The Outdoor Line Forum

When I am fishing with my downrigger I can hear a hum sound coming from the down rigger cable. Is that normal, do the fish mind, and should I switch up to braid?

pcorazao wrote:When I am fishing with my downrigger I can hear a hum sound coming from the down rigger cable. Is that normal, do the fish mind, and should I switch up to braid?

Yes, no and I wouldn't...

Allow me to explain: The humming of the downrigger wire is completely normal and should not concern you very much at all.

Do the fish "mind" the humming? I believe that in a high-density fishery (Think Possession Bar this past July) where you have a high number of boats fishing in a relatively small area, that the amount of sounders pinging, cannonballs swinging and yes, possibly several wires humming could spook salmon.

If you're out working an area without much pressure, I sincerely believe that wire hum is not an issue.
The bottom line with me on the braid versus wire discussion begins and ends with the following truth: If braid was better than voltage-controlled (black-box or Cannon Positive Ion Control) stainless wire, then the professionals would ALL BE USING IT...

They're not and neither do I

Awesome, glad i asked.

Question with regards to voltage, if my Scotty down-rigger's line voltage is within the desired voltage range , is this the same as what Cannon's Positive Ion Control down-riggers produce?
Thank ya!!

Hey Grizz,
All Cannon Downriggers have Positive Ion Control that imposes a 0.6 volt charge on the downrigger wire which is right in that productive "fishy" range.
On the DigiTroll 10 unit the voltage is adjustable from 0.1 to 1.0 volts and on the rest of the electric downrigger line the voltage is fixed

voltage-controlled? I have a manual hand crank cannon, are you saying some actually put electric current into the water?