setting up rigs

[mowrus]

hi everbody newbeeee here.. great site to learn from!!! Curious how you set up your rigs. Where abouts do you put your snubbers, before flasher or after? Any thoughts on this, love to figure this out or guess I should say do it right..

 

[MMDON]

Most of the guys fishing for Kokes no longer use snubbers. The compensation is in more flexible rod tips than was available in the old glass rods of yesterday. I do use snubbers early in the season when toplining. I place them after the dodger or gangtroll and before the leader and lure. The snubber is used to keep the Kokanee from leveraging the water weight of the attractor or lead core line against the soft flesh of the fishes mouth when a fish makes multiple jumps. When fishing deeper on the wire with downriggers it becomes mute.

 

[Bduck]

Welcome mowrus. 101welcomw I'm in agreement with 3M. The more flex rods serve as a shock absorber. I use 2 different Koke rods, JJ red rods & Vance's spiral wrap rods. There are also some other fine rods on the market. I used to use the snubbers when I had stiffer rods but some of those rods are in the historical rod rack(corner) in my garage now. I still have a couple of snubbers left still but................. 101chromefish101

 

[mowrus]

good rod

Thanks that makes since that the rod can do the work for ya..They have come a long ways.. One more Q for ya, what kind of releases do you use on your down riggers? Seems like if you don't see your rod twitch and release is set to hard you can drag the fish around with out know it...

 

[MMDON]

With the right rod, you should be able to see even a small piece of moss that has caught on your lure . . .

I use Scotty's or Sep's releases.

 

[Mr. D]

Welcome to the party Mowrus!!!

When I first started targeting kokes I used snubbers just like MMM described. Then I started putting the snubber ahead of the dodger so the snubber would not hinder the action of the dodger/lure. Now day's all my old "surgical tubbing style" snubbers have been sacrificed into making stinger hook setups when I need them. When I feel I need to use snubbers these day's, I started making my own out of "shock cord" the same stuff the fly fisher people use. This is usualy early in the season when kokes got real tender mouths OR most importantly, when I have a "new kokeheads" on the boat who are not use to fighting these buggers!!!! Sometimes during a tournament/derby when I'm having trouble getting the kokes to stay on I'll go to a snubber. Anything to gain an edge, right!!!!

There are lot's of great rods available that won't drain your bank account and will do the job. Shop around and ask.
As for releases, I use the Sep's sure release, same as Vance's. You can adjust the tension by moving the spring, forward for tight, back for less. Also make sure to check the pads ( where it pinches the line) on the release for wear and yes, they will wear after some time!!! Here's a trick for a quick on the water repair of worn release pads if you don't have any replacement pads on board. Take a sewing needle, yes most should have one on the boat, or a worm threader. Heat it up and then make light grooves in the rubber of the pads. Not too deep but just enough to roughen up the surface of the pad. You can use the tip of a "sharp" fillet knife but the heated needle/worm threader works better I think. This will prevent some frustration and keep you on the water, believe me.

In closing, if you really want to save time & $$$$, hitch hike a ride with an expierenced angler or book a trip with a qualified guide. It's worth it!! You will learn more in one trip than 10 or more on your own. I sure wish I would have done this and so did my bank account!!!!!!!!

Go get'em,

Mark

 

[Bduck]

Offshore Releases

I use yellow offshore releases. Also whenever the pads on them show wear, you can easily replace them which are also available seperately. I have made the cable or line on mine to a customized length which allows me to bring it in the boat without leaning over the side excessively.

 

[Mark McWillis]

I use the Sep's releases which have the yellow offshore "clips". After losing 4 of the clips to poorly crimped cables I replaced all the cables with some 100# mono (tuna leader) and have had no more problems. And I don't use snubbers, either.

 

[SilverBullets]

I use the yellow Offshore releases Vance's sells. I re-rigg with around 18" of cable. Having the cable a bit longer not only makes it easier to grab but also causes the rod tip dance more when a fish is on.