Abstract: A fishing downrigger and spreader assembly comprising a flat spreader plate having inner and outer mutually parallel planar surfaces and leading and trailing edges where superior and inferior spaced apart apertures for connection to cables are proximate the leading edge and where the trailing edge has superior and inferior spaced apart apertures for releasable connecting fishing line release clips and including an extensible rod one end of which is pivotally mounted to the outer planar surface of the spreader plate and the other end of which carries a fishing line release clip.