Patent ID: 7137222

Claim:
A downrigger apparatus to hold a fishing line at a selected fishing depth in water inhabited by sport fish, comprising: a downrigger reel that can be connected to a boat; a length of downrigger cable spooled on the reel with a free end that can be extended into the water to a depth that is a function of the selected fishing depth; a fishing line release clip attached to the downrigger cable at a location on the cable that is approximately at the selected fishing depth when the downrigger cable is spooled into the water; a sound emitting device attached to the downrigger cable at a location on the cable so as to be submerged in the water when the free end is extended into the water said depth that is a function of the selected fishing depth; said sound emitting device including: a waterproof housing; a battery pack installed in the housing having first and second terminals and including a plurality of rechargeable batteries; a sound generator installed in the housing that can generate a sound tat is attractive to game fish; a timing circuit installed in the housing connected to the sound generator, the timing circuit configured to sequentially energize the sound generator for about a five second interval followed by about a 25 second interval of silence; an on/off switch circuit in the housing connected between the battery pack and the sound generator to selectively turn the power from the battery pack on and off the on/off switch circuit including a magnetically actuated reed switch operable through the use of a magnet held exteriorly to the housing; a tube installed centrally in the housing and extending substantially from end-to-end therein, said tube having open ends at outer ends of the housing, said tube accommodating a section of the downrigger cable when the housing is installed on the downrigger cable.