Braid vs wire downrigger cable?

[die9895]

I am thinking about switching to braided downrigger line, but I am concerned if fleas are an issue with braided line.

[Sk8man]

Yes it is a concern but it is with wire too when they fishhook variety are thick. Everyone has their preference and the braid may be quieter (e.g. stealth) but nobody is sure whether the hum of the wire attracts or repels either. In the end it is a preference issue. If tyou run two downriggers change one to braid  and the other to wire and decide for yourself.

Edited March 4, 2021 by Sk8man

[FishingFool34]

20 hours ago, die9895 said:

 

I am thinking about switching to braided downrigger line, but I am concerned if fleas are an issue with braided line.

Depending on what brand of rigger you have, switching from wire to braid can affect some functions of your downrigger. Specifically Cannon down riggers with the auto/short stop feature. Changing to braid will disable this feature, just something to keep in mind.

[Great_Laker]

I sold my cannons last year and bought Scotty's specifically to run braid so the auto-up function would work (it wont with newer cannons with braid). I switched because the humming was really bad at times with wire and i wanted to see if there was any difference with electric current on the wire vs no electric current on braid. I didn't see much of a difference in hook-ups but the quiet trolling with braid was well worth the switch. I use the scotty 2200K premium braided line in 250 lb test. Its thick, maybe even thicker than wire and flees don't seem to stick to it. In my opinion, switch to braid if your equipment allows it. Quiet, no wire fray or kinks, better to bounce bottom with for lake trout and its easy to cut and tie without crimps or special terminals.

[anniep]

ANY WAY to run braid on cannons t make short stop work

 

[Great_Laker]

9 minutes ago, anniep said:

ANY WAY to run braid on cannons t make short stop work

 

Not to my knowledge, the short stops works by electrical current. When the current is broken (with the water) as the wire termination comes out of the water, the cannon shuts off. No stainless wire, no current, short stop doesn't work. You could use the old style switches which are either on/off not auto-up, but you would still need to turn the motor off before the ball smacks the boom end. Scotty downriggers use a switch that turns off when a bead or a swivel runs through it. Some guys like them some don't, but that's one way to run braid with auto-up still functioning

[anniep]

Thanks so much for the info. Just trying to get away from cable balling up on the spool .Maybe someone has a solution to this problem. 

[anniep]

Does anybody on the forum have a solution for cables balling up on cannon riggers while retrieving?

[Yankee Troller]

On 3/24/2021 at 12:38 PM, anniep said:

Does anybody on the forum have a solution for cables balling up on cannon riggers while retrieving?

I've utilized the cannonball hook to center the cable coming onto the spool. We run braid and this is how I remedy the situation. I don't know what repercussions cable going through that hook might do?

[Fat Trout]

I've utilized the cannonball hook to center the cable coming onto the spool. We run braid and this is how I remedy the situation. I don't know what repercussions cable going through that hook might do?

I do the same with cable. It takes a while but it starts to cut into the hook.

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[Frogger]

Does anybody on the forum have a solution for cables balling up on cannon riggers while retrieving?

Are these for the side downriggers or are they off the back?


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[BRsnow]

What braid brand are you all using?

[Yankee Troller]

American Fishing Wire 150lb downrigger braid here.

[wet the net]

I need to replace the cable on my Canon mag 10. Anyone have an opinion on what brand is best?   Appreciate any feedback

[Yankee Troller]

I believe there is 200' of 150lb on a Mag 10. Make sure you buy the same amount of cable to keep the counter accurate.

[Andre wallyandre]

On 3/3/2021 at 3:15 PM, die9895 said:

 

I am thinking about switching to braided downrigger line, but I am concerned if fleas are an issue with braided line.

 

I have a Scotty braid spool for sale never use

[wet the net]

Thanks Rick, that's good to know.  I'm wondering if one brand is better than the others.  

[Big Tom]

I'm about to respool a Mag 5 with braid after losing perhaps 40' of steel cable due to bottom bounce spindle wrap. I had read somewhere that the braid could be attached to and put OVER the remaining steel cable. However, Rich's comment leads me to realize  that combining the two types will throw off the line counter.   I should just remove all the steel and start fresh with the braid.  Correct?  Kinda embarrassed to ask.

[Yankee Troller]

13 minutes ago, Big Tom said:

I'm about to respool a Mag 5 with braid after losing perhaps 40' of steel cable due to bottom bounce spindle wrap. I had read somewhere that the braid could be attached to and put OVER the remaining steel cable. However, Rich's comment leads me to realize  that combining the two types will throw off the line counter.   I should just remove all the steel and start fresh with the braid.  Correct?  Kinda embarrassed to ask.

 

I'm not 100% sure. On my Optimum's I can go in and change the algorithm for the counter by telling the downrigger what line type/size and amount I have on the spool. On Mag 5/10's I'd reccomend sticking with what was originally on there unless you want to experiment and tinker. 

 

Just note that braid on a Mag 5/10 will not allow the short stop at the surface to work.

[laker1]

A thought about wire humming

 

I see in Florida that certain charter captains have split a tennis ball and wrapped with duct tape to place it around their downrigger cable to reduce wire hum. Has anyone tried this?

 

[13owhunter]

For what its worth, I switched to 200# braid a few years ago and would recommend 150# to minimize blowback.  I have a lot more trust in using braid terminated with a palomar knot and 400# snap swivel compared to any type of wire and wire termination method. So many stories of lost weights and probes.  Not happening to this guy.

[Silver Fox]

I can’t believe I’m going to say this, but I’ve lost one weight in the last 12ish years and that was because my bottom tracking malfunctioned one day fishing lakers and didn’t know a kink was put into the wire. The next day I put it in the water to start fishing and gone it went with the probe. Bottom line, it’s usually user error with the wire.

[GAMBLER]

I switched to braid last season and will never turn back.  I got a lot more rigger hits than the past using wire.  Fleas were not an issue.  My retro ease on the cable took 99% of them off the line before they got to the boom end,  

[Yankee Troller]

1 hour ago, GAMBLER said:

I switched to braid last season and will never turn back.  I got a lot more rigger hits than the past using wire.  Fleas were not an issue.  My retro ease on the cable took 99% of them off the line before they got to the boom end,  

 

Everyone had a lot more hits last season 

[GAMBLER]

43 minutes ago, Yankee Troller said:

 

Everyone had a lot more hits last season 

I'm talking proportionally.  The rigger to junk line hit ratio was higher in favor of the riggers than normal for sure.