Anybody try this...I see Cabelas has this in 135# test specifically for downriggers....Gotta rig up some new cable this year and was thinking of trying it. +'s appear to be lower resistance and noise (hum), wondering what the -'s might be?

Can't use positive ion on Cannons, no black box on others, and cannon short stop wouldn't work I bet.

You're likely right Haifisch since spectra isn't electrically conductive. The black box manual I read stated that the reason it was effective is because the wire cable of the downrigger traveling through the water and ultimately through the earths magnetic fields, not matter how slow, produced a small amount of electrical current in much the same way as a generator coil passing through magenetic fields. Although almost imperceptable (except to lab standard test instrumentation) it's like a cattle prod to a fish, which is why the black box works. Now if all that is true, when you switch to spectra line you wouldn't need the black box anymore, and the lack of electrical conductivity in the spectra could be a real advantage if you own an aluminum boat. My .02 cents!

Just one thing to rember ,is that different diameter of the cable will throw off the line counter.

Saw this on Salmon University web site:

Q: John, I was just looking at the Powerpro Line website and they suggested using their line for downrigger cable. Have you ever tried this? What results did you have? They stated it would eliminate downrigger hum. Other then not being able to hook up the black box do you see any harm? Thanks. Chad

A: Chad,
1. It will void the warranty on your downrigger
2. It can cause the wire spool to split open
3. On a Scotty you can not attach the stopper bead
4. It does not wear well
I don't recommend it. Downrigger hum is a good thing, it means you're trolling at a good speed.
Capt. John Keizer

Great info...Thanks!

You might try attaching a four foot piece of the line to your downriggin cable. Then attach your ball to it. If you bottom bounce and your ball gets too attached to the bottom then the line will break and not your downrigger. I know some guys who do this and they catch a lot of bm. They loose a few balls , but not there gear or gunnel of the boat.

scott