Cable out performed braid

[DLM]

While fishing GP yesterday runing two rods I noticed that one rod was out performing the other. Both were set up with the exact same dodger (uv sling blade) and the same hoochie, sometimes in orange sometimes in pink. The leader length on both hootchies was within an inch, both sling blades were bent the same, both showed the same action beside the boat.

When the bite was hot both perfomed the same, but when the bite slowed, all the fish were caught on the one rod. I sat there and pondered this while waiting for the next fish to hit, going over and over in my mind what the difference could be and coming up with nothing.

Then, as I was looking at the two downriggers, it dawned on me that downrigger of the the rod that was producing had steal cable, while the slow rod had braid on it's downrigger. Since that is the only difference I have to conclude that my boat was sending electricals down the cable that the fish liked. I have the equipment to make the necessary tests of the current on the line but have never done so, now I may.

I was fishing at 30ft with a 20 foot setback.

Any comments, opinions or observations? Does my conclusion make sense?movie89586

 

[SuperD]

IMO, it would be hard to draw anything from this. I have days where one rod produces all the fish and I have 4 downriggers all with cable. I've had hot lures that when lost, the exact same lure and pattern didn't perform like the old one. The little nuances of every lure and leader can be so minute to us but be a difference to the fish. What brand of downriggers do you have? It is very easy to assume it was current on the cable vs. braid but really impossible to know for sure since like I said, fishing riggers all with the same cable still produces a "hot" rod on any given day.

 

[DLM]

Both are Scotty's, the braid is on an electric and the cable is on the manual.

 

[BROWNBAGGER]

dlm, have you had any problems with the braid on that scotty? Have you got any tangles where the braid will over lap itself? When I bought my to electric riggers, the directions said not too. I read this after I bought to spools of braid, so they are just setting there collecting dust. I know lots of memebers have posted that the hum of the steel cable does'nt bother the fish, but it bugs the living crap out of me. I use to run braid on a manual, with a four stroke motor. It was like a stealth boat.

 

[DLM]

dlm, have you had any problems with the braid on that scotty? Have you got any tangles where the braid will over lap itself? When I bought my to electric riggers, the directions said not too. I read this after I bought to spools of braid, so they are just setting there collecting dust. I know lots of memebers have posted that the hum of the steel cable does'nt bother the fish, but it bugs the living crap out of me. I use to run braid on a manual, with a four stroke motor. It was like a stealth boat.

I have had no problem with the braid and it has been on there two years, maybe three?? However, throw a little slack on the steel cable and it will jump the spool and then you have a big problem. I always make sure there is a 9/16 wrench on the boat for immediate repairs, also needed to adjust the clutch/brake.

 

[HiTechKoke]

Take a reading with a volt meter just for fun on the cable side. i'm with Super D in that ot is inconclusive but suspicious. I've had one rod sydrome with identical setups I could not really explain.

Kevin

 

[SilverBullets]

I have had no problem with the braid and it has been on there two years, maybe three?? However, throw a little slack on the steel cable and it will jump the spool and then you have a big problem. I always make sure there is a 9/16 wrench on the boat for immediate repairs, also needed to adjust the clutch/brake.

I missed the morning bite one day because of the cable jumping on the manual Scotty when first getting set-up on the water at o-dark thirty. After getting it fixed I went to get the other rigger ready and the same thing happened to it, except this times I had to get the cable cutters out and do major surgery! After that trip I wrap the cable spools with double sided Velcro to help secure the cable until I have sufficient weight on it to keep it on the spool...haven't had an issue since.
What SuperD said about all lures having a small difference makes sense...just a shade difference in color can be all it takes. Also, I think the small difference in the way way the double hooks are facing when tied up can have an effect on the lures action when the corn is added. I've had days when both sides of the boat were exactly same (both lures were customized useing the exact same tape)...only difference was a e-chip on one lure (which normally doesn't make a bit of difference.) In a period of around 15 minutes one rod got 5 fish to zero on the other rod. If it wasn't the small difference in action, the only other thing I can think of was that that side of the boat was closer to the edge of a school of fish. Both sides were useing cable on the downriggers and were at the same depth and set-back.

 

[Cariboospeed]

I get that all the time. No rhyme nor reason, one rod will always catch more or bigger fish than the other.

My theory is: Some days the hang to the left, some days they hang to the right.

 

[Sully]

I was thinking a good experiment would be to switch the rods and see if anything changes. Sometimes there is a subtle difference in lure, bait, leader or something that entices more bites on one pole that the other, I think.
So if you were to move the hot pole to the braid and the cold one to the steel and have the same results assuming you are not making a lot of one way turns, then maybe there is something to the theory.

 

[daveo]

After running 3 scottys with black box and wire for past 5 years went to braid this year and havent had any issues and believt it is fishing fine....Dave

 

[DLM]

Fished yesterday and both rods produced abut the same. I put a meter on the cable just to see what it would read and it was .65v, which is below the danger level of .7

 

[ctkid]

sometimes even the leadcore out fishes the riggers. stuff happens.

 

[SilverFox]

IMO, it would be hard to draw anything from this.

Have to agree, can't tell you how many times we've experienced this exact scenario trolling with leaded line and long line mono. One side will out produce the other even though each side is rigged identical to the other. Sometimes it's port side, and other times it's starboard. Haven't spent much time with my downriggers yet, but I don't think this is anything more than pure coincidence.