collapse

Advertisement


Author Topic: braid or cable on downrigger  (Read 7566 times)

Offline Bill W

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1942
  • Location: Moses Lake
  • Groups: NRA, CBA
braid or cable on downrigger
« on: March 22, 2016, 01:12:10 PM »
I didn't want to take the chelan kokanee thread off on a tangent but I wonder if you use braid or cable on your downrigger?    I've replaced the cable two or three times on my downriggers and am ready to switch to braid. I've bought the braid but haven't installed it yet as I didn't need the downriggers last year.

I feel aluminum boats put a lot of "juice" in the water leading to eating up a lot of stainless steel cable.

Offline huntnphool

  • Chance favors the prepared mind!
  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+15)
  • Legend
  • ******
  • Join Date: Apr 2007
  • Posts: 32904
  • Location: Pacific NorthWest
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2016, 01:16:14 PM »
I didn't want to take the chelan kokanee thread off on a tangent but I wonder if you use braid or cable on your downrigger?    I've replaced the cable two or three times on my downriggers and am ready to switch to braid. I've bought the braid but haven't installed it yet as I didn't need the downriggers last year.

I feel aluminum boats put a lot of "juice" in the water leading to eating up a lot of stainless steel cable.

 I have used both and prefer the cable, not to mention I can't use my "Black Box" with braid.

 At least with cable, you can tell when you need to cut it back past a worn part, with braid you can tell also, but it's after you have lost everything from that point on. :chuckle:
The things that come to those who wait, may be the things left by those who got there first!

Online CP

  • Trade Count: (+6)
  • Old Salt
  • ******
  • Join Date: Mar 2008
  • Posts: 7083
  • Location: Mukilteo
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2016, 01:16:22 PM »
Try braid and you will never go back to cable.


Offline sirmissalot

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 3070
  • Location: Shelton, WA
    • chadpburgess@faceboo​k.com
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2016, 01:19:45 PM »
Try braid and you'll lose enough gear to finally go back to cable.

Offline Bill W

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1942
  • Location: Moses Lake
  • Groups: NRA, CBA
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2016, 01:24:23 PM »
Try braid and you'll lose enough gear to finally go back to cable.

I think a good knot would fix that problem.   

What's your observations on that or is it only an opinion?

Offline TomT

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 203
  • Location: Ocean Shores
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2016, 01:31:05 PM »
I've used both and in my experience I had more trouble with cable than braid.    Actually to clarify that, I never had any trouble with braid. 
2 cents from a former boat owner. 

Offline Elkrunner

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 2261
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2016, 01:31:26 PM »
Try braid and you'll lose enough gear to finally go back to cable.

This is the first I have heard of a negative comment on braided.  Please enlighten the rookie here as I have braided.  We ran one with braid and the other with cable the other day.  The braided was much quieter.   

Offline Elkrunner

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 2261
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2016, 01:32:12 PM »
How often do you have to replace braided versus cable?

Offline Bill W

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1942
  • Location: Moses Lake
  • Groups: NRA, CBA
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #8 on: March 22, 2016, 01:35:57 PM »
I had a "hot" boat and my wire cable would start to break down after 2 years with saltwater usage.    That, resonance and blowback is why I'm switching to braid.

I'd like to hear from braid users how often they have to swap out, or if it's just cutting off a foot or two and retying a new knot.

Offline Elkrunner

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Nov 2008
  • Posts: 2261
  • Location: Wenatchee
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #9 on: March 22, 2016, 01:36:52 PM »
Also will it last longer if you use it in freshwater only?  I dont plan on going in the salt.

Offline sirmissalot

  • Past Sponsor
  • Trade Count: (+1)
  • Frontiersman
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2011
  • Posts: 3070
  • Location: Shelton, WA
    • chadpburgess@faceboo​k.com
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #10 on: March 22, 2016, 03:06:25 PM »
I've just lost a lot of downrigger balls with braid. One particularly bad day was in westport fishing the beach and dodging crab pots. I was usually running a 15lb ball, but used the heavier of the scotty braided stuff. I've hung up on bottom, crab pots, got balls twisted up due to crazy currents, with cable I usually came out unscathed, braid didn't take much before breaking off, and it wasn't at the knot. Braid is more quiet, but many fishermen believe that hum attracts fish. Just my two cents, I'm certainly no expert but I know I learned my lesson on that one. 

