I've used both free sliders & fixed sliders successfully in the past and not had problems with tangles. Based on your article, I’m confident I could deploy the spread described. I do have a couple questions about running stackers that are probably really simple to answer, but since I've never used them I could use a little help.
1) When a fish takes one of the baits off a stacked rod, does the stacker slide down the cable to the ball?
2) For those using stackers with coated cable type depth/speed sensors, do stackers cause problems with the coated cable (either from being pinched on or sliding down to the weight)?
3) Dragging that spread around looks simple enough. But, it sure looks like tangles waiting to happen when the fish takes a lure from the deeper set rod on a given rigger. In general, do the fish normally clear themselves or do you have to pull in the stacked rig to play a fish that took the deeper rod?
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
1. Usually the stacker stays put attached to the cable, but it has occasionally been known to release but that is fairly rare. Make sure you put the stacker release deep onto the cable - that way the line release wins
2) Heck of a good question - I'd have to imagine that it doesn't harm the coated cable considering it gets lots more abuse coming onto the spool then a pinch pad would cause. But I don't use coated cables so I'm not speaking from experience.
3) I've been on Salmonhead's boat a ton of times and never seen it foul either rod. Again I'm sure it happens as I've had fish hit and take out my non stacked next door rigger so a crazy fish will do anything. I'm a fan of not clearing the rod - after the fish hits and starts its run there is no more chance of getting fouled with the remaining rod as compared to any other rod on the boat. And the more lures you have in the water the more fish you catch. Obviously you need to pull it to reset the rigger - but I contend that it's best to minimize that down time.
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
Thanks Greg. I have one more question related to the first question.
Since the stacker is still attached to the cable after the fish takes the bait, what happens when you're bringing up the ball to reset things? Do you have to stop the rigger and remove the stacker to avoid it hitting the pulley on the end of the boom? Or, does the stacker hit the pulley and just slide down to the ball?
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
it's best to stop it and remove the clip from the downrigger line - leave the safety clasp on - that way you don't chew up the pinch pad material ... often times it's not necessary to remove it because you are jsut resetting the stacker rod.
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
I am not sure of the manufacture but I do remember a company that made a " Stacker Stripper" , it went on your cable at the same place a line retrival went and it pulled the stacker off and let it slide down to the bottom when you brought the rigger weight up.
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
Paul uses the Scotty releases for his stacker setups. Basically the same concept as the standard terminal connection close to the rigger weight, just higher up the downrigger cable. This release is affixed to the rigger cable, and must be removed when the weight is retrieved. If you have any old rigger releases laying around, you could make your own stackers as Paul does..using rigger cable. I saw the Cannon stacker release at Gander was about $25.00.
He also put me onto the Elberta Clipper sliders last season. This would be what he uses above his fixed Scotty releases. They are really slick, and only cost about $5.00 each. I bought mine from Grayson at The Outdoorsman in Jenison, per the recommendation from Paul.
It sure looks like a mess waiting to happen when Paul deploys that spread, but I've yet to witness any problems...and I saw about 100 fish come to the back of Paul's boat last season.
I have some Elberta Clippers if you want to check them out in person. We need to hook up for a beer anyway..
BFG
Official Ohio Delegate to Team Heavy Super-Sized Fishing Specialists bfg@educatedangler.com
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
Sorry for the late reply, didnt realize there was discussion on this topic. Mike, Greg answered everything percectly with my opinion also. As for fish taking out the stacked rod when they take the mainline, it happens once in a while. One thing I noticed is its certain days. And I am not 100% sure why, but suspect its the feeding behavior that day. What I mean is, some days fish seem to be shooting to the surface as soon as they hit the lure. Add to that, on certain days I am running the stacked rod line back much further and that will sometimes get caught up. Almost never does it cost the fish, but once in a blue moon you get the stacked rod lure hooked once on the mainline with the fish on it. Also, once in a blue moon the slider will hook something else, basically as the fish swims around, you are still trolling with the slider and it can just hook another line, but again very rare. As for resetting the rig, if the stacked rod is getting hit, just leave it where it was. If its the off the ball rod, I unhook it, but leave the swivel around the cable and put the longer leash into the rod holder on the rigger and let the cable slide through the swivel. I will show you this summer. sounds more complicated than it is. Also, I assume it will get filmed right away this spring for the trolling videos. The biggest thing to keep in mind is to keep things vertically seperated for starters and if the fish are getting snaled up, shorten the stack rod to the same length as the ball rod.
www.salmonheadcharters.com
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Re:Trolling Strategies: Maximizing Two Downriggers
Up until this upcoming season I have always only ran two riggers and I have utilized stacker rods alot. In my estimation they are a very under utilized part of an arsenal. I cannot say that I have ever ran 8 lures off 2 riggers but I have run a 4 rod spread more times than I can count. Paul is right on the money on this subject. Tangles are very minimal and can be avoided as long as you keep a decent vertical spread between lures. I have also found that keeping the leads off the ball within 30 ft and your stackers within 15 ft off the release helps, too. I am an avid fan of the Scotty releases also. After using Invaders, Cannons, Offshore, and a couple of other generic releases, I feel that the Scottys are the best on the market. One advantage to these that I have found is that if you happen to miss them as you are raising your cannonball, when the release hits the rigger they will generally pop right off. Other pinch pad style releases will normally just sit on the cable and end up grinding a groove in them causing premature wear. This is just my own opinion and experience and I'm sure others will have a difference of views. Thanks, Paul, for a very well written article. I may just end up running only two riggers again this year!!
Bill Brock Semper FIsh Sportfishing Team Boat.. Just Right
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