Rubber bands on down riggers?

[dma_ayotte]

Im just getting back into a new boat getting down riggers n such. Just wanted to know ppls take on Rubber bands. Is it just for the slippage? Thx for any advice.
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[VNCowboy]

I like to use the rubber bands on my downriggers. I let outthe line i want behind the boat. When I get to that point i hook up the rubber band in the line andthen into the snubber and run the rigger down to where i want it to be be.

The rubber line band seems to set the hook better as it springs backm and helps set the hook and keep it set.

i bring the rigg up unsap the rubber band and the finish reel in the line. The rubber band goes through the reel usally with the no problem.

i buy them by the bag each year from office max.

try it you will like it
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[Tazasorus]

Never used the rubber bands myself on my rigger. Have found that if I let out minimal amount of line before I attach, say twenty to thiry feet there is no bow in line and really bend the rod when you set up. It doesn't miss hooking fish very often.
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[dma_ayotte]

Do you use the rubber band in place of the clamps? Or are u clamping straight to the rubberband? I guess my question is. Rubberband right off weight? Or right from the clamp? Thx.
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[Got_Bait]

Boy, all of this is sounding very intriguing to me, but I guess I am a more-on, because I just cant visualize what you guys are talking about here.

I have just been clamping my line in the Scotty clamps that came with my downriggers. It takes a couple tries to determine how far into the clamp pinchers to put the line, but once you get it down it seems to work pretty good.

I know some clamps are better than others, but if there is a better way of doing things, I would like to give it a try.
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[VNCowboy]

I hook the rubber band into the clamp jaws from the downrigger. i have used it from Hebgen, to jackson lake to Ririe.

i have a down rigger on each corner I run at different depths and different lures. The wife fishes with normal trolloing mode right down the middle between the riggers. Caught a lot of fish doing this.

Suprise is Ririe is one of the best places to fish this system. We have some nice and big fish. Haven't done it for a few and looking forward to doing it again this year.
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[Got_Bait]

Okay, I am almost there then. But how do you hook the line to the rubber band?

What type of fish are you talking at Ririe?
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[VNCowboy]

It depends on the days. We have caught trout up to five pounds, 14-16 perch and big koke's.

i grew up fishing at Canyon Ferry in mt . We fished there every year for over 40 years. It is a great perch fishery We never caught a perch trolling.

A slow day on Ririe is 8-10 and a good day is 18-20. They hit the bells hard and fight all the way in hard.

i am going to try to catch one of the elusive walleye up there. I would quit eating trout in a heart beat for a walleye. Fished eyes in the Bighorn lake and Canyon Ferry for years.

I ahve some ideas on where to start looking and will work from there. I will throw the tackle boxes at it till i fiqure out what works. It may be hard to give up the secrete once i find it.
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[VNCowboy]

I forgot the rubber band to line hookup.

I wrap the band around the line and then slide on end through the other end opening. i then pull the band tight.

Hooking thenrubber band to the rigger is simple in mynway of doing it. I hook the rubber band into the jaws on he rigger. It takes a few tries to find out on how far on into the jaws to hook the band.


[fishon]
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[dma_ayotte]

Gotcha thx again.
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[Jimbojump]

I don't see the point here....I have fished DR's for the last 2 years and have no problems with the clips or losing fish....everyone always seems to lose a lot of fish...I don't get it...maybe bad hooks? Maybe wrong style of hooks? what gives?
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[MMDon]

[quote Jimbojump]I don't see the point here....I have fished DR's for the last 2 years and have no problems with the clips or losing fish....everyone always seems to lose a lot of fish...I don't get it...maybe bad hooks? Maybe wrong style of hooks? what gives?[/quote]

A voice of reason! Rubber bands really? Why? I fished with DR's for 20 years and fish with over a hundred fishermen that do the same. Good DR clips allow adjustability for line tension, ease of line attaching for resets, leash lengths suited for retrieval and just about anything else required. A rubber band seems a bit arcane in the science of depth fishing.
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[Tazasorus]

