Downrigger release question - Updated with pics

[Gobble Doc]

I'm looking for any suggestions or comments on my downrigger set-up in the pictures below.  I plan to hook my release clip line onto the snubber just up from the ball.  Does this seem like a reasonable way to go for fishing near the bottom for chinook?  I'll be giving this a try for the first time on Saturday so I would really appreciate any thoughts on if it is OK or ways to modify.  Thanks for your help. 

[KFhunter]

I wouldn't hook it to the snubber,  it'll bounce and make the line all that much harder to pop off the release - or worse tangle.

[Gobble Doc]

JKeen33,

Thanks.  I do have the automatic stop bead on the cable, it's just wound into the spool for now. 

So are you saying to hook the release clip directly to the cable just above the bead above the rubber piece on the cable?  The clip I have on the release clip line doesn't slide so it won't move up and down the cable.  Basically I'll just be moving the release clip up about 1 foot to 18 inches above where it currently is.  Is this what you are suggesting?  Thanks.

[h20hunter]

I also would not hook to the snubber.....right above is good. Also, one little trick I like to do is run a daisy chain flasher type deal right off the ball. My theory is it creates "noise" and flash like a school of bait fish.

[cohoho]

I hook clip right to wire and never had an issue, if it slips a slight tweak with pliers will solve that slipping issue...  If you only got one DR then drop down 15-20 and add the second clip and run another rod off that clip...  Remember the Scotty Clips are adjustable, push the do dagy thing on the back that connects to the line to metal clip - push it back or forward to create extra tension....

For the stops, buy some they are super cheap and put two together in two locations to prevent losing ball...  Or just tie on some Tuna cord between wire and ball and use it as a stop where the knot is located, add an additional knot for secondary stop..

 

[Mfowl]

I hook my release on just like you have in the picture. However I use a 5-8' long release. This way when my downrigger ball is banging the bottom or very near my flasher is up enough that it won't dig in the bottom while it spins. At least that is how I fish in Puget Sound. Where are you fishing? Are you running braid or cable? With cable I have had my release clip ride up the cable. That's why I hook it to the snubber, it stays put.

[Gobble Doc]

H20Hunter,

Thanks for the suggestion.  I'm going to be trying this for the first time on Saturday just to see how this is all going to work.  Maybe after I convince myself that I'm getting the hang of it then I will consider putting some more bling off the ball. 

Some of the pictures that I have seen look like the clip to the release clip just slides freely up and down the wire.  This doesn't seem right as it seems like it would defeat the purpose of keeping your gear at a fixed position in the water column. 

[Gobble Doc]

Mfowl,

Thanks.  I'm planning to fish out of Everett.  Sounds like I can experiment moving the clip up to the cable.  I'm using the cable that came with the Scotty. 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions.  Much appreciated. 

[h20hunter]

The release is planted on the cable. Keep on mind, the longer the cord on the release the further the line tension will pull you lure upwards. Meaning...if you are in 100 feet of water you need more than 100 feet of cable out because of scope....follow so far. ...then, if you get that dialed by say knowing that with you cable out 119 yards trolling at 2.3 with a 12 lb ball you are actually fishing right off the bottom....then have a long cord on your release you are still fishing a little higher than simply putting it down 100 feet on the counter. When I fish for bottom hugging salmon and the bottom allows I like to establish a trolling speed, get the ball in the water,  adjust speed with additional drag now 8n the water, lower the ball and just ease her down till it bumps. Crank it up a foot or two and make a note. That tells me how much cable I need out to fish at my current depth at my current speed. A short lead from line release to cable just helps that last little bit to keep my gear fishing where I wsnt. If you are hugging bottom and rum that daisy chain I think it all helps trigger strikes. 

[KFhunter]

I hook my release on just like you have in the picture. However I use a 5-8' long release. This way when my downrigger ball is banging the bottom or very near my flasher is up enough that it won't dig in the bottom while it spins. At least that is how I fish in Puget Sound. Where are you fishing? Are you running braid or cable? With cable I have had my release clip ride up the cable. That's why I hook it to the snubber, it stays put.

