Black brand Releases

[Speedy]

My boat came equipped with "Black" down rigger releases, from the past owner. I know there are several other makes of releases made. Due to our Spring/Summer floods and extreme rain seasons,I haven't had a lot of time using them. I had an experienced trolling fisherman use them once on my boat, and he said the Blacks require a 6-7 wrap/loop made and then insert that into the clip.

With my old eyes/cold fingers/early dawn poor light, is this the BEST type and system. I see other brands with a single pinch required and to move the line further back in the clip for a stronger grip.  Open to any ideas and stores, before I change anything on my 5 down riggers.

Thanks,

Speedy

[landingzone]

I’ve been running Black’s for over 30 years and they have worked well. It takes a little experience to get the tension right for the conditions/target species, but I prefer tighter than looser. I usually use about 5 wraps. 

[Speedy]

Thanks for the reply. I understand everyone has their favorite for one reason or another. I'm curious as to why the multiple wraps? Why not just one loop? Does it give extra slack? Is there a solid reason for the many wraps or just a "Thing to do because"....

I really don't know, so thanks again for any help.

Speedy

[Silver Fox]

3 minutes ago, Speedy said:

Thanks for the reply. I understand everyone has their favorite for one reason or another. I'm curious as to why the multiple wraps? Why not just one loop? Does it give extra slack? Is there a solid reason for the many wraps or just a "Thing to do because"....

I really don't know, so thanks again for any help.

Speedy

If you don’t twist the line a bunch of times the line will slip in the release. I love those, but went to Scotty’s a few years ago to see the small fish bites and I’ve never gone back.

[Speedy]

Thanks again. I had a feeling it was just a little of "What we are used to" and not 100% proven fact".  2 cycle verses 4 cycle... New products keep popping up. I'm an old dog (78) and trying to get used to my 19 ft Sea Nymph, 90 hp, Merc,,  2 Cannon electrics, two Cannon manuals, two Lowrence finders, Fish Hawk, 24 volt Minnkota with I-Pilot. I'm not going to throw the Blacks overboard, but I really would like to see if the Scotty or others are easier to work with for guys just starting out. I don't have an experienced First Mate/semi-pro fisherman, just my wife. Also I'm in the North-East Kingdom, Vermont Lakes, and have to deal with jet skis, sail boats, and not have miles of open water like the Great Lakes. Just looking for suggestions as to releases (Christmas gift time... LOL ). Just trying to keep things as simple as possible. I can do the 4/5/7 wraps but why? Thanks for helping an old dog.

Speedy

[rolmops]

Another way to use the blacks is with a rubber band. You tale a size 14 rubber band and wrap it around your line like 7 times and then you take the 2 ends and put them around the small metal end of the black. I use them that way because my old fingers have a hard time wrapping the line around the metal thing the proper way. wrapping a rubber band is easier. But like Silver Fox I also use the Scotties specially off the boards with copper and leadcore.

Buying scotties tends to give people a bit of sticker shock. A single one is the price of a thousand rubber bands and you may end up using rubber bands with the Scotties as well.

[sherman brown]

It's not that hard once you get used to twisting the line. I started using the Chamberlain releases a few years ago, and they are set the same way as the Blacks. I just fold the line, place my first two fingers in, and start turning my hand until I have 7 or 8 twists with a medium-sized loop that goes on the release pin. now I don't even have to think about what I'm doing. I like the Chamberlain best because of the line tension adjustment. but I use mine for walleye on the central basin of Erie at Geneva Ohio.

[Speedy]

Thanks guys... I understand the two techniques of wrapping/forming a loop with 6 or 7 layers,then place it in the clip. But why multiple wraps? Has any of you guys tried just one loop? Just wondering what the 7 wrapping loops does...give slack? The boat also came with two brand new Roeme releases, still in the bags, Their instructions say use one loop. Never used.

I guess I'm an "Old School" guy, remembering Dad said "Don't touch the wood stove"..Why? I learned. I also have a 16ft. Aluma-Craft and thinking about taking one of the manual Canon down riggers off the Sea Nymph and installing it on the smaller boat for smaller lakes, but still 100ft. + deep. Thinking if I should re-do all down riggers with a different style that might be easier to use, but still be successful for trolling for Salmon and Lakers. Thanks again for helping a life-long stream fisherman now learning about boats and trolling.

Speedy

[J.D.]

I switched to Scotty's about 10 years ago and will never go back to Blacks.. easiest release ever..

