A fishing lure allowing selective deployment of the hooks 9 comprises an elongate central core 1 defining an axis, a conical cover (8, fig. 1) coaxial with the core, a hook anchor collar 5 slidably and rotatably disposed on the core, and a hook guide 3 fixed to the core and axially spaced from the anchor collar by a spring 4. The shafts of the hooks are supported by the hook guide 3 towards the open end of the conical cover, and the proximal ends of the hooks are pivotally attached to the anchor collar 5. The hook ends ordinarily lie within an area coextensive with the open circular perimeter of the conical cover and are held in place by mechanical engagement means 2, H provided on the anchor collar and core. Upon being bitten by a fish, relative axial movement between the anchor collar and core releases the mechanical engagement, causing the hook guide to rotate under the action of the spring 4 in order to deploy the distal ends of the hooks beyond the perimeter defined by the conical collar. The lure is intended to prevent snagging of the hooks by weeds when trailed through the water.
