Down Rigger Releases

[Nailer]

While down to the Sport Fishing Show in Grand Rapids I had the chance to talk to the Captions from Best Chance Charters. I told him we where having a lot of fish get off after they hit. They came to the conclusion that should replace our Releases. They thought the Blacks Releases where the best. Do any of you have an opinion on this ?

Thanks, Ken.

[fish-on]

thats what i run

[double trouble]

I use offshore and a rubber band. you can see the fish hits faster with a rubber band than any other method. that way you can get to the rod , jerk it out ,reel up to the fish ,and not slack the line. very effective. we almost doubled our hit to catch rate this way.

blacks are good because you can adjust them and they stay. for a beginner I would rate my method a bit better.here is why. a charter captain has a better sense of when a fish hits that the average guy would not see. the rubber band telegraphs the hit more. easier to spot.

[Midway97]

While down to the Sport Fishing Show in Grand Rapids I had the chance to talk to the Captions from Best Chance Charters. I told him we where having a lot of fish get off after they hit. They came to the conclusion that should replace our Releases. They thought the Blacks Releases where the best. Do any of you have an opinion on this ?

Thanks, Ken.

I ran the Blacks for while also, good release overall, only thing I recommend is to check the bend in the release clip fairly often, Mine ended up wearing a groove in it and started chaffing the line. Since then I use either the walker or a rubber band release.
p.s. you can also use a rubber band in the blacks release if you wear a groove.

[adam bomb]

I use a hook style release w/rubberbands that i made out of 1/8" aluminum welding wire...they work excellent. You can really crank the rod down well with them. And you dont have to worry about setting the depth into the release or it not releasing etc...I prefer it over pad style releases...but, everyone has something that works for them, and thats what matters most....but if your gonna run a release, then offshore is the best. We use offshore for planer boards too. Great releases.

[Fixin' to Fish]

The walker releases work fantastically once they are dialed in correctly.
The band busters are great too, but really can get messy with all of the broken bands all over the boat and in the bilge pump. However, if the band fails to break you end up seeing a fish jumping right behind the boat and you wonder which pole the fish is on.

[Nailer]

Thanks all.

[SalmonSlayer]

What size of rubber band do you all use? There are different strengths of rubber bands, so whether it breaks or not upon a fish hitting is dependent upon the size of the rubber band.

[BFG]

One thing for sure, when a Black's release lets go...there is a fish on the line. Great release.

BFG

[Reel_Screamer86]

What size of rubber band do you all use? There are different strengths of rubber bands, so whether it breaks or not upon a fish hitting is dependent upon the size of the rubber band. I use Big Jon band buster with a no. 5 band at least that's what the bag says on it at Staples, they hold good and we can really load the rod on the rigger.. Just my $.02

[Midway97]

What size of rubber band do you all use? There are different strengths of rubber bands, so whether it breaks or not upon a fish hitting is dependent upon the size of the rubber band.

I'm using the Pro Release, from Fishbone Charters. It comes with a fairly decent size bag of #16 bands and if you need more there like $3. a pound at staples and you get alot of bands in a pound. Just store them in your fridge and take out what you think you'll need when you hit the lake.

[greelhappy]

I save the little blue rubber bands that come with strore bought green onions. I always did feel that a band helps set the hook a little better because of that extra second of pull by the fish. Those green onion bands may look flimsy but they do the job.

[Hunt4Ever]

I use the OffShore Medium tension releases (the black ones) for salmon. I adjust the tension by placing the line deeper in the release or more toward the front.

The heavier the line you use on your downrigger rods the heavier the downrigger releases you should use.

[SalmonSlayer]

I'm using the Pro Release, from Fishbone Charters. It comes with a fairly decent size bag of #16 bands and if you need more there like $3. a pound at staples and you get alot of bands in a pound. Just store them in your fridge and take out what you think you'll need when you hit the lake.


Why store them in the fridge?