wayne marwood
Crew Member
what do you use on your downrigger do you use the plactic hook or ty it on with cord
downrigger hooks
- Thread starter wayne marwood
- Start date
tubber
Well-Known Member
big coast lock snap to bungee if bouncing bottom or a large loop in gangen through the ball eye over ball and choked on if fishing shallow (like for sockeyes). I don't trust the black plastic hooks/snaps.
http://www.spro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SBSCLB-ALL
http://www.spro.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=SBSCLB-ALL
Don’t like them but they have their strengths and a major weakness and still may occasionally use them. The upside is that it is fast and easy to slip a ball on and get the gear down quick especially if it is early morning first gear drop and you are trying to catch the end of an early bite and for those who for some medical or other reason have weak finger strength especially with cold fingers. The ability to get set up fast and move location if necessary to catch a bite and get up and down fast and reset fast is one of the small and many reasons some catch more than others and they knock off a few seconds were every second contributes to that speed.
The downside is that the plastic piece that keeps the ball on from the natural springiness of the plastic cause it to close tight. Unfortunately over time the more they are used they lose that springiness. Eventually they don’t close tight and leaves a gap or are just weak and the weight of the ball can push them open. This becomes a problem if you are bottom bouncing or on occasion end up dragging a ball across the sand/gravel for a short time by accident or on purpose. The ball can then either jump up and right off the hook if bottom bounced or if dragged, the ball will slide up and off the hook and in a both cases the ball is gone (been there done that). I guess if you have weak finger strength, have the magical ability to always keep your balls off the bottom and are willing to catch a few less fish in some circumstances or have the will power to swap them out and throw them away before the get weak ( it happens rather fast) and start losing balls that solves the problem, but few do including me ( now there is a rather poorly written run on sentence). For me a good metal terminal tackle that once closed and locked will not loses balls is the way to go and worth the few extra seconds it takes to close it.
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Rob H
Active Member
I have been using the blue Scotty shock absorbers as the terminal end on my three downriggers for several years now. They have a clip for attaching the cannonball (on the end) just like your release clip end to attach to the rigger cable. I touch/drag bottom often (especially in winter) and haven't lost a cannonball yet do to hitting bottom. These clips make attaching/removing the cannonballs from the rigger very quick and easy, love them!
...Rob
...Rob
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
I go from braid tied to gangion tied directly to a black Scotty clip. I have eliminated all hardware, stops, absorbers etc....
Been using this this for years and will not be going back
Been using this this for years and will not be going back
SpringVelocity
Crew Member
same again...btw thanks Owen this is a year now fishing all year round... I run nothing but braid/gagnion no need for any hardware...
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
I used to tie right on to the ball but now use just the Scotty black clip for 2 reasons. One is for ease and secondly it will drop the ball I believe at 70lbs force saving you braided line and release clip etc.... Stainless clips wont give way costing you much more then just a ball.
I also tie a knot in my gangion just above where my release clip will attach so it can not slide up. If it slides up it will hit the pulley on your rigger and fall off costing you more money. I don't care if it ever slides down, just don't want it to hit the pulley and sink into the abyss.
I also tie a knot in my gangion just above where my release clip will attach so it can not slide up. If it slides up it will hit the pulley on your rigger and fall off costing you more money. I don't care if it ever slides down, just don't want it to hit the pulley and sink into the abyss.
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Dennis.t
Active Member
Whew! Just changed out my metal clips to plastic ones...
jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
I like the coast-lock snap attached to the scotty snubber which has the release style clip attached to the ball, I run cable so if I smack bottom I will just lose the ball and the snubber and hopefully the coast-lock clip and line release clip will come back to the surface with the line. in theory anyway. I have lost two cannon balls this year , one of Sculpin's and one of Albernifishers... neither of which hit bottom,both on braided line...huh...weird... fugly-boat never lost one ball all year. my next boat will also be rigged with cable... 
Dennis.t
Active Member
Oh oh, just switched to braid. Wanted to eliminate the need for a black box.I like the coast-lock snap attached to the scotty snubber which has the release style clip attached to the ball, I run cable so if I smack bottom I will just lose the ball and the snubber and hopefully the coast-lock clip and line release clip will come back to the surface with the line. in theory anyway. I have lost two cannon balls this year , one of Sculpin's and one of Albernifishers... neither of which hit bottom,both on braided line...huh...weird... fugly-boat never lost one ball all year. my next boat will also be rigged with cable...
jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
there are many benefits to braid, les blowback, ease of re-attaching balls n such, but if they don't break off there is no need to re attach, cable for this guy
Seafever
Well-Known Member
This how I roll.....
The line is Ganon....about ten feet or so and then connected to d/line with a Uni-Knot....
I tie in knots at certain intervals where the clip goes so it won't slide ( you can see them in the pic).....I have these knots tied in at certain places so I'm not limited to where I want to put the clip.
Ive never lost a ball off the Scotty clip nor have I ever had one break.
I like a swivel or two in there because if the c/ball spins I don't want it transferring up the line.
I've never used those rubber snubbers....IMO they are a waste of time.....
The line is Ganon....about ten feet or so and then connected to d/line with a Uni-Knot....
I tie in knots at certain intervals where the clip goes so it won't slide ( you can see them in the pic).....I have these knots tied in at certain places so I'm not limited to where I want to put the clip.
Ive never lost a ball off the Scotty clip nor have I ever had one break.
I like a swivel or two in there because if the c/ball spins I don't want it transferring up the line.
I've never used those rubber snubbers....IMO they are a waste of time.....
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tykkyt e blue
Well-Known Member
FA - do you ever have issues w the braid cutting into the gangion? What style of knot do you use for this connection? I have been planning to switch away from snubbers and SS clips for the same reasons
I go from braid tied to gangion tied directly to a black Scotty clip. I have eliminated all hardware, stops, absorbers etc....
I go from braid tied to gangion tied directly to a black Scotty clip. I have eliminated all hardware, stops, absorbers etc....
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
Way to many weak links there Seafever. With all that steel you may as well just go back to steel line.
Fish Assassin
Crew Member
I just use a pallimer knot and pull the gangion thru the knot. Then l use a bowline to attach the black Scotty ball clip. Never had any issues.
I use #48 white hard lay gangion. If any of you want my help setting this up and want to bring your riggers by ill set you up for free.
Seafever
Well-Known Member
I've been using that rig for I don't know how long......never had an issue yet....ever ever ever....the metal connections and downrigger get thoroughly washed with fresh water and checked for corrosion after every trip out........
This is the knot I use for connecting Ganon to main.......
This is the knot I use for connecting Ganon to main.......
Attachments
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SpringVelocity
Crew Member
I never do either. I retie every six months and inspect regularly.. If you run braid you don't need all this hardware your fine without it.
its really a personal preference... but all those clips/snaps you don't really need them. I use a palomar knot that is tied right on the gagnion. overhand knot to stop clip...another one so release clip won't slide up...And a loop at end to attach ball. No hardware and I have not black clip on mine at all. So it spins all the time at that knot where it connects. I would say a year of heavy use should be proof enough. Mind you I use power pro braid ...That stuff is very strong.
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jeffywestcoast
Well-Known Member
"Mind you I use power pro braid ...That stuff is very strong." I dunno it ain't very strong if it touches the sharp edge of you main motor prop while running on the kicker and making a turn..Also seen it break from someone setting the break to hard after letting the gear back down..... Don't like the braid myself and won't be switching to it in the future.
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