Cats on a downrigger

[GetANet]

It's pretty basic but it does take some time getting used to setting up. The biggest thing is taking your time when lowering the ball. Making sure the line is not wrapped around the release and that the tension is set properly. All comes with time and repetition. I troll almost 80 percent of the time and even though people think its boring it is a very productive way to fish. You cover alot of water searching instead of sitting in one spot. And you should adjust you bait or lure when you mark fish on the finder to a foot or two above them rather than just leaving it at one depth all the time. I use a Black's Release and it is excellent with about a foot long steel leader to the ball. This helps with light bites or smaller fish. It gives it rod a little flex and you will see the rod tip bounce. Grab the rod give it a twitch to pop the line free from the release and bury it!! Not all bites are the same but you usually either get the slam and the release pops and its fish on or the other kind I just mentioned. Keep at it and you will reap the rewards. It's great cause you will catch all kinds of fish doing it. Hope the tips help you out..........

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by GetANet

It's pretty basic but it does take some time getting used to setting up. The biggest thing is taking your time when lowering the ball. Making sure the line is not wrapped around the release and that the tension is set properly. All comes with time and repetition. I troll almost 80 percent of the time and even though people think its boring it is a very productive way to fish. You cover alot of water searching instead of sitting in one spot. And you should adjust you bait or lure when you mark fish on the finder to a foot or two above them rather than just leaving it at one depth all the time. I use a Black's Release and it is excellent with about a foot long steel leader to the ball. This helps with light bites or smaller fish. It gives it rod a little flex and you will see the rod tip bounce. Grab the rod give it a twitch to pop the line free from the release and bury it!! Not all bites are the same but you usually either get the slam and the release pops and its fish on or the other kind I just mentioned. Keep at it and you will reap the rewards. It's great cause you will catch all kinds of fish doing it. Hope the tips help you out..........

The first cat I caught I didn't even know it was on. The line was wrapped around the ball. I pulled it up then I noticed a fin on the surface about 15 feet away and still didn't realize that I had a fish on. The I undid the tangle and went to reel in the slack and the thing started taking out drag. That was quite a surprise.

I'll have to check out the Black's Release. mine came with rubber bands which I find to be sort of strange. I saw a Cannon on Amazon but it didn't have the greatest reviews.

[jimmythegreek]

Ive tried all the releases and the BEST by far is the chamberlain. google it, the guy made his own after dealing with our problems. U can set it for a sunny, or a salmon, it works amazing, no draggers ever. If you do any amount of trolling get yourself a terrova with ipilot, its worth every penny and then some. I set mine on autopilot even when using the kicker or main and it keeps you dead straight or an a path you plan out. U can run the riggers and do whatever u need to and it steers/drives, like having a guy runnin the boat for you. I have no problems setting 6-8 trolling lines solo, I have one on each boat I cant fish without it

[Fishon1982]

I am with the geek hands down best release out there with the outward tension to the fish and the tension that u can load the rod with. They also have a stacking release that u can put at different depths and u can fish 4 rods of 2 downriggers and if ur trolling, the terrova is the best tool to have

[GetANet]

The GEEK WTF ?????? LOVE Jimmy like a brother amd we agree on almost everythiing.
I never had the need because they work so great for me to ever try any others.
Hoping it was a typo!

[Fishon1982]

Haha typo was performed on the one didn't even notice sry man

[GetANet]

Yea i knew that i just like to break balls once in a while!!!:d:d:d:d:d