Leader tangling around downrigger line

[dogdude]

I was running a spoon and dummy flasher set up last night and had some tangling issues. I've had my leader tangle up with the dummy flasher before, but this time it was the leader tangling up on the downrigger line, and it happened twice. I was trolling at a decent speed, enough to get a 30 to 45 degree angle on my lines, so I'm not sure what could have caused it? Had about 6 to 8 ft of length behind the clip to the spoon. Any thoughts?

 

[tubber]

Lower ball slower.

 

[westercoaster222]

Were you in gear or at trolling speed when dropping? I would say you need good forward speed, drop slower, and more length clip to spoon.

 

[dogdude]

Were you in gear or at trolling speed when dropping? I would say you need good forward speed, drop slower, and more length clip to spoon.

I was in gear at trolling speed. I'm assuming it tangled right away and it just got worse as time went on and that's when I started to notice the tip vibration. I'll try a slow drop with more speed.

 

[westercoaster222]

I was in gear at trolling speed. I'm assuming it tangled right away and it just got worse as time went on and that's when I started to notice the tip vibration. I'll try a slow drop with more speed.

I'd say you need 15-20 feet behind the clip as well, works well for me.

 

[Macdeep]

Ya, I had this happen last weekend. Leader/rod mainline got twisted around the downrigger line a few times, eventually the friction wore through the downrigger line and pop - 100$ to the bottom.

Two causes I figure.

1) I was letting the gear down too fast and a) the dummy flashers were whipping around the tuna cord which lead to leader tangles etc.

2) the spoon was getting wrapped around the down rigger line.

But also check for this one which I think was the main issue I was having:

3) I wasn't paying attention to the clip, I run a long clip line so I avoid leaning far out over the boat etc, and there have been times where the clip line flips back around downrigger line a couple times when things are slack when I'm re-clipping in the line I'm fishing. Usually it fixes itself when there's tension right before I send it down, but at least a few times this month it hasnt, and it causes a real mess of tangled line around the downrigger line. I think this was the culprit when the whole shebang broke off.

I fish braid on the rigger and braid on the reel with a 30-50ft top shot. Braid on braid isnt good and the thin line will cut the thicker line.

Main thing is dont rush, pay attention to the details.

"Fast is slow, slow is smooth, smooth is fast"

 

[dogdude]

I'd say you need 15-20 feet behind the clip as well, works well for me.

Even when running a naked spoon? My though is you only want it a few feet behind your flasher. I use a 4' leader on my flasher off the cannon ball for this.

 

[dogdude]

Ya, I had this happen last weekend. Leader/rod mainline got twisted around the downrigger line a few times, eventually the friction wore through the downrigger line and pop - 100$ to the bottom.

Two causes I figure.

1) I was letting the gear down too fast and a) the dummy flashers were whipping around the tuna cord which lead to leader tangles etc.

2) the spoon was getting wrapped around the down rigger line.

But also check for this one which I think was the main issue I was having:

3) I wasn't paying attention to the clip, I run a long clip line so I avoid leaning far out over the boat etc, and there have been times where the clip line flips back around downrigger line a couple times when things are slack when I'm re-clipping in the line I'm fishing. Usually it fixes itself when there's tension right before I send it down, but at least a few times this month it hasnt, and it causes a real mess of tangled line around the downrigger line. I think this was the culprit when the whole shebang broke off.

I fish braid on the rigger and braid on the reel with a 30-50ft top shot. Braid on braid isnt good and the thin line will cut the thicker line.

Main thing is dont rush, pay attention to the details.

"Fast is slow, slow is smooth, smooth is fast"

I was fishing with my 6 year old, so distractions were high... The clip line wrapping may have been an issue for me as well.

 

[JWS]

Lower ball slower.

This. The shorter your setback the slower your drop should be

 

[Macdeep]

I was fishing with my 6 year old, so distractions were high... The clip line wrapping may have been an issue for me as well.

Ya I only have these issues when fishing with my kids (9 and 12)... or if I'm on a guys trip and the bite is on fire and everyone is excited/6 beers deep lol

 

[PEETZcanada]

Your dummy needs seperation between the two connections on the downrigger line at the same distance or more as the flasher is back. 6ft back 6ft minimum between the connection for your mainline and the flasher line. Flasher is bottom connection 6ft back or what ever you like then go up 6ft connect your mainline, go back the distance you like past the length of the flasher.

 

[kaelc]

I do way less than 6 feet and rarely tangle but it does happen.

 

[PEETZcanada]

I do way less than 6 feet and rarely tangle but it does happen.

You can go as far as you like as long as you follow the basic recipe.

 

[dogdude]

You can go as far as you like as long as you follow the basic recipe.

I wasn't tangling on the dummy, but on the rigger line. I think it was drop speed.

 

[kaelc]

I wasn't tangling on the dummy, but on the rigger line. I think it was drop speed.

What length Scotty clips and what spoons are you running? Lightest lure I use is a AP 4 inch sandlance. Low drag to weight ratio I think? I use a longish Scotty clip, custom tied length 3-4 feet but I'll measure. I'm dropping 18lb balls pretty fast.

 

[PEETZcanada]

I wasn't tangling on the dummy, but on the rigger line. I think it was drop speed.

Currents in some areas are different down below compared to the surface during tide changes. That can also be a factor. You trolling one way, your gear going the other. Just troll faster if you have that issue again.

 

[Squire]

I agree with the idea that the drop needs to be slower at least at the beginning. I have developed the habit of starting out slower then increasing the drop speed as I get deeper and even pausing once or twice to let the gear get pulled in lead before continuing.
I started this practice when fishing deep lakes with a mooching weight followed by a small flasher and Rapala minnow. If I dropped too fast the minnow could hook the line above the weight.