Downrigger Question

[Wild BILL]

Am thinking about replacing the stainless steel cable on my downrigger with something other than stainless.I think sometimes the twang, or vibration in the cable turns the fish off.Any comments from anyone who has used them both?

[mlc]

I wish I knew the absolute facts concerning the downrigger wire hum that you are talking about. It used to bother the heck out of me, but it did not seem to bother the fish.

I just read an article somewhere that recommends adding a tennis ball or something similiar between the terminal end of the wire and the end of your boom. The tennis ball would have the stainless wire threaded thru it and would actually be on top of the water when running with downriggers deployed. They said this would eliminate the hum.

Take care,
mlc

[perchjerker]

Maybe Im strange, but that cable hum is music to my ears!!

I dont think it does anything to the fish, might even attract them.

I can see where the tennis ball thing might work. I bowhunt, and there are different things you put on the drawstrings that eliminate the noise from the vibration from the strings in a similar manner.

[Wild Bill]

BTT.Anybody get rid of the wire line because they thought catch ratio would be better with something other than stainless steel wire?

[KevinA]

I've never tried it, but I've read recently that some salt water folks have found 200-250# test PowerPro to work well. One guy in particular was a 15 year veteran of Cannon. May be worth a shot. Wouldn't cost much to find out.

[john stieben]

It is my opinion if the hum of the wire is bothering the fish something else is too and any type of downrigger presentation may not work. Lead length from the release and speed will have more effect, and if you have if you have ever fished salmon or trout; have you wondered why wire lines make work? It may be depth versus super or mono but wire "sings" it has an effect.

[GENETRON]

DO YOU KNOW WHY THOSE DOWNRIGGERS ARE ALWAYS HUMMING? BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW THE WORDS! JUST COULD NOT RESIST THAT ONE. BOO HISS..SERIOUSLY I HAVE USED DOWNRIGGERS FOR MANY MANY YEARS ON WALLEYE ON LAKE OF THE WOODS AND THE FASTER THE BETTER WHEN I AM USING SHAD RAPS. IF I DO NOT HEAR THAT SWEET HIGH PITCHED HUM I KNOW I AM NOT GOING FAST ENOUGH. DICK KNUTSON GENETRON

[REW]

Dick,
In most of your posts, you use caps on your letters.
Your posts would be much easier to read, if you used lower case on your postings.

Thanks in advance.
REW

[GENETRON]

SORRY ABOUT THAT. BUT AS I HAVE EXPLAINED IN MANY POSTS I CANNOT SEE THE SMALL LETTERS. MY EYES ARE SHOT. SO DO NOT TAKE OFFENSE. THANKS DICK KNUTSON GENETRON