Black Box Fish attractor

[Mark_VTfisherman]

I posted an inquiry in "electronics" but didn't get a discussion (one guy responded), so the thought occurred to me to post in the fishing section...duh:redface:

Has anyone here built their own "black box" electronic trolling tool? Or have comments on the "Amazing Fish Catching Secret" [sic] ads for plans to make the device?

I would like to build my own with a couple of mods to the consensus design, but the only threads I have found here are from 5 years back with not much more than links to ProTroll's and Scotty's websites.

Basically, I would like to participate in discussion about your experiences with the devices for one, and secondly, I would like to know if the "plans" available out there are even worth buying. I don't even know what they (plans) cost- I always got sick of the link-after-link clicking through the "testimonial pages." I've been online since '95 and I get sick of looking when what I want to find is obfuscated.

Yes, I could just "conform" and buy one, but I want to make my own even if costs the same $100 as the Protroll, but from the one plan I have (insufficient to use- works, but is not regulated or metered) it looks like I can build it OK.

Anyone have experience with building and/or using?

 

[catfishcharlie]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

yes, there were some of them things going around the plant a few years back. I didnt get involved since I wasnt part of that unit but I know what they are...I prefer dynomite myself...he he No, I dont support that type of thing...I like to hook em in the mouth. But, I have this tens unit for my back and I thought that thing would probably work too. But Like I said I dont support that type of thing!



(is this a test? hope I passed)

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

yes, there were some of them things going around the plant a few years back. I didnt get involved since I wasnt part of that unit but I know what they are...I prefer dynomite myself...he he No, I dont support that type of thing...I like to hook em in the mouth. But, I have this tens unit for my back and I thought that thing would probably work too. But Like I said I dont support that type of thing! (is this a test? hope I passed)

I like...explosives...too. But I am not talking about red-neck poaching here.

The idea is that all boats- or at least most- have a charge, or electrical field while in the water. Certain voltages attract fish, others repel them.

The black box is a way of forcing or controlling what the actual voltage of a given boat is. You don't electro shock or stun the fish with it

 

[slasmith1]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

Is any fish worth adding electrical current around your boat and speeding up electrolysis I can buy and catch lots of fish for the price of a new out drive.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

I tend to look at this as "snake oil" ......... I can not imagine that a fiberglass boat puts out any true measurable charge.

If you get a high end electric meter it is true that everything has "some" trace of voltage....... I am a firm believer in choosing the right bait, right color for the circumstances.

A quality fishfinder helps too!

Mark have you ever seen the VT States "Electric Fishing Boat" that fish and wildlife uses to catch and count fish. It's a 20 foot aluminum boat with warning signs that they are "electro shock" fishing. They stun the monsters and net them....... measure them and toss them back.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Black Box (long post)

Re: Black Box (long post)

Is any fish worth adding electrical current around your boat and speeding up electrolysis I can buy and catch lots of fish for the price of a new out drive.

You may be able to buy or catch a lot of fish for the price of an outdrive, but we're not talking about trading boat fixtures for fish although on lost-tackle days it seems that way!! This fish I catch are probably quite expensive by the pound, especially when you factor in the weight of the ones we catch and release

All boats have a "static" voltage when in an electrolyte (water). That is why we have zinc anodes on our boats and outdrives, and why we bond our wiring, and why manufacturers sell electric "cathode" devices for boats that are moored or slipped in non-use. The static voltage may be different while running than while powered down, or connected to shore power, but it exists. On my boat it is basically non-existent, but I have not measured it under all circumstances or while actually trolling.

This current, however low, is what causes galvanic corrosion (sometimes caused electrolysis). The black box does not increase this galvanic action on its own- depending on the boat and the specific voltage created. The black box may actually reduce the voltage field of some boats, while others may increase, but that should only effect the zinc anode. The black box is merely installed inline on the "circuit," forcing the voltage into the exact range desired with an adjustable control. The current is milliamps, not enough to shock, stun, or immobilize a fish, but enough to do whatever it is that attracts the fish (maybe it simulates the field created by baitfish??). The voltage output is often times less than the static "natural" voltage of many boats according to what I have read. That should reduce electrolysis (galvanic corrosion).

I am completely confident about the electrical field created by a boat in the water (I can measure it, anodes prove it exists), and that the "black box" can modify this. What I am not confident about is the plans to build one and its practical use.

I am looking for information about building one, anyone's actual experiences with the "plans" offered on the 'net, and what people who have used the devices have discovered when using them. Local captains who use them won't talk about them, and I don't know anyone personally who uses one.

Thanks for your responses- I hope I am not the only one learning here

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

.... I can not imagine that a fiberglass boat puts out any true measurable charge

Mine does not- since I got rid of the old 1964 Johnson I have never even seen my anode pitted.

...I am a firm believer in choosing the right bait, right color for the circumstances...

I agree, but scents and other attractants (dodgers, trolls, echip) sometimes have their place. Caught enough fish in recent years that I am sort of looking for a different element to change the challenge. Most input I have is that when the fishing is good, people can't tell the difference, but when it is bad...one guy claimed a 4:1 catch rate (based on an email regarding his boat, verses the others in a nearly fishless salmon tournament) on a really low-catch weekend after he turned on his black box.

A quality fishfinder helps too!

Are you trying to say I should replace my trusty Eagle Fish ID that I purchased in 1995?!! But it has 100 vertical pixel count!

Mark have you ever seen the VT States "Electric Fishing Boat" that fish and wildlife uses to catch and count fish. It's a 20 foot aluminum boat with warning signs that they are "electro shock" fishing. They stun the monsters and net them....... measure them and toss them back.

Yes. The first time I saw it was one of the three summers I lived at Woodbury Lake. My camper was about 25' from the water. So in the dark, 10pm, this ghostly, brightly lit, noisy thing comes into the cove where I lived. I thought it was some nut with an airboat, but I walked out to the dock to check it out (was going to yell at 'em and realized the noise was actually generator running (probably to run the 500W floodlights). They were shocking largemouth that night- don't know if they counted any trout. (Woodbury was often very warm on top, and holy-smokes-cold about 6 or 8 feet down)

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

I've looked at the Pro-Troller and the Scotty Black box and have also read the section in the Scotty downrigger book on this.

I've measure the voltage on my boat between the hull and the downrigger cable and I am consistently between .6 and .7 volts, right where I'm supposed to be for trout and Kokanee, so I have not bought a unit.

Here is the Scotty booklet on this

http://www.scotty.com/marine/support/PDF/BBox Booklet 2003.pdf

Sorry, but I am no help in the build it question but I do know what you are asking.

Note that this little voltage will not make much difference on an anode, but boats do all make some current.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Black Box Fish attractor

Thanks for the input. I have a protroll manual, which says about the same things.

I have some plans now for a device that puts out the voltage... I think I am going to build it to try. Won't have a chance to try it for four months or so as the surface tension on the water is a little stiff right now LOL