I've noticed that guys that go by me won't have as much pressure on their rod set as I use. When that fish hits your rod still needs to set the hook. I take the excess line up to a point that my rod is bent in the riggerholder big time. When that fish hits and releases my line, my rod will pop up a good two feet, just like you would set the hook if it were in you hands. Fish shouldn't be getting away often with a rigger.
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[MMDon]

You should be fishing with a rod and set up that allows you to "load the rod" in the clip. Besides taking up slack in the geometry of rod to hook, it allows you to read the rod tip. Reading the rod tip means being able to tell if your lure is running correctly or if it's fouled by tangle, moss or a small fish. You can also look at your rod tip and line angle and get a very clear picture of your speed at depth vs. GPS or water wheel speed.

The amount of clip pressure for release is actually used for the hook set. The fish slashes at the lure and the resistance and boat speed sets the hook before the fishes weight may or may not release.

Personally I don't want the fish releasing by itself unless it's huge. I find that by removing the rod from the rod holder and pulling up for the release while reeling I'm able to get fish to rod much faster than if the fish is free swimming with a premature release. Bringing the fish to the rod yourself will result in many more hook ups and many less lost fish.
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[VNCowboy]

I load my rod when using the DR's. With out loading them would be a defeat in the use of the DR's.

Also I have used rubber snubbers on cowbell's, flashers and other rigs. This use of the snubbers has worked on alot of hooups and fish retained.

The rubber bands on the DR's are a subtle variation to that. Yes 20 years ago i wouldn't have never thought of using rubber bands.

Howeverwith age and trying to learn the tricks the big boys use on jackson,yellowstone lake and other deep water lakes i have had to evolve.

i have watched the new tricks kick my old schol butt so many times i had to use the new tech or sink.

Whatever works for one person may not work for someone else. However which way works don't knock it and use what works for you.

[fishon]
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[VNCowboy]

Forgot one thing.

Most fish around here don't Slash at the bait. They tend to suck it in slowly.

Now if you are fishing for Lakers, big salmon,etc they will slash and either take the bait and run or miss. Now fishing for these fish is not the typicall fish people around here use DR's for.

People want to get down to the depth of the fish and put the lures in front of them. Without a DR you couldn't normally use enough leaded line to get down to the fish in most lakes here. Depending on where you are on Ririe leade line won't work due the lake stucture, other boats and wind.

DR's allow you to bypass those features and spend more time with the bait in the fish's avenue to be shopping for dinner.

[fishon]
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[Jimbojump]

[quote MMdon]Personally I don't want the fish releasing by itself unless it's huge. I find that by removing the rod from the rod holder and pulling up for the release while reeling I'm able to get fish to rod much faster than if the fish is free swimming with a premature release. Bringing the fish to the rod yourself will result in many more hook ups and many less lost fish.[/quote]
Mmdon..I couldn't agree more...the fish takes the lure and the rod bounces...I grab it reel down and pop it out of the clip with a quick jerk and reel fast to draw up slack...then I loosen my drag a bit so that when the fish shakes its head he strips line instead of pulling hooks out of his face....and I use 30 lb braid main line...gave up on snubbers long ago...very seldom lose a fish...
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[Jimbojump]

Then also...I use very parabolic rods to go easy on the fishes mouth....
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[VNCowboy]

I want to clear up something that maybe I led into with the rubber bands on the DR's.

I very rarely have a fish come loose from the DR until I loosen the rubber band from the DR. I have caught fish up to 10 lbs and they have stayed on until I release the rubber band.

the rubber bands work better than you would think.

I have lost more fish by not using snubbers than I want to. I have a 90% hookup on snubbers and that is why the rubber bands.

Thus end the rubber vs not sermon

[fishon]

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[Jimbojump]

Wow....and I thought the purpose of having a forum was to promote conversation...apparently not...sorry our posts were interpreted as sermons...I guess I won't chime in when you have already posted as your opinion is apparently the end all to all discussions..Lol...later...
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