Downrigger clips are very expensive. I know, I have bought my share of them only to have them fall off when using them as part of a clip on sinker rig. That’s why I came up with my own clip-on sinkers that out perform any other (as do my slip sinker bottom bouncers). Fisherman use these $7 clips on sinkers and I use them for planer board clips. These expensive clips are called downrigger clips.
After giving it some thought I came up with an idea for a strong clip that I think would work as good as those expensive clips. I put two alligator clips together and made that into a clip and I think it will work. Here is what I did:
1. Take 2 alligator clips and hold them side by side;
2. Cut two 1/2″ pieces of rubber tubing;
3. Slide the bottom of both clips into one piece of rubber;
4. Slide the top of the 2 clips into one piece of rubber;
5. Flatten the back ends of the clips and bend in toward the center
6. Add a key chain ring;
7. cut about a 1/2″ piece of tubing and slide the flat ends of the clips into the tubing;
strong fishing clip
Fishing clip
Below is a slightly worn yellowbird planer board. The clip on the right is the downrigger clip I add to replace some clip that comes with the board that doesn’t hold to the line, rather it slides down and hits the fish and makes fighting the fish much harder adding more water resistance on your line. If it doesn’t knock the fish off it will probably break your line. That little clip could cost you as much as the board itself.
planer board
