Patent ID: 7155858

Claim:
A trotline leader system comprising: a trotline; multiple clips adapted to receive the trotline, each said clip including a generally tubular head portion which includes a first end, a second end, and a slotted aperture for receiving the trotline, a generally triangular base, a neck connecting said first end of said head portion and said generally triangular base, said neck extending upwardly from an apex of said triangular base to said head portion, a tab extending from said second end of the head portion, wherein said neck, head portion, and tab are entirely located outside a perimeter defined by said triangular base, a channel formed between said tab and said base, a slot formed between an inner surface of said neck and an inner surface defined by said head portion and said tab, said inner surfaces being generally parallel to each other, said channel terminates at said slot, said channel being generally wider than said slot, said channel being adapted to guide said trotline into said slotted aperture through said slot, and said base includes a bottom having a slot; multiple hangers received by the slot in each said base bottom, each said hanger including a generally disk shaped head, a shank and an eyelet, said shank having a shaft with a rotational axis, the shank connected to and separating the head and the eyelet; wherein the shank and the eyelet are adapted to be inserted into the bottom slot of the base, the slot being wider than the eyelet and narrower than the head, the head being restrained by the base, the hanger being permitted to rotate about the rotational axis of the shaft when the eyelet and the shaft are inserted through the bottom slot of the base; a plurality of drop lines, each drop line proximate end tied to the hanger eyelet and each drop line distal end tied to a fishing hook; and a plurality of beads for spacing apart and securing the clip on the trotline wherein said beads are fixedly secured to the trotline.