a pivot point shown as a bolt 11 when a fish pulls on fishing line 32 the line causes trigger 8 to swivel from a retaining position to a non retaining position shown in fig4 thereby allowing weighted mast 6 to swing downward under the weight of the counterweight 10 and assume a vertical signalling position flag 9 affixed to the end opposite the counterweight 10 on mast 6 is thus raised signalling the presence of a fish trigger 8 is appropriately shaped and can be either curved or it can be provided with a detent for accommodating fishing line 32 alternatively mast 6 can be spring biased towards the signalling position with the stored energy in a spring 17 being released when the trigger 8 is moved to the non retaining position by force on fishing line 32 this is illustrated in fig5 a and 5b as shown in fig6 a and 6b trigger 8 can be provided to swivel in the same plane as mast 6 in which case it is provided with a hooked end 15 which engages a pin 16 disposed on mast 6 when mast 6 is in the cocked position trigger 8 is disposed within a housing 20 an adjustable screw 30 such as a thumb screw holds trigger 8 against the mast in the housing and can be.