Abstract: A fishing line release mechanism for use with a trolling cable, including a body of resilient material having a cable passage for sliding fit onto a trolling cable. The wall of the cable passage is slit so that the mechanism can be pressed or snapped onto and off of the cable. A pair of jaws which engage each other at their tips are pressed together by an adjusting screw. The jaws form a passage for a fishing line which releases from the cavity formed by the jaws when tension is applied by a striking fish.In one embodiment, the cable passage includes means to resiliently clamp the mechanism to the cable so that several such devices can be attached as desired for stacking.