Down rigger diagnostics. Major malfunction

A cut could definitely show strand separation like that. It looks like it was cut to me. Who is your worst enemy? Sabotage!

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Well I ordered a new weight on amazon. It is supposed to arrive Friday. I'll have to go up to Fishermans warehouse in Sacto to get the rest of the stuff in time. I think I'll get some duplicate parts just in case. Maybe I can hang the spare weight on the other side of my kayak to offset the downrigger weight. When I stopped by the local tackle shop today I saw some braided downrigger line. 175 or 200 lb test 200ft. Maybe I should switch to that.

If you can't find one I have an extra clip I can bring hit me up I'm in site 79

I just picked up my down rigger today from Fisherman's Warehouse on Folsom...I was hoping they would give me a NCKA discount, but when I asked they said no! Couldn't believe that, especially after spending a good chunk of change there.

Got a box of the 175lb Scotty Power Braid, 200 ft worth (it's all they had besides 400 ft) but now I'm wondering if that was overkill. Also got a 2.5 lb "fish style" weight. Bam at Headwaters hooked me up with the mount for the tracks on my Eddyline.

So I am just about ready to roll. Traildad, you said you used a palomar knot? I'll need to do that next. Any tips on getting the braided line onto the spool?

Should I leave the clip and metal "lead" on?

Do those auto-stop beads work for marking the braid measurements?

Sorry - I kind of hijacked your post, LOL.

-Cherie

I just picked up my down rigger today from Fisherman's Warehouse on Folsom...I was hoping they would give me a NCKA discount, but when I asked they said no! Couldn't believe that, especially after spending a good chunk of change there.

Got a box of the 175lb Scotty Power Braid, 200 ft worth (it's all they had besides 400 ft) but now I'm wondering if that was overkill. Also got a 2.5 lb "fish style" weight. Bam at Headwaters hooked me up with the mount for the tracks on my Eddyline.

So I am just about ready to roll. Traildad, you said you used a palomar knot? I'll need to do that next. Any tips on getting the braided line onto the spool?

Should I leave the clip and metal "lead" on?

Do those auto-stop beads work for marking the braid measurements?

Sorry - I kind of hijacked your post, LOL.

-Cherie

Everything tied on to my line fell off so I'm not giving any advice. 

If you can't find one I have an extra clip I can bring hit me up I'm in site 79

Thanks.

It could have been nicked when being deployed, or spooled up on the DR I guess.  Braid isn't know for its abrasion resistance.  Also 65lb may sound pretty strong, but I tried a line that was close to that and when I tied off my weight to a nail and droped it 2 feet which snapped it easily.  So I went with the much higher strength like 120-150lb (forget what it is exactly.) 
  thanks for mentioning that Al, I had thought about respoolong my DR with braid in the 50 to 70lb range, but will rethink that when I get aroubdvto doing it!

LOL....that's true traildad. Although I am sorry that happened....I would have been really mad for a while after that!

I just picked up my down rigger today from Fisherman's Warehouse on Folsom...I was hoping they would give me a NCKA discount, but when I asked they said no! Couldn't believe that, especially after spending a good chunk of change there.

Got a box of the 175lb Scotty Power Braid, 200 ft worth (it's all they had besides 400 ft) but now I'm wondering if that was overkill. Also got a 2.5 lb "fish style" weight. Bam at Headwaters hooked me up with the mount for the tracks on my Eddyline.

So I am just about ready to roll. Traildad, you said you used a palomar knot? I'll need to do that next. Any tips on getting the braided line onto the spool?

Should I leave the clip and metal "lead" on?

Do those auto-stop beads work for marking the braid measurements?

Sorry - I kind of hijacked your post, LOL.

-Cherie

Fisherman's Warehouse in Sac is staffed by a bunch of (-:|3 . They have the high prices of a local tackle shop with none of the help and advice you expect from a local tackle shop. I gladly pay the higher prices at Broadway Bait or Sac Pro Tackle because I get invaluable advice with every purchase. -end rant-

Cherie,

You shouldn't need to mark your braid.  Your fish finder should show the depth of your downrigger weight once you get past 10ft or so. From there you can get an idea how many ft per crank, and then count out as you crank the downrigger.

LOL....that's true traildad. Although I am sorry that happened....I would have been really mad for a while after that!

Losing the money is bad enough. The worst part is that I really wanted to get some time otw using it before the slam!

I was able to replace the gear, plus some extras. I replaced the braid with the scotty 200lb downrigger braid. I just couldn't trust what I had anymore. I may not know what I am doing with it since I didn't get to practice, but at least I will have something to try.

I got the same braid - now to put it on the DR!
(I hope you went someplace else besides Fisherman's Warehouse).

I got the braid at my local tackle shop. I got an inexpensive weight, a shuttle hawk and release clip at the warehouse. The weights at my local shop looked to have a bent fin and no eye in the trailing position if you wanted to hook directly to the weight. They also didn't have the size release I wanted. With the time pressure I didn't want to shop around so I just went and got it. My local store has decent prices, the braid was $15 cheaper than the warehouse. I try to shop there if I can.