Ok, here's a related question, one that I've been thinking about with all the bottom bouncing (snagging) and black box talk. Has anyone ever replaced their steel wire with a very heavy dacron or mono line (+100 lb test). The purpose would be to eliminate the electrical charge and make it easier to cut the line (with a knife instead of bolt cutter) in case one hangs on the bottom. On the rare occassion when one snaps the dacron or mono line, I would think that is better and safer than hooking bottom with a stainless steel cable between the unforgiving bottom and the four bolts holding your downrigger to the gunnel. I would also think a mono line would be less likely to spook fish than a stainless steel cable cutting through the water - especially since you are presenting the cable to any fish before the flasher or lure.