Finned vs round canon ball

[the butcher]

Have always used finned canon balls. I know there is a swivel on the terminal line that clips to the downrigger ball eyes so even round balls should be able to freely spin. For those of you who use round balls without fin, you ever notice issues with downrigger line twist? If downrigger line twist isn't a problem who is there still an option to go finned or unfinned for balls?

 

[Dogbreath]

It's not really necessary and those swivels don't work under pressure very well even if the ball did spin which IMNSHO it doesn't.

 

[Brett83]

I used both finned and round and sometimes one of each and I don't notice a difference. The finned ones are easier to pick up when wet.

 

[Aquaholic]

Some of the usual comments on this topic are that a ball with a fin has more surface area and will give a bit more blowback versus a round ball of the same weight.

 

[Rain City]

Some of the usual comments on this topic are that a ball with a fin has more surface area and will give a bit more blowback versus a round ball of the same weight.

I bet the opposite is true. Someone smarter than me can chime in on that.

 

[Aquaholic]

I bet the opposite is true. Someone smarter than me can chime in on that.

Maybe this guy?

 

[wolf]

Ive posted before about line twist I use heavy duty sampo swivels and never have twist at all . I use finned 15s have to remeber it gets the twist from 2 wheel on differnt angles.

 

[scott craven]

If you're talking about the SS finned balls, the advantage to them is the fin can be bent
in order to have them track apart from each other. Helps on boats with a narrow beam.
Just don't get them mixed up

 

[Rain City]

Maybe this guy?


View attachment 113292

"Supposed to be". But when I think of aerodynamics lessons from engineering classes, the fin creates less disturbance behind the balls so therefore less drag. It's science. But I also don't know how that translates to hydrodynamics. Like I said, I'm not that smart. I've gone back to small fins.

 

[Aquaholic]

"Supposed to be". But when I think of aerodynamics lessons from engineering classes, the fin creates less disturbance behind the balls so therefore less drag. It's science. But I also don't know how that translates to hydrodynamics. Like I said, I'm not that smart. I've gone back to small fins.

Three cannonball related threads just below us here, all started by the same person that started this one. He must be getting old, like me.

The first time I saw a suggestion that there was more drag with a fin was in one of Charlie White’s Fishing books. Decades ago. I think a side-by-side comparison would be easy. I still run cable, and 18 pound cannonballs, and I’ve never noticed any twist. I’m not sure if it’s just braided that will twist though.

 

[Rain City]

Three cannonball related threads just below us here, all started by the same person that started this one. He must be getting old, like me.

The first time I saw a suggestion that there was more drag with a fin was in one of Charlie White’s Fishing books. Decades ago. I think a side-by-side comparison would be easy. I still run cable, and 18 pound cannonballs, and I’ve never noticed any twist. I’m not sure if it’s just braided that will twist though.

Yeah I always just agreed with the theory but never actually gave it any real thought. I did have twist issues with the rounds, but maybe that was a swivel issue. I also started wrapping tape around the ball leaving a tail on it to try and stabilize them a bit. But then if I think about golf ball theory, maybe some spin helps with hydrodynamics!
But that brings up the coated vs non coated debate again. We seem to be going... in... circles... here.

 

[Salmon Seeker]

Yeah I always just agreed with the theory but never actually gave it any real thought. I did have twist issues with the rounds, but maybe that was a swivel issue. I also started wrapping tape around the ball leaving a tail on it to try and stabilize them a bit. But then if I think about golf ball theory, maybe some spin helps with hydrodynamics!
But that brings up the coated vs non coated debate again. We seem to be going... in... circles... here.

Maybe we should add dimples to our cannonballs . Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics are both Fluid Dynamics and follow the same rules. I believe a sphere is the most efficient shape, least drag. how much drag the fin adds may actually be negligible though. The dimples on a golf ball create a turbulent boundary layer which reduces drag.

 

[Corey_lax]

Maybe we should add dimples to our cannonballs . Hydrodynamics and Aerodynamics are both Fluid Dynamics and follow the same rules. I believe a sphere is the most efficient shape, least drag. how much drag the fin adds may actually be negligible though. The dimples on a golf ball create a turbulent boundary layer which reduces drag.

Add some dimples to your truck and see how MPG improves.

 

[wildmanyeah]

I’m sure this is probably another one of Thoes marketing things to upsell you to get that makes no difference at all.

 

[wolf]

Last time I looked fish bite a hook not a weight??? maybe im doing things wrong LOL I use plain old 15 lbers no coating no special stuff and seem to get fish just fine.. LOL
I remember some guides in renny putting there gear back like 100 feet from boat "said further away from boat and cannon ball the better"

 

[Rain City]

Last time I looked fish bite a hook not a weight??? maybe im doing things wrong LOL I use plain old 15 lbers no coating no special stuff and seem to get fish just fine.. LOL
I remember some guides in renny putting there gear back like 100 feet from boat "said further away from boat and cannon ball the better"

Nobody is suggesting that the ball catches the fish. Everyone calm down. The day is almost over and we can start drinking our Rum.

The reason people care about this at all is because of fishing 300 feet plus for winters and bottom fish. The less blowback the better.

 

[SpringVelocity]

Have always used finned canon balls. I know there is a swivel on the terminal line that clips to the downrigger ball eyes so even round balls should be able to freely spin. For those of you who use round balls without fin, you ever notice issues with downrigger line twist? If downrigger line twist isn't a problem who is there still an option to go finned or unfinned for balls?

I run a finned balls with no swivels and never have issues. Yep and I have taken engineering fluid dynamics courses so there. HAHAHA

 

[Bryan Allen]

Nobody is suggesting that the ball catches the fish. Everyone calm down. The day is almost over and we can start drinking our Rum.

The reason people care about this at all is because of fishing 300 feet plus for winters and bottom fish. The less blowback the better.

Yup.. what you said, Especially the rum part !