Northwest Fishing Reports

I shop Goodwill a lot cause you never know what you'll find. Today I found a steal. 16 spring clips that just called out "re-purpose me as a downrigger clip!" All I need to do is glue a pad on either side (already found some cheap material that should work perfect) and there you go, 16 clips for $3. Gotta love Goodwill!

I have no idea what the original use for these clips were...

Cool idea Mike. Hope those work well for you. That was a collapsable laundry hanger for drying socks and lightweight items in it's previous life.

That looks like one of those freakin' bass rig that I can't remember the name of... I'm talking about the ones where there is like 12 bass baits all trailing along in sort of a Christmas tree shape? Someone help me out here...??

The Quadfather wrote:That looks like one of those freakin' bass rig that I can't remember the name of... I'm talking about the ones where there is like 12 bass baits all trailing along in sort of a Christmas tree shape? Someone help me out here...??

Umbrella rig?

I think you're referring to an Alabama rig. Ya, it does kinda look like that too. I checked the pads I super glued this morning. They look good. I'll test em out at Chelan.

And to think I thought a score was when I found 4 Scotty mini-clips for sale for $11 on Amazon.

Mike, what are you using for clip pad material? Comparing notes. I recently bought 20 pads for 3.99. Had a choice between dime or nickel (coin) for size. Apparently, rubber with a textured surface works best, as apposed to having a smooth surface.

MotoBoat wrote:Mike, what are you using for clip pad material? Comparing notes. I recently bought 20 pads for 3.99. Had a choice between dime or nickel (coin) for size. Apparently, rubber with a textured surface works best, as apposed to having a smooth surface.

I cut up a thin foam pad tong shoe my wife had. It's smooth material and I am wondering how it will do holding the line. You got as good price. I haven't seen replacement pads that cheap anywhere. I would splurge and buy them at that price.

Mike Carey wrote:

MotoBoat wrote:Mike, what are you using for clip pad material? Comparing notes. I recently bought 20 pads for 3.99. Had a choice between dime or nickel (coin) for size. Apparently, rubber with a textured surface works best, as apposed to having a smooth surface.

I cut up a thin foam pad tong shoe my wife had. It's smooth material and I am wondering how it will do holding the line. You got as good price. I haven't seen replacement pads that cheap anywhere. I would splurge and buy them at that price.

My kind of project
Are you going to just use em on the bottom (clipped to the ball) or do you have some kind of clip for stacking them?

Gringo Pescador wrote:

Mike Carey wrote:

MotoBoat wrote:Mike, what are you using for clip pad material? Comparing notes. I recently bought 20 pads for 3.99. Had a choice between dime or nickel (coin) for size. Apparently, rubber with a textured surface works best, as apposed to having a smooth surface.

I cut up a thin foam pad tong shoe my wife had. It's smooth material and I am wondering how it will do holding the line. You got as good price. I haven't seen replacement pads that cheap anywhere. I would splurge and buy them at that price.

My kind of project
Are you going to just use em on the bottom (clipped to the ball) or do you have some kind of clip for stacking them?

I believe it was Anton that shared a tip with Mike. A shower curtain rod clip (metal) is inserted into a hole at the end of the d.r. clips handle. There is a lead weight (end must have a way to attach it) strung on the curtain rod clip. Instead of bringing up the d.r. ball every time a fish pops the fishing line from the d.r. clip. The curtain rod is clipped onto the downrigger wire, line is played out from the reel, until at the desired fishing depth. When fishing line is released from the d.r. clip, the weighted (lead) shower curtain clip free falls down the d.r. cable, stopping and resting at the downrigger ball. This is done until either reaching a limit, running out of line clips, retrieving the ball for bait or gear changes, moving to another fishing location, or done for the day......ect.

Mike has a picture of 8 or so d.r clips stacked on the ball. That picture explains so much better than words.

I'll add a shower clip and 2 oz weight and use them to stack my shallow line. It's a great technique to be able to keep fishing the deep rod e/o bringing it up to restack the shallow line. Tested today with Zack. Worked great. I'll post a pic later. Yes, credit to Anton Jones for this.

That sounds famliar - but I am not finding it in the forums or video.

worked like a charm today. BTW, the black on the pink pad is just ink.

How did the rubber pads work on the Goodwill dr clips?

MotoBoat wrote:How did the rubber pads work on the Goodwill dr clips?

Perfectly. I was worried they might be too smooth to hold the line, but they did fine. I'm not so sure about deeper and faster trolling speeds. Chelan is calling.

Further testing will be required!

Does the rubber extend from the tip of the goodwill clip, back to the metal tension ring? Can not be sure by looking at the picture. Is there increased line pressure, the deeper the line is placed into the clip? I considered toying with the wooden close pin, for a light tension dr clip. But never got past the thinking part of that project.

MotoBoat wrote:Does the rubber extend from the tip of the goodwill clip, back to the metal tension ring? Can not be sure by looking at the picture. Is there increased line pressure, the deeper the line is placed into the clip? I considered toying with the wooden close pin, for a light tension dr clip. But never got past the thinking part of that project.

Yes. I noticed the way the clip closed over the foam pad the end is slightly open so I extended the foam deeper into the clip. It seemed to hold fine. Also, with stacking in this manner if you have too much tension on the line and the clip holds to firmly you'll just tighten and bring the clip up the line, if that makes sense.
I hope to have lots of research results this weekend.