Downrigger weight snubbers

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Petty4life

Petty4life

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Anyone use these ball snubbers by scotty?

Attach between your downrigger cable and weight. The Scotty Trolling Snubber absorbs shock, provides electrical insulation and helps prevent snagging . Easy to grip
 

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Yep, have always used them. Like you said, shock absorption and electrical insulation is the main reason. Even if you don't have a black box, it's important to insulate the lead ball since the wire should have a positive charge on it.
 
Silver Bullets said:
Yep, have always used them. Like you said, shock absorption and electrical insulation is the main reason. Even if you don't have a black box, it's important to insulate the lead ball since the wire should have a positive charge on it.
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I havent used them yet but after talking wit hth e scotty rep at the ISE show i was convinced i couldnt ive without them so Kokaholic and i both ordered some
 
How does it help prevent snagging? As far as insulating value, how is it any better than the standard plastic hook termination? I guess I'm not getting it.
 
SuperD said:
How does it help prevent snagging? As far as insulating value, how is it any better than the standard plastic hook termination? I guess I'm not getting it.
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The plastic hook or rope will accomplish the same thing as far as insulation. I think the main advantage is that it absorbs shock and provides some cushion for the wire and downrigger when you do get snagged and hopefully you notice it quick before the snubber breaks...at least it lessons the chance of the downrigger being ripped off the boat if the brake is not set correctly. The snubbers are pretty strong though, one time I brought a stump up!!:eek:
 
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Some of these old guys have more sag and apparently need shock absorption. laugh hyst
 
I just bought a couple. They also look easier to grab than a steel line with a weight on the bottom. Steel lines are hard on the hands.
 
Silver Bullets said:
Yep, have always used them. Like you said, shock absorption and electrical insulation is the main reason. Even if you don't have a black box, it's important to insulate the lead ball since the wire should have a positive charge on it.
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So, how does he strap effect the positive ions? I have a black box and dial in my correct output. Will these things effect that?
 
Sportfishinsteve said:


So, how does he strap effect the positive ions? I have a black box and dial in my correct output. Will these things effect that?
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It might affect it a little. But your black box should tell you. Some leads have enough impurities in them to create an electric current. Positive charge on the wire line is what you are after. Coating your weight may help insulate it better than not coating it.
 
Thanks for the tip!

Thanks for the tip! I’ll be ordering a few to have in the boat. Will be a lot kinder on the hands when getting the ball. One thing I’ve done is switched to 160lb braided line on the riggers. Gives you reduced blow back, no noise or currant. As for snagging the ball I try to fish areas that I know the bottom structure, and set the digi troll to track 10 feet off the bottom. Don’t know if I’m lucky but the eight days I spent at the Gorge last year we pounded the fish every day. Even on slow days when everyone else were getting a few we were getting double hook-ups and averaging 20 to 40 fish mornings. Sold me on the braided line.
Pac-a load
 
I used this snubber for a while and I liked it for grabbing the line to lift the ball. My only complaint though is I thought it may have added just a slight bit more drag down at the ball level but not enough too be that big of a deal. My other reason I stopped using it though was on choppy days the ball would have this rubber band effect when the boat was rocking and it was harder to read the subtle bites on the rods. Of course those in the Gorge don't need to worry about this since the fish take the lure and slam the rod and bury it! (one of my Gorge thrills from last year to gauge the fish).

Another Kokanee friend turned me on to this Scotty product:

1038 Cable Coupler
Attaches the snap hook to the downrigger
cable quickly and easily without the use
of metal crimps. Built in rudder eliminates
weight spin for longer cable life. Remove
rudder for use with finned weights.

So you get the best of both worlds IMO which is electrical isolation and NO crimpers needed of you snap a line as it is a threaded line model for cable users. The only downside is they could use a little bigger snap and don't pick up the ball by the fin.

Kevin
 
160 lb braided line?

For Pac-a load-pete,

"One thing I’ve done is switched to 160lb braided line on the riggers. Gives you reduced blow back, no noise or currant."

Do you mean braided fishing line? instead of standard downrigger wire?

Steve
 
Kokanee Slow said:
For Pac-a load-pete,

"One thing I’ve done is switched to 160lb braided line on the riggers. Gives you reduced blow back, no noise or currant."

Do you mean braided fishing line? instead of standard downrigger wire?

Steve
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Im sure he means the scotty braided downrigger line. if you use the fishing line type like power pro, spiderwrie or fire line it voids your warranty.


this is off the scotty website
Premium Braided Downrigger Line

Super strong , low stretch braided line will not kink, fray or rust like stainless steel cable. Reduces wire hum and eliminates electrolysis.
No crimping required

No. 2199 - 150 ft. of 250 lb. test.
No. 2200 - 200 ft. of 250 lb. test.
No. 2201 - 300 ft. of 250 lb. test.
No. 2202 - 400 ft. of 250 lb. test.
No. 2203 - 500 ft. of 250 lb. test
 

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I use another brand but like HiTechKoke says "on choppy days the ball would have this rubber band effect when the boat was rocking"-so I'm thinking about not using them anymore.
Not to hijack the thread but about the Scotty Braided Downrigger Line-can I use it if my downrigger has a plastic spool, not metal? Is there a danger of too much pressure on the spool causing it to crack? Last year, I had thought about leaving a couple of "wraps" of cable on the spool and then trying to attach the Scotty line to the cable, but gave up on the idea.
 
Full_Monte said:
It might affect it a little. But your black box should tell you. Some leads have enough impurities in them to create an electric current. Positive charge on the wire line is what you are after. Coating your weight may help insulate it better than not coating it.
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I agree that you need to coat your weights. My positive output was all over the place until I coated mine. You can do it with spray on bed liner stuff. Works great and enables you to dial in the black box. thumbsup
 

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