Apparatus for measuring forces on a fishing rod

Apparatus for detecting and measuring forces on a fishing rod due to pull on a fishing line associated with the rod or to a weight hanging on the rod, comprising:

• transducer means for sensing the amount of deflection of the fishing rod caused by the force on the fishing rod;
• and
• detecting means including signal generating means for producing signals at a predetermined frequency, signal counting means for counting signals generated by the signal generating means and timing means for establishing a timing window during which said signal counting means is enabled to count signals generated by said signal generating means, said timing means including first timing circuit means and second timing circuit means, said first timing circuit means providing a timing signal at a predetermined frequency, said counting means being responsive to said timing signal to start counting signals generated by said signal generating means, said second timing circuit means being responsive to said timing signal provided by said first timing circuit means to generate a stop signal for causing said signal counting means to stop counting signals produced by said signal generating means, said second timing circuit means being controlled by said transducer means to cause the number of signals counted by said signal counting means to correspond to the amount of rod deflection measured by said transducing means.