ribs are oriented with the sleeve to allow insertion of the bait keeper into a bait, and wherein when the ribs are in the deployed position, the ribs extend out from the sleeve to resist being removed from the bait, the ribs are normally in the deployed position;
• iii. an extension member coupled to the sleeve and having an attachment portion for coupling with the eye, such that when the attachment portion is attached to the eye, the bait keeper is pivotably suspended from the eye.