BY MARK ROMANACK
Off Shore Tackle produces so many line releases and clips it’s hard to know them all. Arguably the most versatile of these products is the OR16 (red) Pro Clip.
SNAP WEIGHTS STARTED IT ALL
The OR16 Pro Clip was de-signed to hold an in-line trolling weight, secured by way of a split ring, originally made of lead and acquired the name of Snap Weight, allows you to place the Snap Weight on the line at any desired location. This unique line clip features rubber pads similar to other Off Shore Tackle line releases but molded into the middle of the pads is a small plastic pin. When the OR16 is pinched open and the line placed behind this pin that protrudes through the center of the pads, the Snap Weight is securely held in place on the line. This unique, yet simple design makes it possible to troll using in-line weights and place those weights anywhere on the line. To say the least, when the OR16 Pro Clip hit the market they were an immediate success. Prior to this product, no other manufacturer had produced an in-line weight that could be put on and taken off the line in a “snap”! The OR20 Pro Weight Kit soon hit the market offering angler four OR16 Pro Clips and an assortment of in-line weights ranging from .5 ounces to 3 ounces in size. Eventually the lead weights were replaced with more ecological friendly Guppy Weights which are molded from non-toxic zinc alloy. Guppy Weights were designed to be used as either a Snap Weight in combination with the OR16 Pro Clip or as a traditional in-line weight. The OR16 was designed with Snap Weight fishing in mind, but it didn’t take long for this line clip to find other important trolling niches.
OR12 SIDE PLANER
It didn’t take long and the OR16 became widely used on the OR12 Side Planer. Many anglers mounted the OR16 on both the bracket and at the tail of the board to insure the OR12 would stay on the line no matter how big the waves or how fast the trolling speed. These days the OR16 comes standard on the OR12 Side Plan-er. Routinely mounted at the tail of the board, the OR16 teams up with the OR19 (orange) release makes it possible to trip the board, yet keep the board pegged in place on the line thanks to the OR16. This rigging method has become one of the most popular ways of fi shing the OR12 Side Planer for walleye, trout, salmon, steelhead and other species.
OR38 MINI BOARD
The OR16 clip is also factory supplied with the OR38 Awe- some Crappie Board (aka Mini Board). This small in-line board was designed for trolling small lures on light line. Ideal for tar- getting crappie and other smaller fish species, the OR38 can be released, yet remain pegged in place on the line thanks to the OR16 mounted at the tail of the board.
SOLD IN TWO PACKS
The OR16 Pro Clip is so popular, Off Shore Tackle also sells these clips in a handy two pack. Replacement pads are also sold separately. The OR16 isn’t just a run of the mill line clip. It’s the line clip that started a generation of anglers using Snap Weights and also in-line planer boards. Versatile? You can say that again, because the OR16 is hands down the most commonly used line clip for trolling applications all over the world.
