A trolling release device for use during fishing. A ring of the device has an aperture formed between sidewalls and a slit in one of the sidewalls for extending a line through the sidewall. A handle is mounted to the ring and has peripheral sidewalls with an aperture formed between the sidewalls and a slit in one of the sidewalls of the handle. A string is attached to a fishing line at one end and the opposite end is inserted into the handle aperture. When a fish strikes a lure on the fishing line, the string is cut, thereby releasing the fishing line.