Best Downrigger Release Clips for Kokanee

People have asked me about downrigger release clips for their kokanee fishing usually after having a day or a week of dragging kokanee around a lake without having any fish pull the line out of the clip. Kokanee are a different beast. This article looks at why people have these challenges, and the best clips on the market to help you avoid these headaches.

Important Things to Know About Kokanee

Kokanee salmon are landlocked sockeye salmon. They are really strong fighters, making them a prime target for anglers, but they range in size from 10″ to more than 20″. That’s less than a pound, to sometimes in excess of 5 pounds. This is often dependent on where you are fishing. Chelan kokanee aren’t as big as Lake Roosevelt. Those smaller fish are going to have a harder time pulling your line out of the release clip than one of those slab kokanee.

Additionally, kokanee, while aggressive, fight different than a walleye or a trout. Kokanee fight on the line with a headshake. It creates a fun fight experience, but while it feels strong and aggressive in your hand, it doesn’t have the same strength to pull a line off the downrigger clip as a walleye would. You need the right clip to be able to match the same level of aggression as a fish.

Most Popular Clips for Kokanee

When I first got into kokanee fishing years ago, I went down the rabbit hole on which clip was the best. I read forums, ran tests, and everything came back conclusive. Most people out there are using the Scotty Mini downrigger release clips while kokanee fishing. For good reason, too. These things just work. They’re sized right for kokanee, and these are exclusively what I run on my downriggers. You can still have success with other releases, and we even have some tips and tricks below to help with this, but the Scotty Mini’s are the best ones out there I’ve tried.

Scotty Mini Power Grip Plus Line Release

The Best Way to Clip Your Line Into the Downrigger Release Clips to Have The Best Success

Maybe you’re looking at this and you are saying- I’ve got the Scotty clips, and still have challenges. How you clip the line into the release makes a difference. Some guys talk about different twists they do with the line, but the simplest thing thing to do is look at how deep in the clip the line is. If you’ve got the line in the very back of the clip, its going to be harder for a fish to pull it out, regardless of the brand of the release, or the target fish.

The best distance to clip the line into the clip really depends on the size of the kokanee you’re targeting, and the clip. You’ve got to experiment. See what works for you while you’re trolling for kokanee with a downrigger. There’s always going to be a balance of having the line deep enough in the release so that it doesn’t come out as you’re sending it down, but in shallow enough that the fish can pull it out. It’s tough. Most guys report about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way in the clip, but like I said, experiment.

Care and Maintenance for Your Downrigger Release Clips

Rust on the cable is the biggest problem for your downrigger release clips. When I’m winterizing my gear, I’ll clean the clips with some regular dish soap, and I’ll lightly oil the cable. You’ll also want to store them in a dry place, preferably out of sunlight. You’ll probably notice that the clips will become less strong over time. Some anglers actually like that. It can mean that its easier for kokanee to pull it out. These do have a useful life though, and that depends on how well you care for them. Eventually, you’ll need to replace them. I’ve only replaced the Scotty Mini’s once though, and I’ve been chasing kokanee for more than 10 years now.

Frequently Asked Questions About Downrigger Release Clips