Patent ID: 7178284

Claim:
A device for releasing fishing line used with downrigger, comprising: a body having a front face, a top face and a bottom face, the front face being orientated in a generally angular relationship with respect to the bottom face, said body having a downrigger aperture configured to frictionally hold a downrigger cable to said body at a predetermined length, said downrigger aperture being disposed between the top face and the bottom face, and being orientated in a generally parallel relationship with respect to the front face, said body defining a chamber having opposing first and second end portions, the first end portion defining an interior end wall configured for securing a magnetic body therein, the second end portion defining an exterior opening configured for slidable movement of a magnetic engaging member; said magnetic body having opposing front and rear portions, said magnetic body being positioned in said chamber so that the front portion of said magnetic body is adjacent to the end wall of said chamber and the rear portion of said magnetic body faces the exterior opening of said chamber; said magnetic engaging member having a head portion constructed and arranged for magnetically engaging with said magnetic body and a movable adjusting arm extending axially rearwardly from the head portion, said movable adjusting arm constructed and arranged such that movement thereof adjust the distance between said magnetic body and said magnetic engaging member and hence the magnetic force applied to the head portion of said magnetic engaging member by the rear portion of said magnetic body; a fishing line retaining mechanism arranged and configured to releasably hold a fishing line release member, said fishing line retaining mechanism being disposed on said body and being adjustable for adjusting the holding force being applied to said fishing line release member; said fishing line release member being adapted and configured for releasably attaching a fishing line with a fishing lure extending therefrom, said fishing line release member having a first end portion and a second end portion, the first end portion being releasably held to said fishing line retaining mechanism, the second end portion being pivotally connected to said magnetic engaging member; and wherein said magnetic engaging member slidably moves away from said magnetic body when a force being applied to the fishing lure extending from the fishing line, which is releasably attached to said fishing line release member, is sufficient to overcome the magnetic force being applied to the head portion of said magnetic engaging member by the rear portion of said magnetic body, and wherein movement thereof moves said fishing line release member in a rearwardly direction away from said body, causing said fishing line release member to disengage and pivot away from said fishing line retaining mechanism, which results in the fishing line being released from said fishing line release member.