I noticed that some of you use the Black box while fishing with downriggers. I am a bit skeptical when I first saw it in Cabelas. But now I am beginning to believe after reading some posts. Just wondering about some of your opinions on it.

If you do use it how much better do you think the attracting of fish actually is? Do you get twice as may bites or more?

Any info is helpful.

Our Blackmouth season doesn't open until FEB 1.

I bought a black box for my boat but have not had a chance to thoroughly test it yet.

Catching all those blackmouth in Downriggin's boat made me a believer.

Check out this link for info on the black box.

I'd have to agree with Easy Limits. Everytime I've fished with downriggin, we seem to catch fish. Not sure how much the black box is helping, but for less than $100 you can't really go wrong. I got the box from Cabela's for Christmas. It was fairly easy to hook up and worked right away........I've only used it once, and at the end of the day I noticed that the reading went haywire on me. I turned the unit on and off several times with no luck...Finally said screw it and started heading in. About half way back to the dock, I stopped and tried it again and it worked...I'll have to wait till next time to try it again.
Bottom line, if it's broke, I'll get another one from Cabela's...I'm a believer....I think it might give you a little advantage.

The black box does not attract fish, it limits the detraction from the electrical currents downrigger cables cause going through the water. A lot of commecial trollers use them, but then again they are fishing up to 6 cables at 50 fathoms and trolling up to 3.5 kts.

I have never used a black box and catch plenty of fish. Personally, I think it is just a hoax to get a bunch of superstitious fisherman to spend even more money on fishing tackle. Thats just my two cents, for what it is worth.

If you think your boat is running a little hot, Put a zinc on your cable. They are much cheaper.

Yoadrian,
Do a search on Black Box, there have been several good posts recently on the topic. Some boats have a natural voltage that is already near ideal for salmon fishing and some don't. Downriggin' certainly catches his fair share of fish and swears by the BB. I personally think my BB has increased the number of bites I get by somewhere between 30%-40%, but I am still testing mine out. Even if it doesn't do squat, after spending $5K on a boat and committing endless amounts of time chasing salmon in the salt, a $100 investment is pretty darn cheap insurance that you're boat is attracting and not repelling fish...just my $0.02 worth.
JMS

I think washing your hands in a scent blocker soap prior to touching anything when fishing will help not scare away fish and be more useful than the black box. But some people swear by them.

Here is the link to the last round of discussion about black boxes: http://www.piscatorialpursuits.com/ubbcgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=011243#000000

I have one, wouldn't troll without it. RR, you are right the BB does not attract fish the electrical current that naturally occurs when you place disemilar metals in the water is what makes that happen. You don't have to be moving for this to happen, stick disemilar metals in water and you will get a weak battery action. The box just allows you to control that current. The video that comes with the box shows what happens when the current is raised and lowered, the salmon move toward or away from the source depending on the level of the current.
Yoadrian, it is hard to quantify how many more bites you will get with one, what the box does for you is to control the current which will attract more fish into the area of your lures, thus more fish = more biters, that simple. When the fishing is good I don't think it makes a big difference, it's when it's scratch fishing that it makes a difference to me.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff

I would suspect that aluminum boats in general would be more prone to putting out currents and the need would be higher for a black box than a fiberglass boat with properly working zinc(s) on the oatboard motor. The thing that I wonder about is if the ideal current draws fish or is it just a "neutralizer."

When I have used up all my stainless cable, I am going to switch to 120# test kevlar line. I know a guy who uses it -- he greatly prefers it. Longer lasting, no "jelly fish corrosion", no "krik - krik" sound as it's winding. And, I assume, no electrolysis issue.......

How can I measure the 'hotness' of my boat? Can you do it with the standard multimeter we all have?

Yes you can! Get a good ground and measure the cable. I have done extensive fishing from Ak to Oregon with downriggers and had a black box for years. Used it for a while but it diddent seem to help. If your boat is running about .8 volts at the top then your pretty good for Salmon species. Coho like it a bit hotter but I never really targeted them. Kings like it abit colder...about .5 volts. You lose a wee bit of current as you go down so it seemed to be perfect for 10 feet to over a hundred. After outfishing many people many times I got rid of it cause I never turned it on. Aluminum boats are more prone to high currents. But measure your output before you spend the money. I would put my non black boxed boat against any black box equiped boat anytime. Also you dont have to buy a box to overcome the current. Its alot to do with installed components. circuts and placement of fishfinders ect. A fishfinder mounted closley to a electric down rigger can create a feild and be picked up by the cable. Aslo keep the electrics on there own circut and ground. Sometimes its a bad ground that can cause funky currents so check every fishing season and even chart the readings from year to year and what was done. You can learn alot about your trolling machine that way.

Bob D

Or........When using 'riggers, put your lure/bait at least 30-40 feet from your release clip, outside any electrical field generated by your 'rigger cable in the water.

When you use a BB, the manual says to keep your lure/bait close to the release clip for maximum results. Granted, that is if you have your boat "dialed" in.

My take....

In the money last 6 of 7 derbies on my boat!

Downriggin'

I have had great luck with the black box. The most important thing is to check your boat to see if it is "hot". Do this through www.ScottyUSA.com. When the Scotty black box is turned off and then turned right back on it will pulse up and down different voltages. This is a feature. To clear this shut it off for 10 seconds and it will reset back to manual settings. The Scotty is quite a bit more. I bought mine before cabellas had them. Dick Pool is the one who made them for Scotty, He made them for Cabellas, got into a huge controversary with them and they parted ways. He is now making them under the name Pro-Troll. Outdoor Emporium has the black box for $80.00. There is probably nothing wrong with your black box. It probably works the same as the Scotty as the same guy made them all.

I don't use one but my boat is .7 or so without one. And I beat out DR the last derby :p Probably a fluke, though

Ah come on Spawn... you got me fair and square. It was a rough morning for me... fire on the boat, a hangover and high winds. I did get my fish though..

I hear Narrow's isn't doing the derby in Feb- the Tides Tavern is running one. I have no information..

Sure wish I was going to be around! Likes like July is the earliest I'll be back on the water!

Downriggin'

July? Just in time for the salmon opener.

Crap, DR, you gonna miss the Disco Bay Derby?

Is the black box useful only on electric downrigger's? My friend just bought a manual DR,and I don't think he knows about the black box.

A black box will work on all 'riggers and all types of boats.