I need to replace the cable on my downriggers; has anybody here used the braided Spectra cable? Any comments/advice appreciated.

gcg

Ive been using it for 3 years, after last season I removed and retied it from other end. I like it better than cable, have not seen any fraying on it. Just make sure your pulleys are worken

You will never go back to steel. No kink, when it gets worn you just cut and re-tie, and it makes the hum dissappear.

Haven't used braid yet either. Can you clip off to braid without fraying the line, or do you have to tie directly to the ball?

The hum attracts fish

I like my low-drag Spectra (130#) but the the Scotty brand Dyneema (200#) was too thick and had too much blow-back for me.

You tie off same as wire to a terminal snap. I always use a snubber from there. You will lose less balls that way. Much easier to use than wire and it lasts alot longer. Also no black box

I've been using braid for the past 4 years. I had the Scotty, but as said above, it was too thick. Cabelas had a sale a while back on 150 yd spools of red Power Pro so I picked up two spools. I tied to the Scotty braid (uni to uni) and now have about 600' of line on each DR. I cut off about 5' or so each year and retie to a 200# Sampo ball bearing swivel. Haven't seen any fraying or need to swap ends on the braid. You might go down to 150# or 130# (about the same as cable strength) for a little smaller diameter.

Keep an eye on your pulley for wear (I haven't seen any yet on mine).

You need to use the stops (red with extra loop) made for the braid. The yellow and black made for cable will slip. I think Scotty made the stops for their larger diameter braid. I noticed some slippage on the PP line so I do an extra wrap.

I do my releases off the DR ball. Not sure how the braid might hold up to line clips.

I see no reason to go back to cable after my experience with braid.

I use 200# Power Pro. This will be my third season on the same braid. I put 300' on and just snip a foot or two off when it starts to fray. I can re-tie the terminal end a bunch of times and still have plenty to fish with.

I use one of the green snubbers between the PP and the ball,thats where I attach the release.

The red stops are ok,but still slip on occasion. I use two red stops back to back and a drop of superglue on each stop. Thats pretty much cured the slipping.

I'll never go back to cable.

+1 on the Silver Horde green snubbers, too. Much easier on the gear and for lifting the cannonball into the boat.

The hooks that Scotty sells for carrying the cannonball are handy, too. Just make sure the open end is facing the line reel.

Backlashes? I'd hate to try and remove one. Anyone here have any?

Never had one in 4 years. It is important that the line guide(?) be set up so the line winds on evenly. I had to adjust mine as it was starting to pile up on the top. That could have created a problem. Could have the same issues with cable, too.

I had one backlash. Caused by a rookie on the boat fishin Blackmouth. Hit bottom a full force. Dumbass!!! Had to get out the tools and remove the spool to fix the problem. I now hold my hand over the spool just in case (counters lie sometimes). I use line clips (the shrimp size) and love em. they hold well enough to stack also without stoppers.