I am thinking about re-spooling my penn reels on my downrigging rods with power pro 20#. I like the benfits of the line, but wonder if the small diameter would make the line slip out of the release clips too easily???

Sometimes I fish a Silver Horde dodger that has a hell of alot of drag in the water...will that smaller diameter line just slip right out of the clip?


Who has used power pro on downrigger clips and how did it work for ya?

I use both the older and newer style clips from Scotty.

I don't have any experience doing what you are talking about, but think you'll have problems with the clips holding the line. You might be able to switch clips to one that allow adjustment for line diameter.

I tried PowerPro on a couple rods a few years back, but ended up going back to mono. I found the line to be very unforgiving and I ended up losing several fish before I got the hang of it. With a downrigger rod if a fish smacks the lure hard mono seems to take a lot of the shock, but even then I've seen fish broken off. I'd been concerned you might have more of a problem with PowerPro

Just my $0.02 worth.

I have not tried Power Pro on my 'rigger rods. I would be very interested to hear how it works out for ya.

I am loading up the new Knucklebuster with 65# SpiderWire. Was kinda wondering the same thing.

I have also been wondering about running one of the superbraids as opposed to stainless for downrigger cable. Any feedback? Anyone tried that yet?

TIA

Sky,

Stick with mono unless you plan on dredging 200' or better. Two things- first, there is absolutely no stretch so plan on losing a lot of fish. Losing fish will usually occur as soon as the fish comes off the clip or surfaces behind the boat. Another opportunity for fish is when he starts runing towards the boat.
Mono will keep the play in the line...

Second, 20# is pretty small for a diameter. 65# (PP) will put you fairly close to 20# (mono) diameter. As far as releases, an Offshore or Cannon adjustable should work ok with PP. If you are still experiences problems with the clip, make a large loop (3-4 inches) with about three or four twists then place it in the clip.

Save that stuff for jigging or mooching or off your DRs for the deep water.

Have'nt tried p.p. but have tried fireline and tuffline. I pull mostly plugs and flashers with flies and couldnt keep the setups in the release clips. I use the offshore medium releases. Didnt try the multi loop trick, just went back to mono. Hope this helps.

As usual Downriggin has it right. I have 20# PowerPro on my Calcutta reel with Berkley Buzz Ramsey rod. It is a great combo for some things, but not for use in downriggers. June 1st I was out there with it and sure enough the line kept slipping out of the clip. I thought about buying a different clip style to counteract that, but have decided to keep my Calcutta combo for mootching and such and use my Penn with 20lb mono for the downrigger.

I use 30 lb power pro on my downrigger and haven't noticed any diference in the amount of fish I have lost. I did have problems with the scotty power grip releases however. The guy at R & R tackle here in PA suggested a different release. I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it, but it is wired directly onto the cable. It comes in a blue and white package.... I'll track it down and post it here later. It worked great for blackmouth. I liked the fact that I didn't have the bow in my line from the rod to the release. I dont recall losing any fish that tripped the release except one to a sea lion. You twist a loop in the line and run the "pin" through the hole at the top of the twist. The pin locks into a clip that has an infinite tension adjustment. I worked way better than the gripper type release. I'll get back to you with the brand.

I add about a 30 to fourty foot tippet of mono 15 -20 lb test to the end of my 20 lb fireline, this way I know wher to clip in, and do not have the release issue. Makes trolling deep easy, enough shock resistence that I have never lost a fish due to the fireline breaking. Getting a good knot to connect the two lines is another story. Good luck,

NEN

http://www.fish307.com/_derived/release.pdf

I hope this link works, it shows the release I use and exactly how i use it.

The brand is blacks according to this chart. I could have sworn it was something diferent, but I looked at the picture and the one on the second page, left is named a black's release and thats the one. I have heard 2 schools of thought. One as mentioned before that the drag caused by the larger diameter mono is more forgiving, causing less lost fish. The other is that the smaller diameter braids allow a straighter line to the release, less slack to begin with, and easier to pick up what slack there is... not sure which is right, probably something to both. I just like power pro and haven't had any problems with this setup. good luck.

I use that Blacks release with PP.. Never a problem.. I was told its a "butterfly" release

Within the Blaine fishing mafia up here,, about half use this set-up the other half havegone back to the mono..

I do really like that in-line release, never have lost one since

I use tuff-line with 50' of mono tippet.

Bend together with a beckett-bend (modified) few more wraps with the tuff-line.

Haven't had a prob with anything breakin off and love the feel!




herm

For fishing off a downrigger I haven't found a line yet that will outfish mono. I believe there is too much shock associated with downrigger fishing to be successful fishing PP or other no stretch lines. I could see it maybe working to some degree with blackmouth but there is no way I would use this fishing for mature kings in the spring, summer and fall. I used to try a lot of the new stuff until I realized why fix what already works great.

I use the Tuf-Line 50# braid. It will not work well in the snap type releases. I have gone to a release I think called a Pro release, or pro guide, or something like that. This release has a pin that you wrap the line around three times and snap the pin into a clip. There is an adjustment nut on top to adjust the tension on the pin, and a wheel you turn that sets the pin up for soft or hard release.

This setup is fantastic. With the braid there is no blowback, I can reel the line almost straight down. When the release trips there is no slack time, it is an instant hook set. Plus the 50# is a 10 or 12# diameter, so I can fit a 300yrd spool on to my Abu 6500's. I highly recomment this release for anyone wanting to go to braided line.

It's certainly possible that I simply didn't know what the heck I was doing, but when I tried using braided line, I lost every fish. It was miserable...something like 6 Silvers in a row before I switched back. Haven't lost many since.

I attribute my failure to lack of stretch. Using mono is like having a fish on a rubber band - lots of stretch to accomodate jumps, runs and slow-to-react fisherman...

