What line are you using? Mono or braid? Mono works great in the the clothes pin types, but braid doesn't work too well.

I primarily use the Scotty releases that are yellow and black that have a yellow pin that fits into a black receptical with a yellow screw knob. Sorry for the description, but I don't like the clothes pin types. Braid works very well in this type of release.

For those Scotty releases with the yellow/green pads, try rubbing alcohol on the pads. Somebody let me in on that secret.

Here's another trick. Instead of buying the single Scotty releases, buy the stacker releases that come with two releases. These were about the same price as the singles at Sportco the other day. I cut them apart and made my own 36" long releases out of 200# test P-line and the proper crimp sleeve.