Chamberlain Downrigger Releases

[dubob]

I have used braid,  mono, and fluorocarbon and have not run into any issues with the number of twists the release needs or line breakage.

I'm in no way trying to dissuade you or others from using Chamberlains.  They actually make a good product; it just doesn't work for my method of fishing.  I learned my method from a Lake Michigan charter boat captain.  I use a ton of bend/pressure with my rods for maximum hook set pressure on release.  And as I recall, the Chamberlain instructions back then were for 6/7 twists of the line.  I set my fishing reel drags to get the amount of bend in my rods that I wanted.  I could not get the rods to the same bend using braid without going to at least 11/12 line twists.  The braided line would slip without more twists.  Braided line slip is even worse using regular pinch clips.  Therefore, I don't use braided line for DR trolling.  It's great for bass fishing and for deep water jigging where you really don't need or want any line stretch.

I give three twists and clip, works every time for me.

If you're happy, then I'm happy for you - know what I mean Vern?

If I had three-year-old line that is breaking my first instinct would be to blame the line,  not the release.

Ahhh - I never said I was using 3-year old line.  I said I used the Chamberlain releases for 3 years.  My line gets replaced every spring.  And I use good quality, major brand line.  I can see now from my original post where you may have thought the line was used over multiple years - my bad.  I switched to the Chamberlains mid-season the first year, so line breaks weren't common.  Second year they started occurring mid-season and I noticed but didn't really connect the dots.  The 3rd year I noticed earlier in the season and did connect the dots.

If you like them and your fishing methods work with them, by all means, use them.  I just wanted to let others know that there may be some conflicts using them based on how they are used.  Life is good and tight lines and lots of tugs to you.