Looking to buy your old Pro-release downrigger clip

I like how they are easy to adjust but you don't want to wind the line the wrong way. That cost me a pole. But they are still worth the trouble. I have a bunch of Scottys that I can never be sure if they might self release or not release.
 
The release is made from a free patent that originates to 1977.
I have used a few different releases and this is my favorite. I still find people who don't care for them and they still catch lots of fish, I believe it is just preference.
There were a few postings from a few years ago about how unsatisfied people were with these downrigger clips so I thought I could trade fishing gear or a new release of their choice or cash.
So maybe someone will read this post who indeed does not use this downrigger release, but has a few laying around
where are they?
THey will be my new best friend!
 
I heard that they were not being made anymore, and then read somewhere else that they were now being produced by another company. Personally I think they are mediocre, they do work good if you use braid and you get everything straight, I like many others broke a rod when it wouldn't release on a fish(still landed the king), I've heard of numerous people doing that with these. My buddy and I prefer Scotty clips for their simplicity, if you keep the pads clean and have the tension on high you shouldn't have too many problems with false releases. My buddy loves his braid and his preferred setup has a 20 foot section of mono tied in at the end of his braid for clipping in to the downrigger clip. I have the pro release still and will keep it, I think in really heavy current or where more debris or jellyfish are present they can be useful. Good luck in finding some!!

Sark
 
Auburn Sports and Marine still sells them, at least the last time I was there. But like every thing else they are awful proud of their stuff and the price reflects the fact. But they are worth it IMHO. Save me a couple.
Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
 
Spike, Thank You!
May carma reward you with a 50lber this year!
I was starting to wonder with the first couple of replies.
Cutty shark, they were made by seas& lakes and they apparently went out of business. As far as the free patent I know that it is available online and I heard that it was free. Patent protection does not last forever, you have to renew it every so often. you can google the two numbers that are on the clip 4069611 , d247300. you can look at the drawing.
As far as the clip giving mediocre results, believe me it isn't the clip it is the user, I am not trying to insult anyone here because I had several problems at first. It is simply the best way to release the line from the downrigger and have a solid hookup without any false releases.
The heading on the package says it all:
Why spend thousands on boats and gear, and then skimp on the most important part of your setup.
 
I love the dam things because they will not false release and you can really tighten down on your rod. having a lot of bend in our rod really helps hook the few fish that do bite. Not resetting because of false releases keeps your line in the water where the fish can bite it. I use braid and hate scottys. they will not allow me to put a big bend in the rod with braid.

They are still for sale here at Johns sporting goods in Everett. I had heard that they were not going to be made any more two years ago but have always been able to get them.
 
slow trawler":17m1ph6m said:
As far as the clip giving mediocre results, believe me it isn't the clip it is the user, I am not trying to insult anyone here because I had several problems at first. It is simply the best way to release the line from the downrigger and have a solid hookup without any false releases.
The heading on the package says it all:
Why spend thousands on boats and gear, and then skimp on the most important part of your setup.
Click to expand...

Just an aside if they are "simply the best" why is the company going out of business?

Ah Yes, I know, I've heard it before ..."you're using it wrong." I fished one for a probably about a season. I know how you have to wrap it correctly, and watch it to make sure it doesn't flip as it is going down. I was always very careful(well as careful as one can be at four in the morning :wink: ) and one time it while fighting a good king it just wouldn't go, and in my impatience with trying to pop the clip I snapped my rod, the fact is many people have snapped rods with these clips. And whether it's operator error or bad design it still has quite a history of breaking rods, I would prefer to avoid that expense since I buy nice stuff. The other reason I don' t like them is I fish with kids/family and fairly often friends who don't really fish, and those clips are just too complicated for that. Now those reasons aside they work good at keeping you from getting false releases, although I don't seem to have problems with the Scotty's and if I do, I have a couple extra clips, it's usually as easy as switching the clip out, until you can clean the pads. But hey, this is just my opinion, I know lots of guys that prefer the pro release, I also know lots of guys that prefer Macs, I just don't.

Sark
 
cutty shark, yes those are all valid points.
I can set the pro-release blindfolded, if you stick with using them it gets easier. I never break the clip while the downrigger is down, I bring up the ball and release the clip by hand at the surfaced this way your fishing all the way up to the surface.
New users especially that are not use to using downriggers can be a pain.
I have friends that prefer the pinch type and I can not convince them to use the pro-release and yes the whole time we are fishing they are getting false releases and it drives me crazy! They are also set in their ways and are not open to knew ideas, ya know the type that they know what they know and that's all they know! They also like to fish with all the other boats, because they think more boats mean someone in the crowd knows something. I like to try new techniques all the time and have found some of my most productive setups this way.
I also think that the pro-release gives a better hook set.
As far as going out of business, a downrigger clip can not sustain a business and unfortunately their business failed much like G.I Joes, Boaters World etc. Not getting operational loans and low sales probably did them in. I look at alot of the websites around the greatlakes and this clip is not even talked about so I don' think it was marketed properly.
 
Troller,

I hear ya, whatever works use it :thup . If you have 5 different successful fisherman, chances are at least three of them are using completely different setups anyway. That's the mystery of fishing. I used to bring my clips up on the cable when I was beginning, as that is what Salmon University suggested. Then a couple years back when I was at Neah bay I kept having fish hit when I'd pop the clip, to get my gear out of the way for they guy fighting a fish(who I was stacking with). All I can say is when you feel the fish hit when you're just reeling away and not expecting it. Wow.. talk about a rush...literally, catches me by surprise just about everytime. I've actually never really mooched and have wanted to try it just for that reason. So, if on the cable or not, I think the chances are probably about the same either way as long as your gear is still moving with an attractive action.

Sark
 
Back
Top