Braided line on downriggers

Scotty's snubbers are gold. 

I bought one of those scotty trolling snubbers but the clip for the weight won't fit on the eye loop of the 3lb canon ball weights I have.  I am guessing other downrigger weights have bigger eye loops these snubbers will fit?  Gotta look around I guess.

You don't need a snubber...when trolling from a kayak

I bought one of those scotty trolling snubbers but the clip for the weight won't fit on the eye loop of the 3lb canon ball weights I have.  I am guessing other downrigger weights have bigger eye loops these snubbers will fit?  Gotta look around I guess.

I swapped my cable for the scotty braided line which I believe is rated for 150 lbs.  I have some extra DR weights if you're interested.

I use the Scotty braid line also & did lose two balls already so I'm not too worry about not braking...
I just left the cable on it so I guess I tops hot w/ cable.

You don't need a snubber...when trolling from a kayak

I bought one of those scotty trolling snubbers but the clip for the weight won't fit on the eye loop of the 3lb canon ball weights I have.  I am guessing other downrigger weights have bigger eye loops these snubbers will fit?  Gotta look around I guess.

Thought about using a small snubber in front of the flasher (not on the weight) for ocean salmon fishing but never did...

First time I tried a home made down rigger I was in a lake. Had a 4lb ball and dropped it over the side just the last few inches and it snapped! Using around #100 spectra. Luckily I was in water shallow enough to retrieve the ball. Inertia = kinetic=broken line. After that I started using the snubber. I tried dropping the ball a few times with the snubber, and it worked. Line didn't snap, even after dropping it further and in the air. I think it's a good investment. All it takes is one accidental drop and your out of business...

I use a ghetto snubber that I made out of a bungee cord for the weight on my rockfish descender. Works great at not breaking the line and releasing the fish unharmed.

I use a deep six for trolling like everyone else up here.

using a deep six makes trout and kokanee no fun.

using a deep six makes trout and kokanee no fun.

I could see how that would be a problem. . .  Now if I could only find the headsmack smiley.

I could see how that would be a problem. . .  Now if I could only find the headsmack smiley.

This? 

Or this? 

 

I could see how that would be a problem. . .  Now if I could only find the headsmack smiley.

This? 

Or this? 

 

or

why are you dropping the weight?  It seems that the purpose of a reel/spool is to control the descent and reel it back up.  not saying its operator error to snap off the weight, but...

disclosure: I have not yet used a downrigger, but will be this spring.

Math on this one is that a 4lb ball dropped 2 inches on a string with 1mm of stretch (spectra might even be less depending of the length of line between the weight and anchor, test results indicate 1% stretch for most spectra) results in a weight of 200lbs on the string at impact.
If you add a stretch factor to the string of 2 inches it reduces the impact to 17lbs, so a snubber is probably a good idea if you want to drop the weight any distance.  Or use cable...

Jim

Jim you try not to drop the ball but once in a while you accidently let it fall a bit while deploying it. I also added an extension line to the release line and that really helps you control the decent of the ball. Impressive math by the way...

I don't plan on dropping it, but every once in a while it will slip while putting it in the water therefore producing a drop.

oah yeah   

I use the butt section of a light spinning rod as my down rigger arm which absorbs some of the impact. I only use 30-50# spectra and have never lost a ball. I do use a snubber on my 6# ball.