tattle flag spring replacement

[jake]

a while back my brother was remarking about the lack of consistency and tunability in the springs on the offshore tattle flags and the store bought springs we use for replacements. He posed the question of using some other method of working the flag.
I went to work on it and after sorting through quite a few different materials and products I settled on trolling rubber bands. Weldon packages 2 different strength bands. I use different combinations to make them tunable for different cranks, bouncers, inline weights, ect. Using a pair of #2 duolock snaps with the locking portion of the snap clipped off I can attach the bands to the boards. One clip goes in the flag hole and the other in the bottom hole in the front edge of the board. The second gets bent over so that it lays flat against the board. The bands are then stretched between them. The setup works very well and has been given the stamp of approval by a pro that we fish with. i also added a thill bobber light to the flag so i can see the boards at night. i picked up the rubber bands at dicks and the bobber lights at walmart. i posted pictures on the photo page so you can see one set up.

"ya' don't need a weathervane to know which way the wind blows"

[mallardmofia]

I had noticed that on the new set of flags I bought the spring was way too light to pull decent size cranks even when placed in the lowest hole. My set that is a couple years old works just fine. I called and sent them in and they said they will replace them so weel see what happens. Rubber bands sounds like a good idea but do you have to change strengths of bands when going from small to large cranks?

[jake]

i've found that 3 of the brown bands work for small cranks. i use more for big cranks and bouncers. you have to add and subtract for what you're running, but it's consistent and tunable.
"ya' don't need a weathervane to know which way the wind blows"

[Marble Eyes]

If you check the archieves you will find posts regarding this issue.

What I did, along with others is get a small drill bit and drill a couple of more holes up the flag arm. When using harnesses and shallow diving cranks set spring in lowest hole.

When running Jets or deep diving cranks move spring to hole up higher on the flag arm. One spring many settings. :)

[jake]

i'm completly familiar with the spring problem. in both my brothers and my cases we have found the springs to not work very well. the solution i came up with works for both of us, so i'm posting it here for others to see too. if it works better for them, fine. if not they can go back to the spring, the board will be unchanged the total cost to try it out is less than $5.


"ya' don't need a weathervane to know which way the wind blows"

[perchjerker]

I personally do like Marble Eyes, I dont have any problems with the springs either.

But I think its a great idea and I appreciate you taking the time to share it with us, Jake.

[Czar]

When I run a harder diving crankbait that pulls the flag down I sometimes use some of my wifes hair ties. I loop the tie threw itself around the flag and put the tie in the pre-cut notch on the board. Works great and very inexpensive.

[fatboy]

Jake great idea ! I do like the rest of the folks but we are all looking for a better mouse trap.

[jake]

by all means. check it out. it's a cheap experiment. i know i'm catching more fish and dragging around a lot less dinks and salad.

"ya' don't need a weathervane to know which way the wind blows"

[Netminder]

I have been using the rubber bands for over a year and have found it to be very effective. Adjusting the flag tension couldn’t be easier. If you go to a bait that pulls harder or lighter or you have wave conditions causing problem, you can quickly add or remove a band or two to adjust for the changes. In calm conditions I'll adjust to let the flag run at half-mast so I can tell if I’m picking up the slightest weed on a lure. I think you will see this modification a lot more in the near future. The greatest asset of this alteration is, all my boards are very consistent which you cant get with the springs. I have checked the flag pull down force with springs and rubber bands and the bands win hands... or should I say "Flags Down". Give it a try, if you don’t like the results the boards and flags are not physically changed so you can go back to the springs.
Netminder

"Learn from the mistakes of others, because you won't live long enough to make them all yourself"


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