braid or cable on downrigger

[Bill W]

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.

[huntnphool]

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.

[CP]

Try braid and you will never go back to cable.

[sirmissalot]

Try braid and you'll lose enough gear to finally go back to cable.

[Bill W]

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?

[TomT]

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. 

[Elkrunner]

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.   

[Elkrunner]

How often do you have to replace braided versus cable?

[Bill W]

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.

[Elkrunner]

Also will it last longer if you use it in freshwater only?  I dont plan on going in the salt.

[sirmissalot]

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. 

[TomT]

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. 

[elkaholic123]

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 

[Buzz2401]

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.

[SpringerFan]

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.