I recently purchased a fishing boat this last spring and put a couple of downriggers on it. In searching for a release I found these on the internet "The Chamberlin Release". It has dual adjustments for the tension, one for vertical and one for horizontal. The advantage: By being able to put a lot of tension on the vertical adjustment I can put a nice bend in my pole which when released springs back and takes up slack fairly quick, but then have light pressure on the horizontal adjustment so that smaller fish can release the line. Let me tell you it works great, I have one on each rigger and won't use anything else. Some might think I posted this as a commercial for his business but I haven't. I just found a really good fishing tool and thought I would be doing everyone a favor to share it. Check it out.
[url "http://www.downriggerrelease.com/index.html"]http://www.downriggerrelease.com/index.html[/url]
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LOL, you are fine Hook_Setter. You are an established member in good standing and we have no problem with you talking about a good product that you have had good success with. Please feel free to post a link to their web site as long as their web site does not have a forum.
The new member that I warned, about posting links, was posting links for no other reason than for advertisment, so that is a big difference.
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Great idea, I hate it when I have put tension on the rod only to have the release let the line go and have to bring the ball up and start all over.
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Thanks I just ordered one. I have the HARDEST time with this. I guess I've just trolled for a long time only to real in an exhausted 1/2 dead little fish. I reel in at random times just to prevent this from happening but hat the whole downrigger ordeal. Especially all the cranking & winding involved. Excited to try it. I hope it works.
Thanks for allowing the link.
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My first DR trip to the Pig - I wondered how many ripped-lipped Kokes I might have left behind. Tricky thing the tension up, and the tension back.
It really does help me having a downrigger rod - just the right kind of flex in the tip, and strength down the shaft. Some average sized Rainbows managed to release pretty well at Hyrum. Though I gotta remember to watch for the weedy area towards the inlet.
Those weeds are not very forgiving. Not like the cabbage stuff at Mantua - slowly pull, and it gives. The stuff at Hyrum is more like branches - solid.
Electric DRs definitely save some effort on the whole cranking business. Plus give quick up/down adjustments. But they've also burned me if the switch gets hit at the wrong time. Have had to respool the wire a few times.
One of the perks of "soaking lures" as you drag them abouts. Especially for Kokes - targetting a specific depth, and being able to return precisely to that depth.
Thanks for the link. I'll have to check them out - sounds like a good system.