If the clip is riding up the cable then your descending the ball too fast without enough tension on the clip.
If the clip is riding down the cable then the water is dragging the clip to the ball (hangs out past the boat at an angle) because there isn't enough tension.

I dunno,  I've run a downrigger a good bit but I'm no expert.

We were having issues trying to get past the silvers so we were slamming the ball down fast as we could or we'd have a silver on.  Hard to get down past them to the Chinook.

Or Tyee since I was in Canada land  (or was it blackmouth? springer?)

[KFhunter]

since we're talking about downrigger balls,  are my old pancake weights illegal?   I haven't used them in years and thought I remembered reading something about coated DR balls must be used 

can I just paint them with something?

[Mfowl]

I hook my release on just like you have in the picture. However I use a 5-8' long release. This way when my downrigger ball is banging the bottom or very near my flasher is up enough that it won't dig in the bottom while it spins. At least that is how I fish in Puget Sound. Where are you fishing? Are you running braid or cable? With cable I have had my release clip ride up the cable. That's why I hook it to the snubber, it stays put.

If the clip is riding up the cable then your descending the ball too fast without enough tension on the clip.
If the clip is riding down the cable then the water is dragging the clip to the ball (hangs out past the boat at an angle) because there isn't enough tension.

I dunno,  I've run a downrigger a good bit but I'm no expert.

We were having issues trying to get past the silvers so we were slamming the ball down fast as we could or we'd have a silver on.  Hard to get down past them to the Chinook.

Or Tyee since I was in Canada land  (or was it blackmouth? springer?)

I've clipped on my DR release just about every way you can come up with and settled on this way for simplicity and ease of use. I know it won't move and don't have to worry about it. Also I run braid and though I prefer it to cable it frays, especially near the ball and rigging. Keeping the clip off of it gives me a little more peace of mind while fishing.

[Come Get Some]

Scotty cable is junk. It does not last. Cannon cable is coated and lasts for years. My cable has been on my downriggers for over 5 years and has not frayed.

[Dhoey07]

Why don't you hook the realease directly to the ball?

[MADMAX]

 

[Rick]

This is how I rig my ball/release,etc

http://www.theoutdoorline.com/blog/2013/04/11/dirty-downrigger-trick-silver-hordes-rudder-flasher/

[Rick]

since we're talking about downrigger balls,  are my old pancake weights illegal?   I haven't used them in years and thought I remembered reading something about coated DR balls must be used 

can I just paint them with something?

No need to paint or coat a DR ball. Nothing illegal about your pancake weights.

[lokidog]

Why don't you hook the realease directly to the ball?

That clip attached to his release will not attach to the ball as it is too big.  Some have a smaller swivel type clip that will though.  I usually have one of each.  An advantage of the clip to the cable is that the ball can stay in the water when reattaching your lure so it is not swinging around or against the side of your boat.  The disadvantage is that your ball is still in the water when bringing a fish to the boat and could get in the way.

since we're talking about downrigger balls,  are my old pancake weights illegal?   I haven't used them in years and thought I remembered reading something about coated DR balls must be used 

can I just paint them with something?

. 

I prefer the pancakes as they have less drag than a ball but it is sometimes difficult to trim the fin so they track straight.  A little bend to the fin can help them move out away from the boat though, which can be a good thing with two downriggers and a narrow boat.

As to the OP, I would worry about attaching to the snubber and possibly nicking it causing it to break and lose the ball.  Those rubber things make me nervous, although I do use them.

[huntnphool]

Why don't you hook the realease directly to the ball?

Because the snubber is designed to bounce the ball off the bottom, and break if caught too severally in debris, rather than get your steel line directly caught (bad!)

 I use a downrigger rudder flasher to hold my release, like the green one in the pic. Permanently attach it to the end of the rudder, attach your snubber to the rudder bottom and cable to the top, as in the picture. I find my gear runs more true like this.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

What huntinphool just posted is a very very good way to wack Salmon's. Surprised more people don't rig there riggers that way.

[Stein]

If I'm trying to fish deep (chinook near the bottom), I hook the release as low as possible.  This is usually on the ball itself or the lower snubber snap.