Thanks for all the imput guys.

What I was looking to gain from using this line is what Steve mentioned. No blowback and better sensitivity using a downrigging clip.

I want to be able to tighten right down on the clip so I have close to a 90 degree angle from the tip of my rod out to my offering.

So another question is posed.

What is the best line, clip setup or method you have used for acheiving this?

I thought the power pro would yield less drag in the water and that is why I am considering switching over. But, if there is a better way to acheive the desired results using mono I will stick with that. Please advise.

Right now I use a Penn electric DR with the new scotty release. I usually can tighten up pretty good, but to do so I have to clip the line deep into the clip. When I do this I don't pop off with a shaker, or sometimes never really know they are even there.

I have fished with this method my whole life and it works well, I just am looking at presenting everything a little differently to see if there would be any improvement in sensitivity and tension from rod tip to DR clip.

Always fun to change things up and make excuses to yourself to buy new fishing stuff ...right?

I could not find a clip release with pads that would work. The line will slip out. I've used 30# P/P line for the past couple of years with great success. My D/R's and line track better with much less bow in them. A "pro release "clip has been the ticket. I believe the guy's at Salmon University use the same setup. It sure is nice to have 30# mainline when a big king starts peeling off the line. The "pro release" is very adjustable and easy to use. Only drawback is that the smaller shakers may not always release the clip.

I fish 15 to 20# mono off canon downriggers. I get essentially zero blowback on my mono. I use scotty or the heavy duty black clips. I usually make a loop in my line before inserting it in the clip. When inserted the loop sticks out one side. I keep good tension on the mono the whole time I'm letting line out. Once down I usually don't even have to make a couple turns on the reel to get slack out as I didn't allow slack to occur on the way down. Whenever I see blowback it's always because the fisherman isn't keeping tension on his mainline when lowering the rigger.
The other negative I see to braided lines is if your fishing in a crowded area (most summer king spots are that way) you will eventually have your fish run under someone's boat or wrap with someone else's line etc. In these situations the mono is more forgiving because of the stretch. I have seen people with big kings on braided lines in these situations and haven't seen one boated yet.

The super braids lines are an ingenious idea...
They have their place in fishing. I use them frequently for strong tides swings when I know I need to be deep. This is usually 200' plus, but I also shorthen my drop back to 6-8' too. Let me see if I can explain the slack line portion at the clip. The blow back from mono actually works to your advantage. When you tighten the line, you are stretching it thus creating a slightly longer distance of line. When a fish hits and turns the opposite direction, the line returns to it's original shape creating less of a distance than the braided line. The opposite is true for the braided lines. The line has to drag through the water at an upward distance before the fish tightens up on the rod. It is during these few seconds that most of the fish be lost. To be honest, I haven't seen many fish "come clean" off the clip with either mono or braids. There is always a brief second or two before the rod tightens... With braids at seems a little longer in the common 100-150' of water. Deep stuff... it comes off a little faster.

I am not knocking it. Like I mentioned I use it... Just not my first choice.

Another thing I would recommend is a 6:1 reel. You'll need to crank fast when that line starts to slacken...

Lastly, often overlooked... Over time, it plays hell on your rods and reels. That is a lot of stress with no give way on your rods... The first time you snag something made fast- SNAP! At least it will get you back to Sportco.

I tryed 60 # tuffline once with a twist type release the twists cut into themselves and broke at the clip luckly the frayed ends tied themselves to the downrigger unlucky the hummpies got to the squid before I could get it to the surface I did manage to get the dogger back but cut my hand all up handlining it back to the boat and that little 4 pound fish broke my 20# leader while I was going for the net. I never have used that rod or reel since.

I'm surprised, I seem to be alone here. I have been using Power Pro for several years on both downriggers and divers, and I love the stuff, esp. for downrigging deep and fast. I use 50 pound, however, 30# or smaller is too small to hold in a release, 50# is 12# diameter and just right. I use a Offshore heavy release and bury the line all the way into the pads, it holds a big hotspot and whatever else you want to use just fine at any trolling speed and releases right now when you get a bite. There is also no slack, so you get a good hookup. I do use a 5 foot dropper of streatchy braided nylon seine twine between my ball and my clip, and this may be why I never seem to have any break-off-at-the-strike problems. I also fight fish exclusively with direct drive and off my thumb with a Penn 109, and this prevents crackering fish off due to no line streatch. What I really like is the feel this line gives you. I also like the lack of streatch and quick hookset. Finally, for fishing diver and fish flash at B10 or in GH this stuff allows you to go down a size or two in divers while still getting to your target depth, which saves pull on your rod. Same thing for dredging the bottom for CR springers - I can use an ounce lighter lead than most folks and maintain perfect line angle. It also lasts forever as long as you are careful to trim back the first 30 feet or so every year or whenever you notice it fraying. I'm sold on the stuff.

As an aside, I use 10 pound Power Pro, which is 2# diameter , on tiny flyrods for downrigging for kokanee. I use an Offshore light release and just barely pin the stuff. A Koke will actually trip the release at hookup, and with the light springy flyrod and no lead no snubbers are necessary. My family fished a local Koke hotspot this weekend and limited in less than an hour, 17 fish hooked and 15 landed - try to beat that with any other kind of gear :p

Juggernaut is right, it is the pro release. The only problem I have is when draggin bottom, or ringing the dinner bell, the line can wrap itself around the pin a few more times, and then won't come off. You have to bring it up with the downrigger. When you get them dialed in, they are a dream. We used snap releases in Elliot bay at first, and the small shakers wouldn't release the line. We drug some of them around for quite awhile, but able to revive them. The nice thing with braid, is when reeled down tight, even if the shaker is not big enough to release the line you can see him on there and release it yourself. What is the perfect setup? Not sure if there is one!!!