Patent ID: 7197847

Claim:
A downrigger device for trolling comprising: a bifurcated pincer clip, said pincer clip having a rearward end portion and a pair of laterally spaced cantilever beams extending from said rearward end portion, said beams forming a channel and terminating in deflectable forward end portions, an axially extensible spring for connecting said rearward end portion to a weighted downline, a release clip for releasably holding fish line, said release clip being separate from said pincer clip and including an arm holder having forward and rearward end portions, and a release arm having forward and rearward end portions, said release arm being pinned at the rearward end thereof to the rearward end portion of the arm holder and adapted to rotate relative to the pinned connection between a fish line retaining position and a fish line releasing position, the forward end portion of said arm holder being releasably received within said channel when the release arm is in said fish line retaining position and the release clip separating from any connection to said pincer clip when said release arm is in said fish line releasing position, first retention means for retaining the forward end portion of said arm holder in said channel and releasing said arm holder when a predetermined force in said spring is exceeded, and second retention means for releasably retaining the forward end portion of said release arm in said fish line retaining position, wherein said first retention means comprises the forward end portions of one and the other of said release clip and pincer clip being provided with an upwardly projecting boss and a detent, said boss being received in said detent to retain said clips together and said release arm in the fish line retaining position, whereby when a separating force of sufficient magnitude is applied to the pincer clip and said spring by a force from said fishing line placed on said release clip, said boss is driven upwardly and outwardly from the detent, the release arm is freed to rotate into said fish line releasing position and the pincer clip is separated from the release clip.