A keel attached to a central body of trolling spreader bar is configurable with a plurality of fishing lures as an assembly to mimic a small school of fish. The keel is angled to urge the lure assembly continually to one side or the other from what would be the normal straight line of travel of a trolling vessel. By attaching an angled keel directly to the lure/spreader bar one is able to easily set lines behind the vessel at varying angles and distances which greatly increase the width of the full trolling lure spread.

A mechanical planer board that is arranged for use on both the right and left sides of a towing boat and is further adapted to move from a boat side position to a boat rear position upon a fish strike. The planer board includes a body having a housing, a float, an internal assembly, and at least one line clip having a tow arm. The tow arm maintains the line clip in towing configuration until a fish strike pulls a trigger pin to release the tow arm thereby allowing it to swing and lock in a forward position. The board may further include an indicator device to alert the fisher of board location.

A mechanical planer board that is arranged for use on both the right and left sides of a towing boat and is further adapted to move from a boat side position to a boat rear position upon a fish strike. The planer board includes a body having a housing, a float, an internal assembly, and at least one line clip having a tow arm. The tow arm maintains the line clip in towing configuration until a fish strike pulls a trigger pin to release the tow arm thereby allowing it to swing and lock in a forward position. The board may further include an indicator device to alert the fisher of board location.

A gear-train driven outrigger device for use on a fishing vessel having a first tubular member for holding of an outrigger pole. The gear-train driver assembly allows rotation of the outrigger pole in an X or Y plane; the gear-train driver having a selector to chose either an upper gear assembly to allow horizontal rotation of outrigger or a lower gear assembly to allow vertical angular positioning of the outrigger pole, wherein the gear assembly allows for movement of the outrigger pole from a stowage position to an angled trolling position.

A gear-train driven outrigger device for use on a fishing vessel having a first tubular member for holding of an outrigger pole. The gear-train driver assembly allows rotation of the outrigger pole in an X or Y plane; the gear-train driver having a selector to chose either an upper gear assembly to allow horizontal rotation of outrigger or a lower gear assembly to allow vertical angular positioning of the outrigger pole, wherein the gear assembly allows for movement of the outrigger pole from a stowage position to an angled trolling position.

The inventors disclose and teach herein a device that quickly and reliably attaches rigging to a fishing line, especially trolling lines. The device includes a spring-loaded clip with means for attaching additional accessories to the clip, such as weights. Accordingly, in the context of trolling, a trolling depth can be set and readjusted rapidly simply by clipping different weights onto the line. Moreover, the clip includes a side-opening for receiving a fishing line in compression between a spring-loaded plunger and anvil. The line is further secured by an embossed retainer blocking the line from slipping out from between the plunger and anvil.

The inventors disclose and teach herein a device that quickly and reliably attaches rigging to a fishing line, especially trolling lines. The device includes a spring-loaded clip with means for attaching additional accessories to the clip, such as weights. Accordingly, in the context of trolling, a trolling depth can be set and readjusted rapidly simply by clipping different weights onto the line. Moreover, the clip includes a side-opening for receiving a fishing line in compression between a spring-loaded plunger and anvil. The line is further secured by an embossed retainer blocking the line from slipping out from between the plunger and anvil.

Various planer boards are disclosed that include a body having a tapered leading end, a guiding assembly located at a trailing end of the body, and a gripping assembly extending away from a front surface of the body. The planer boards may be securely attached to a fishing line via the guiding assembly and the gripping assembly in order to bias the line to one side when the planer board is moved through water. To allow a user quickly and easily attach/remove a fishing line, the planer board may include a single-release actuator that opens only the gripping assembly and a dual-release actuator that simultaneously releases both the guiding assembly and the gripping assembly.

A directional guide for a spreader bar includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis. The body includes a first fin and a second fin spaced apart from the first fin. The first and second fins are coupled to the body and are configured to control a vertical position of the body in water through which the body is moving. Grooves are formed in the body. The grooves include a first groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, a second groove crossing the first groove and a third groove crossing the first groove. A keel is rotatably coupled to the body. The keel is configured to rotate between the first groove, the second groove, and the third groove. The keel is configured to control a lateral position of the body in water through which the body is moving.

A directional guide for a spreader bar includes a body extending along a longitudinal axis. The body includes a first fin and a second fin spaced apart from the first fin. The first and second fins are coupled to the body and are configured to control a vertical position of the body in water through which the body is moving. Grooves are formed in the body. The grooves include a first groove extending along the longitudinal axis of the body, a second groove crossing the first groove and a third groove crossing the first groove. A keel is rotatably coupled to the body. The keel is configured to rotate between the first groove, the second groove, and the third groove. The keel is configured to control a lateral position of the body in water through which the body is moving.