Any inventors here?

[mateo]

I came up with what I think is a brilliant invention for fishermen. I'd like to maybe get it patented and produced, but I have never done anything like this before, and don't want to do it wrong, since this may be the last good idea I ever have.

Has anyone here ever gone through the process? What was the outcome? What would you do differently? What did it cost you?
[signature]