Good Show Today/Downrigger Tech Question

[Eddy C]

It was a good radio show today. I would have been fishing, but I'm still trying to get dry from yesterday.

I have been fishing to far back.

I have an 8' 100lb. leader on my release so I don't have to lean over the boat to hook up. Does that affect how far back my stuff is? yes? no? maybe?

[Nelly]

Good morning E,
Thanks for the kind words!
I enjoy working with Duane Inglin, We're kindred spirits and the on-air exchange is just a natural fit!

I have been fishing too far back.

I have an 8' 100lb. leader on my release so I don't have to lean over the boat to hook up. Does that affect how far back my stuff is? yes? no? maybe?

The reasons for having long release lines is three-fold:

1. Safety- Minimizing leaning over the gunnel to re-rig reduces your chances of joining the fish in the water!
2. Convenience/Ease of use- Using release drops as least as long as your downrigger booms makes clipping in easier since the ball can be retrieved to the boom tip and the release can still be easily reached at the gunnel.
3. Better Rod Movement & Softer Mouth "Feel" For Striking Fish-
When the downrigger/fishing line system is at fishing depth and tensioned, the long release cord will ride up in the water column at a 45-degree angle. A striking fish will straighten out that angle to nearly flat -or parallel to the bottom coutour- before experiencing hook setting tension and in doing so will move the rod tip, giving you a chance to strike the fish!

I do measure total drop-back length from the wire to the flasher and I include the release line in that measurement,

For saltwater salmon fishing, seldom is my flasher farther than 15 feet from the wire. Never more than 20' feet.

Reduced tangling, better depth control and more effective hook setting are the advantages to limiting drop-back lengths to less than 20 feet!