[Fish4Fun]

One thing I have done is went to longer releases. I keep mine right at the 60" mark, easier to grab and hold onto if the ball is swinging around. My release is hooked to the big ring on the cable above the snubber.

[huntnphool]

What huntinphool just posted is a very very good way to wack Salmon's. Surprised more people don't rig there riggers that way.

Worked well for a 4 fish day yesterday.

[rasbo]

I thought the release was hooked on the other eye on the weight,

[huntnphool]

I thought the release was hooked on the other eye on the weight,

Thats one way to do it yes, however if you use your weight to locate the bottom every once in a while, this will hang your gear up a lot.

[lokidog]

What huntinphool just posted is a very very good way to wack Salmon's. Surprised more people don't rig there riggers that way.

Worked well for a 4 fish day yesterday.

Nice, where are you fishing, if you don't mind...?

[huntnphool]

What huntinphool just posted is a very very good way to wack Salmon's. Surprised more people don't rig there riggers that way.

Worked well for a 4 fish day yesterday.

Nice, where are you fishing, if you don't mind...?

Vancouver Island

[rasbo]

I thought the release was hooked on the other eye on the weight,

Thats one way to do it yes, however if you use your weight to locate the bottom every once in a while, this will hang your gear up a lot.

ah gotcha,thanks

[wildweeds]

Loki,

Phools setup worked last week for a co worker in the San Juans,he caught 16 kings in a weeks fishing,3 over 25 pounds,coincidentally its the same setup my buddy uses,me too but I'm boatless at the moment,Him and I fished the 4th and we went 2 for 3,his buddy from work who's on the green side got excited and crackered one off,and we had a  big strike that didn't get hooked.

What huntinphool just posted is a very very good way to wack Salmon's. Surprised more people don't rig there riggers that way.

Worked well for a 4 fish day yesterday.

Nice, where are you fishing, if you don't mind...?

Vancouver Island

[Gobble Doc]

Thanks everyone.  I made it out Saturday to try out the downrigger.  It worked great.  Only thing I caught was a flat fish so I think at least I was near the bottom.  I'm looking forward to more. 

[huntnphool]

Thanks everyone.  I made it out Saturday to try out the downrigger.  It worked great.  Only thing I caught was a flat fish so I think at least I was near the bottom.  I'm looking forward to more.

 So lets see your final rigging.

[Gobble Doc]

I'll take a picture tonight and post. 

[Gobble Doc]

OK, here's what I went with.  Release clip just above the snubber on the wire.  It's all subject to change.  Also is a pic of the rail mount I rigged up. 

[huntnphool]

That will work, you might also consider adding a rudder and attaching the release to the back end.

[Badhabit]

Gobble Doc, off topic and a question about where your Yamaha is mounted. Did they just hang that motor off the transom or is it raised up as high as it can go? 

[WAcoueshunter]

Rail mount looks great!

I run the same release setup, on the wire just above the snubber. Works great.

[Gobble Doc]

Wacoueshunter,  thanks.

Badhabit, I'm not sure about how the engine was mounted.  I picked it up used a few years ago and I haven't really looked to be honest.  I'll check it out tomorrow and post what I find out.

huntnphool, I'll look into those rudders.  Thanks for the suggestions. 

[wildweeds]

This will be carbon dating, I never used a snubber unless it was on a "Whiskey line"

[Fish4Fun]

Why clip to the cable, hook it to the large ring on the top of the snubber.  I have ran this way for years and it has never failed. When you drag the bottom the flasher will be above the weight too. The other thought is too much chance of fraying the cable clipping to it all the time. With 12 Lbs of weight it doesn't take a lot to drop a ball off the end due to bad cables.

[lokidog]

Why clip to the cable, hook it to the large ring on the top of the snubber.  I have ran this way for years and it has never failed. When you drag the bottom the flasher will be above the weight too. The other thought is too much chance of fraying the cable clipping to it all the time. With 12 Lbs of weight it doesn't take a lot to drop a ball off the end due to bad cables.

It depends on what kind of snap you have on the other end of your release that will determine where you can attach it.