Downrigger Release

[bruceb58]

Putting a downrigger on my pontoon boat for freshwater fishing. Will be trolling for rainbows and some get pretty small so wondering what is the best release that will work with small fish.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Downrigger Release

At the risk of sounding extremely sarcastic, a small one?
Seriously, I would first ask what kind of downrigger you run, how heavy the weight and expected weight of target fish. I run Scotty electrics and 10# balls most all of the time. I switch between the lightest releases that Scotty makes for Kokanee and Sockeye but bump up the the big release for King Salmon and Halibut.
The type of rod you use makes a difference too. For example, my Kokanee rod is fiberglass and floppy as heck. Even with the lightest releases clipped at the very end, it sometimes doesn't pop when I get a fish on. On the other hand, my Halibut rod is stiff as rebar and it pops every time a fish hits. Different fish, different rods.....lots of variables to consider. Even with the lightest release, you might have to keep a keen eye on your rod tip. But that's why we fish, right?

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Downrigger Release


Bruce, note how much "pre-load" I use with a fiberglass rod. That helps get proper release when it gets hit and actually acts to "set the hook" as the rod flexes back after the release. In the picture, I'm using the smallest Scotty release, 12# test line and trolling about 60' deep. Even then, the darn fish will sometimes not pop the release yet fight like maniacs once I get em hooked.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Downrigger Release

Putting a downrigger on my pontoon boat for freshwater fishing. Will be trolling for rainbows and some get pretty small so wondering what is the best release that will work with small fish.

Are you talking about rainbow trout?
If so why would you be using down-riggers on small fish like that. It isn't like they are deep.Put a Rappela or hot-n-tot on and depending how deep you want it to go will depend on the spoon size. I don't even know if you could get a release to work that light.

 

[Teamster]

Re: Downrigger Release

Anything less than 50 feet I use either inline trolling weights,..

Or snap weights,...

Much easier than running downriggers,

And I can run them out on inline Offshore planner boards,...

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Downrigger Release

Are you talking about rainbow trout?

Yes, it is very common on this lake even tough you are only fishing 30 feet or so. I know all the guides use them. I already have a downrigger so I just need to make a mount so there is relatively no cost. Many people uses leaded line but I like the idea of the downrigger and 4lb test with no weight.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Downrigger Release

Yes, it is very common on this lake even tough you are only fishing 30 feet or so. I know all the guides use them. I already have a downrigger so I just need to make a mount so there is relatively no cost. Many people uses leaded line but I like the idea of the downrigger and 4lb test with no weight.

Your still going to need weight with 4lb test fishing at those depths.Or lead line. Without weight 4lb is going to float on top. Are you using lures or live bait?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Downrigger Release

Your still going to need weight with 4lb test fishing at those depths.Or lead line. Without weight 4lb is going to float on top. Are you using lures or live bait?

Lures. Down rigger is going to place it at the correct depth. Will have around 20 to 30 ft between ball and lure.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Downrigger Release

Lures. Down rigger is going to place it at the correct depth. Will have around 20 to 30 ft between ball and lure.

Ok. Misunderstood your application. I didn't think you were using a ball for some reason:facepalm::facepalm:

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Downrigger Release

Ok. Misunderstood your application. I didn't think you were using a ball for some reason:facepalm::facepalm:

No problem. I have never heard of a downrigger used without a ball.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Downrigger Release

There are many options on releases and the release choice can depend on the type of line you use.

Mono will stay in jaws of pinch type clamp rather well, so the small scotty clamps are used a great deal for trout with mono, but braid doesn't hold as well so the larger clamp may work a little better. The larger clamp has two clamping settings for different pressure, plus you can move the line deeper or shallower in the clamp to adjust pressure, so it can work for small fish to, I use the large clamps for everything. Small fish don't often release on the their own even with small clamp type releases.

There are many other brands and styles though, some take more time and care to get the line attached, and at times they are needed for faster trolling and greater depths where the clamp style may not hold braid very well.

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Downrigger Release

Google "Roemer release". There a lot of downrigger releases out there and I've tried a bunch and they all work. By far after 25+ years of testing a lot of them I've found the best is the roemer. I can set it to use 4 to 6lb line and catch small walleye and trout or use it on 25 to 30lb line, or even use lead or copper line with a dodger and fly down 150 feet for kings at 3.5mph. I've even pulled dipsey's with them when I need to get really deep and out to the side. You can put a lot of top pressure on it and it will still release a small fish every time. I often stack lines on the same cable and they never slip and will release the cable and slide down when resetting with just a tap on the downrigger pulley. Bring your wallet but they are worth every penny. Another nice thing is that if you break one you can buy a cheap repair kit and not have to throw it all away.

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Downrigger Release

Thanks for the tip, George. I ordered one to try out!

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Downrigger Release

Thanks for the tip, George. I ordered one to try out!

Who did you order from?

 

[blackhawk180]

Re: Downrigger Release

fishusa.com
I'm pretty sure the new release will arrive well before my opportunity to test it out on the water. Darn snow has returned.
A through inspection by all my fishing buddies over a few cold ones will be in order. Based on said inspection, several more might be purchased soon after.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Downrigger Release

When I used to fish for Kokanee on Lake Tahoe, we used the Penn release that mounted to the downrigger. We would drown a few small ones because the release was not an accurate adjust.

Water is so clear in Tahoe that if you saw a school of fish at 100 feet, you could look over the side and see them.

Also noticed I never answered the question about what down rigger I am using. I have a few Penn Fathomasters that I had around. Going to use one of them. We used to fish up in Canada all the time for salmon with them. At the time, they were the best downriggers out there.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Downrigger Release

As you can see, there are many options on releases.

There are techniques for each release and type of fish too

I've used most of the releases on the market, I also use Penn Fathomasters on one boat.

The key to using the Scotty, or any clamp type release is to run a long leash (line from the release to the cable or ball), I run a 4 to 6' length of 200lb mono. This long leash allows even small fish to bounce the rod a great deal so there is no dragging them around until they die. It also allows you to easily clip your line back into the release because you can pull the clip into the boat. I fish for Kokanee and large Salmon with the same setup. This isn't the only way, just a method that works well for me.

 

[rolmops]

Re: Downrigger Release

There is an easy way to fix that problem.
You can take a small scotty release, but instead of using 12 inch of line between the release and the ball,you use 30 inch. don't set the line in the clip,but use a rubber band twisted around your line about 5 times and set both ends of the rubber band in the scotty releasewith the lure about 10 foot behind the release.
You do not have to load you rod ,just make sure that there is a fair amount of tension on the line,enough to bend the rod just a bit. This will cause the release to be pulled up by the fishing line. When a fish hits ,it will pull on the line and you will see your rod start shaking. that is all you need to set the hook. Now give a good pull. this will either break or release the rubber band and you are in business.

Instead of one down rigger,use two. It will enable you to run a program

 

[ADK Fishunter]

Re: Downrigger Release

Here is a link to the best release out there.
Down Rigger Release Chamberlain Release

 

[bruceb58]

So I tried the Roemer release...not impressed. I just bought a Chamberlain and a Scotty and will try those.