Ok, so you can't avoid missing having a fish on the board sometimes. Good to check them periodically. That being said, I use the basic clips that come with the boards and just wrap them through the clips in such a way they can't release. Just experiment and you'll find what works. Try putting the line through the clip and then loop it back around a put it through one or two more times. Boards are frustrating at first but helpful in the long run. Again, I keep my boards in line until they're reeled up to the boat. I then take the board off and reel the fish in. You could even get creative and "jimmy rig" it somehow. Just think of any way you can get those clips to be solid but yet able to be taken off at the boat.