Abstract: An elongated downrigger system having a relatively long extension arm for safely positioning the downrigger lines far from the propeller and hull of a boat. The elongated downrigger system is equipped with a movable carriage assembly to permit the weighted end of the downrigger line to be readily grasped when it is desired to attach a fishing line, bait or lure, even though the extension arm is much longer than the average length of a human arm. The carriage assembly has a glide member, such as a roller, to ride upon the long extension arm and has at least one cable guide, such as a pulley, to guide the carriage assembly on the cable. A drive member is secured to the downrigger cable and engages a driven member on the carriage assembly to drive and move the carriage assembly to an inward attachment position when the cable is wound upon the downrigger reel.