Downrigger Clips slipping

[Captain PartyMarty]

Hey All

I had the boat out yesterday and did a 45min test troll to see how my new boat trolls. I noticed that when I crank down on the rod that it feels like my line is slipping in the clip and I can't get a good preload on the rod. I am pretty sure I had the line all the way back in the clip. Do I need to replace the clips or is something wrong with my line?

Capt

 

[Big Green Machine]

What kind of line you using mono or braid?

 

[jeff 1970]

well its not the rod reel line slipping cuz it would just trip off not slide up ....its sliding up your downrigger cable,,,,,correct ...if this s the case ...then its the squeeze snap on your scotty clips ....need to replace

i just re read your post ....i see u mean the line is sliding through the tripper clip .....it wont slide through ....it will just tripff if over loaded .....it cant slide up ....its sliding up your downrigger cable

 

[jeff 1970]

another thing u can do is crimp on 2 of the line crimps above and below where u want your clip ....that works well

 

[Stosh]

Try an inch and a half of surgical tubing on the metal stacker clip
Stosh

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

It's not the clip sliding on rigger cable because I have it attached to the metal ring of the swivel above the snubber. I am using mono as a main line I am pretty sure the line is sliding through the yellow tips but on the other hand I have to jank around like crazy to get the line to release. Strange thing this is that both of my rods do it, maybe those rubber tips on the clips are too old.

 

[cannibal chris]

here is a pic for you captain. buy replacement yellow rubber pieces and do this for the clips popping too easy.

 

[cannibal chris]

at berrys the yellow tabs are around $14 for 6 of them

 

[jeff 1970]

It's not the clip sliding on rigger cable because I have it attached to the metal ring of the swivel above the snubber. I am using mono as a main line I am pretty sure the line is sliding through the yellow tips but on the other hand I have to jank around like crazy to get the line to release. Strange thing this is that both of my rods do it, maybe those rubber tips on the clips are too old.

its gotta be something else ...cuz the line wont slide throgh the line clamp part ...if it does slip, it trips off ...no matter what ,,the way the angle is ,,it slips out causing it to trip off .....sure itsnot your real

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

Thanks Chris,

I will give that try, but I am not really having a problem with them popping to easily. I will try replacing those yellow tips

 

[Captain PartyMarty]

I am going to Nikka in the morning to have a float replaced, I will pick some up.

 

[Rockfish]

Set the Scotty release clip in the heavy set position ( pull it back to it clicks - see the instructions). It is strange that you say it is slipping but not releasing very easily.

Try new yellow tips.

The only other thing I can think of is contamination with a lubricant such as water resistant sun tan lotions or potato chip grease on your fingers which gets on the line and subsequently the clip but this usually makes it release too easily in addition to sliding. Some lines came covered in oil like that old crap charter boat line in the plastic round pull out containers. The sun tan lotion contamination from your fingers is known to cause this.

This is not a common problem if you are using 20 to 40 lb mono and have clean new line and new yellow clip ends.

If all else fails; try a brand new release clip set in the heavy position, new mono and set the line in deep.

 

[jeff 1970]

Set the Scotty release clip in the heavy set position ( pull it back to it clicks - see the instructions). It is strange that you say it is slipping but not releasing very easily.

Try new yellow tips.

The only other thing I can think of is contamination with a lubricant such as water resistant sun tan lotions or potato chip grease on your fingers which gets on the line and subsequently the clip but this usually makes it release too easily in addition to sliding. Some lines came covered in oil like that old crap charter boat line in the plastic round pull out containers. The sun tan lotion contamination from your fingers is known to cause this.

This is not a common problem if you are using 20 to 40 lb mono and have clean new line and new yellow clip ends.

If all else fails; try a brand new release clip set in the heavy position, new mono and set the line in deep.

i no what u mean about the scents ,there slippery ....but still its impossible for it to slide up ....it slides out ,,ending up causing a TRIP OFF ......thats all ,,,its impossible for it to slide through and not trip off

 

[Rockfish]

i no what u mean about the scents ,there slippery ....but still its impossible for it to slide up ....it slides out ,,ending up causing a TRIP OFF ......thats all ,,,its impossible for it to slide through and not trip off

The only time I can think of it sliding but not releaseing is when the yellow tip is actually torn and the line gets caught in it but that is rare and pretty obvious if you examine it. Your right Greasy oily scents could also be a problem in the release clip/ on the line.

 

[trophywife]

do not put your release clips on yer main cable or braid for storage/travel.. really they are made for 30lb mono.,,nothin else... lubes a killer also..wd or smell jelly will make em slip...

 

[Slabby20]

A friend gave me a tip for dealing with line that is sliding or releasing from clips due to scent, oil, etc. that gets on the clips. I carry a small spray can of brake cleaner. Spray down the clip. Then run a clean rag through the clip and you’re good to go, no more slippage.

 

[Hit em Hard]

I had a problem last year with my line releasing from the clip even when set at the max tension (30 lb. test line, fairly old clips were all I had on board). i solved the problem by giving the tabs a light sanding. that solved the problem. Your issue however sounds different.

h.e.h.

 

[Seafever]

I use 25lb mono.......it is put right back to the inside of the yellow Scotty clip and the back of the clip is pulled to "out" position to get max grip.

The Yellow /Black Scotty clip has 2 settings on it....one for lighter grip and one for max grip.

When I'm fishing deep ( 190 to 240ft) I have to have max grip....or the water/flasher resistance will pull the line out of the clip.

HOWEVER.....if I decide to trip the clip manually at that depth ......it usually does'nt and is an absolute bee-otch to
manually trip.....even if I wind it up to 120ft. Usually won't pop until about 70ft.
So I actually can wind line in, but the clip won't release it.

BUT....this is the price I pay so that I don't get "pre-pops"........(get all the way down there and the weak resistance pops the line out of the clip). I hate pre-pops.

Bigger fish will trip the clip this way....but if I get a shaker on I may not even know it's there sometimes.

I go to great lengths to make sure there is no oil or grease on the line where I am putting it in the clip.


Sometimes the line bouncing around will actually move the "wishbone" at the back of the clip out of position and release the clip.

I got around this by filing a bevel on the edges of the clip and using a certain length of retaining line through the clip.
In the pic:-
Clip on left is in"max" strength position. Clip on right is in "weaker" setting.
Clip on left has bigger line loop where it goes through "wishbone". This eliminates line sidepull a bit more and pevents pre-pops more. The shorter you make that loop the worse it is.

Downrigger gurus say that you need about 8lbs actual test pull to release mono from the clip on a "bench test". I've tried it, and it's a little light for me.
Fishing in 40ft of water is just not the same as 240ft of water.

 

[Westcap19]

...the new tips should do it. When you're storing them, make sure that you don't clip them back onto the line--I couldn't figure out why one side was letting go, then figured out my buddy was clipping it onto the rolled up line before putting it away.

 

[Big Green Machine]

...the new tips should do it. When you're storing them, make sure that you don't clip them back onto the line--I couldn't figure out why one side was letting go, then figured out my buddy was clipping it onto the rolled up line before putting it away.

So funny you mentioned this as this is how I was shown how to store the clips neatly.

If you think about it, that mono on the clip is a heavy gauge and it's easy to see how it over a period of time could cause the gripper to expand. I guess I'm going back to the just storing them in a big ziplock bag willy nilly.