A device for assisting casting and retrieval of a fishing line towhich is attached a terminal tackle. The device includes a guide ramp alongwhicha carriage is slidable and a biasing element biasing the carriage towards thedistalend of the guide ramp. A carriage pulling mechanism can be operated by a powerdrive to selectively pull the carriage away from the distal end of the guideramp. Arelease mechanism can selectively disengage the carriage and carriage pullingmechanism from each other to allow the biasing element to propel the carriagealong the ramp to cast the terminal tackle and fishing line.