Offline TomT

  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Hunter
  • ***
  • Join Date: Jan 2013
  • Posts: 203
  • Location: Ocean Shores
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #11 on: March 22, 2016, 04:39:50 PM »
I only ran braid about the last 3 years I had my boat.  Fished fresh and salt.  Didn't have to change it out, just cut a little off and retied at the beginning of the season. 

Offline elkaholic123

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+10)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Jun 2008
  • Posts: 1789
  • Location: Lake Stevens
  • Groups: Montana Dirty Dozen,Life member RMEF,NAHC, WSF
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #12 on: March 22, 2016, 05:22:33 PM »
I have seen more problems with cable, if you do go to braid make sure to put a wrap of tape around the empty spool before adding braid, if not it will get sucked in between the split in the spool  :twocents:
elkaholic

Offline Buzz2401

  • Political & Covid-19 Topics
  • Trade Count: (+2)
  • Sourdough
  • *****
  • Join Date: Sep 2013
  • Posts: 1207
  • Location: Shelton
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #13 on: March 22, 2016, 05:24:07 PM »
Braid all the way. Cable needs to be replaced every few years if used in saltwater.  It will show no sign of wear then just snap.  Braid has less drag is quieter and lasts longer.

Offline SpringerFan

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Scout
  • ****
  • Join Date: Sep 2010
  • Posts: 297
  • Location: Redmond, WA
Re: braid or cable on downrigger
« Reply #14 on: March 22, 2016, 05:27:41 PM »
I run cable on an aluminum boat. No problems so far. Don't use a black box and seem to do ok.

I don't think my boat is hot as it is rigged very well.

We caught a blackmouth in the derby last Saturday that placed 16th out of 72 fish.
We don't blame cars for drunk drivers......Why blame guns for violent people...

NRA, Pheasants Forever, WWESSC.....tried to join Washington for Wildlife.org but my IP is banned??? 


 


* Advertisement

* Recent Topics

Rats in RV roof by SHED REAPER
[Today at 03:14:33 PM]


Pinks! by CP
[Today at 03:10:45 PM]


small bears by Threewolves
[Today at 02:59:35 PM]


Best 20 degree and under sleeping bags? by pianoman9701
[Today at 02:44:47 PM]


Montana Antelope Draw by Jimmy33
[Today at 02:41:41 PM]


Looks like it may get wet by bb76
[Today at 12:39:13 PM]


Pork belly street tacos….. by jrebel
[Today at 10:03:22 AM]


Willapa Hills 1 Bear by 7t9cobra
[Today at 08:39:53 AM]


Bowfishing on the Snake River by Angry Perch
[Today at 08:17:06 AM]


M1 garand info needed by Farmer72
[Today at 07:35:34 AM]


Muckleshoot/white river forest hunting permits by trophyhunt
[Today at 06:07:06 AM]


Bighorns & Brews event by GurrCentral
[Yesterday at 09:27:29 PM]


Lots of coho by hookr88
[Yesterday at 08:47:17 PM]


New bear hunter questions! by ghosthunter
[Yesterday at 05:55:20 PM]


How To Get Your $0.00 Tax Stamp - Black Hammer Arms by dreadi
[Yesterday at 05:15:26 PM]


New 2025 CVA Optima ? by VickGar
[Yesterday at 05:07:32 PM]


DR Clips and Braided Mainline by EnglishSetter
[Yesterday at 04:44:05 PM]


Pogue (233) Deer Tag by rmadsen
[Yesterday at 04:08:44 PM]


Heartbroken!!! by brokenvet
[Yesterday at 04:05:19 PM]


2025 Montana alternate list by TT13
[Yesterday at 02:23:51 PM]

SimplePortal 2.3.7 © 2008-2025, SimplePortal