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSsh7CO2sv0

 

Edited Saturday at 06:04 PM by J.D.

[Speedy]

J.D.

Thanks..BINGO!  I thought it must have something to do with extra line slack from the loops.  After thinking about some of the other YouTube videos about releases, they always instructed to start cranking in the slack first, then lift up the rod tip high to set the hook. Or...just use a different release that will usually set the hook at first strike.

I owe you lunch.

Speedy

[J.D.]

Speedy, Here's a video on the tension adjustment with Scotty power grip releases. In the video, he is showing the smaller release, mostly used as a planer board release here on the big lake. The adjustment is the same on the big releases. 

Note: Scotty sells the big releases with different length leaders. Many of us old guys use the longer leads so we don't have to hang over the gunnel of the boat to set them... much safer. Also, the longer leads will allow the rod tip to shake and bounce if you have a small fish on that doesn't pop the release.

https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=how+to+use+scotty+power+grip+release#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:0a8d6a85,vid:sBOYlF3PR0k,st:96 

 

My 17 ft. tin boat..

Edited Saturday at 08:40 PM by J.D.

[Speedy]

Good advice. I know Scotty is made in Canada. But most of the time I when I go to a fishing tackle web sight I get a girl tel-a-marketer or some guy who hasn't a clue about trolling. OR they only stock one or two of the brand,then out of stock and back order. Bass Pro Shops, Sportsman Warehouse ,Cabelas to name a few. My local marina is 99% pontoon boat, sail boat oriented, zero tackle...only Walmart. Who do you get your goodies from?

Speedy

[sherman brown]

acamdemy.com is where i get a lot of my gear from.

[landingzone]

9 hours ago, Speedy said:

Thanks guys... I understand the two techniques of wrapping/forming a loop with 6 or 7 layers,then place it in the clip. But why multiple wraps? Has any of you guys tried just one loop? Just wondering what the 7 wrapping loops does...give slack? The boat also came with two brand new Roeme releases, still in the bags, Their instructions say use one loop. Never used.

I guess I'm an "Old School" guy, remembering Dad said "Don't touch the wood stove"..Why? I learned. I also have a 16ft. Aluma-Craft and thinking about taking one of the manual Canon down riggers off the Sea Nymph and installing it on the smaller boat for smaller lakes, but still 100ft. + deep. Thinking if I should re-do all down riggers with a different style that might be easier to use, but still be successful for trolling for Salmon and Lakers. Thanks again for helping a life-long stream fisherman now learning about boats and trolling.

Speedy

Multiple wraps are necessary because with a single wrap or just a couple, the line will slip in the release when you load the bend in your rod. 

[HB2]

I have been using pinch pad releases for 25 + years and I use to use blacks. 

 

I have used Offshore but I like the Scotty's better . Both work . 

[Sk8man]

I've used all the models of Black's (even the original white ones back in the mid seventies), and have experimented with about every one of the other types of releases over time  including my own home made ones but I still favor the Blacks.   A couple reasons come to mind: they are very predictable when properly used, and they are very "portable" for use on other peoples boats (when they are OK with it). I have for years set the tension on mine when fishing for trout and salmon by using an inexpensive digital luggage scale (e.g. Walmart luggage section). For normal trolling for trout I set it to release at 3-3.5 lbs with spoons and sticks and about 4 lbs when running heavier stuff like flashers or spinneys. The tension maintains very well over time. If I start getting small fish I may take the tension down to 2 1/2 lbs and that usually suffices. In terms of "portability" I have modified the outrigger version by adding a super heavy duty swivel and welding the ring so that the release is "bullet proof" as far as not a chance of it giving way. It is many times stronger than the newer release (which is fine but I don't like taking chances on other boats). Another example of "personal preference" and familiarity with what you are used to so there really is no correct answer to releases although some options are better than others.

Edited 7 hours ago by Sk8man

[Speedy]

Thanks for your advice. I fully respect all the hundreds of years experience in this group. I'm not going to throw anything out. I might try a sample of the easier to use type and get some experience on my own. I understand what you guys are saying about a tighter and more adjustable/dependable grip. No Kings over here in NE Kingdom Vermont, only Land Locked and Lakers.  But someday coming over to your ponds. I have four down riggers set up on the boat right now. I still have to learn about using the Fish Hawk and Sliders, and planer boards, lead cores and coppers...all by myself. I'll get it!

Tight Lines

Speedy