Fishing with Lisa and Tanya...4/9/2024

[Gobucks8100!]

So, so, so glad to read a report from you, Juls! I live vicariously thru your detailed and colorful storytelling when I’m away from the lake. You always make it exciting! Congrats on the good start to the year.

[Goosechaser]

Hey Juls, nice to see your season is off to a good start. Can I ask why you changed your boards to release on the front.

[Capt Juls]

Hey Juls, nice to see your season is off to a good start. Can I ask why you changed your boards to release on the front.

I had tried it, while fun fishing with a friend, a couple of falls ago, just to test it out, but the line I was previously using (Sunline Supernatural 20#), broke while trying to release the front clip. I didn't use that technique with customers last year, because...well, I didn't want to have to chase boards down, and I wasn't confident with it.

Then, after going fishing with Sam and another Captain, earlier this season, I was talking to Sam about what line he was using on his board rods, and he told me the Big Game 20# test. So, I changed out my line, and tried it again....I didn't have any issues.

I tried it with customers, and it works so much better than leaving the board attached to the line, since when it breaks away from the front release, and it flips around to come in by the back release, it centers up behind the boat, so you can get it in easier, with less tangles. It also allows the board to go under the water without any resistance.

My long time customers have really liked the change, and so do I. Sometimes, I'm slow to learn, but I do learn.

[gb1234]

Now that is some specific news I can use. Thanks, Goosechaser, for the question. Thanks Capt Juls for the answer.

[slimshady]

I had tried it, while fun fishing with a friend, a couple of falls ago, just to test it out, but the line I was previously using (Sunline Supernatural 20#), broke while trying to release the front clip. I didn't use that technique with customers last year, because...well, I didn't want to have to chase boards down, and I wasn't confident with it.

Then, after going fishing with Sam and another Captain, earlier this season, I was talking to Sam about what line he was using on his board rods, and he told me the Big Game 20# test. So, I changed out my line, and tried it again....I didn't have any issues.

I tried it with customers, and it works so much better than leaving the board attached to the line, since when it breaks away from the front release, and it flips around to come in by the back release, it centers up behind the boat, so you can get it in easier, with less tangles. It also allows the board to go under the water without any resistance.

My long time customers have really liked the change, and so do I. Sometimes, I'm slow to learn, but I do learn.

I have been doing that for years and it works great. I use the black medium tension clips on the front of my boards and put the line about halfway in. Never had one break off and I use 15# test big game green. The key (IMO) is to grab the rod, hold the spool and give it a quick "buggy whip" as soon as you grab the rod. It should pop right out and then wait a few seconds for it to drop back before you start reeling.

My regular fishing partner loves the Sam's pro releases, and they work great as well. I will say, do not use the cheap red ones, as those suck, big time! The black plastic is hard and slippery on those and they are hard to keep the line wrapped. If you use the real black ones, you will be fine. Just takes a minute to get the tension right and then you are good.

One more tip, I switched all my rear releases to the Bluewater tackle releases and they are great. They are similar to the red Off-shore clips, but they have an aluminum pin in the middle that won't wear out and it is easier to remove when you have a fish.

[fishfinder]

I bought the black ones, Sam's, but I also got some of the cheaper red ones (Before I read this lol) They might work for me since I only go out three or four times a year. Time will tell.

[slimshady]

I bought the black ones, Sam's, but I also got some of the cheaper red ones (Before I read this lol) They might work for me since I only go out three or four times a year. Time will tell.

Good luck with them. I bought 8 of them and they all ended up at the bottom of a trash can. If you can figure out how to make them work for you, great. I was sick of wrapping the line and having it all come right off before I could even deploy them. When I did get it wrapped correctly, they would typically not release properly and I would end up with tangles, etc. I went back to the black OR releases on the front of mine. I can set them in 2 seconds and they pop for me every time. If I was using braid, I would use the Sam's Pro releases for sure.

[Capt Juls]

I have been doing that for years and it works great. I use the black medium tension clips on the front of my boards and put the line about halfway in. Never had one break off and I use 15# test big game green. The key (IMO) is to grab the rod, hold the spool and give it a quick "buggy whip" as soon as you grab the rod. It should pop right out and then wait a few seconds for it to drop back before you start reeling.

My regular fishing partner loves the Sam's pro releases, and they work great as well. I will say, do not use the cheap red ones, as those suck, big time! The black plastic is hard and slippery on those and they are hard to keep the line wrapped. If you use the real black ones, you will be fine. Just takes a minute to get the tension right and then you are good.

One more tip, I switched all my rear releases to the Bluewater tackle releases and they are great. They are similar to the red Off-shore clips, but they have an aluminum pin in the middle that won't wear out and it is easier to remove when you have a fish.

Yes, I know how to pop the line. I do it the same way.

Just moving the spring in the OR-19s (orange releases that come with the boards), to the middle position, reduces the tension, making it easier to release the line. The further forward it is, the more tension there is, so moving it back releases some tension. I hadn't done that on my first try with them, when I was using the Sunline. I could keep using the Sunline, now that I know that, but I've already swapped out line on all the reels, so I'll keep using the Big Game for now. I still might switch back, eventually, because I do like the Sunline better...the line diameter is much closer to the PTD line used in their data, too.

As for the rear release...I like the Snapper (OR-18), because on cold days, when the hands are really cold, it's so much easier to press the lever up with my thumb, than to squeeze a release. It also has the ability for me to adjust the tension, if needed. And, it's easier for my customers...many, for some reason, can't get the line behind the pin, but don't tell me until I notice it. I can't have that happening when the line is released from the front arm. I don't want to be chasing boards.

Also, on a side note...I'm the Director of the Off Shore Tackle Pro Staff, for Ohio, so I don't think they would approve of me using someone else's releases on the boards.

[slimshady]

Yes, I know how to pop the line. I do it the same way.

Just moving the spring in the OR-19s (orange releases that come with the boards), to the middle position, reduces the tension, making it easier to release the line. The further forward it is, the more tension there is, so moving it back releases some tension. I hadn't done that on my first try with them, when I was using the Sunline. I could keep using the Sunline, now that I know that, but I've already swapped out line on all the reels, so I'll keep using the Big Game for now. I still might switch back, eventually, because I do like the Sunline better...the line diameter is much closer to the PTD line used in their data, too.

As for the rear release...I like the Snapper (OR-18), because on cold days, when the hands are really cold, it's so much easier to press the lever up with my thumb, than to squeeze a release. It also has the ability for me to adjust the tension, if needed. And, it's easier for my customers...many, for some reason, can't get the line behind the pin, but don't tell me until I notice it. I can't have that happening when the line is released from the front arm. I don't want to be chasing boards.

Also, on a side note...I'm the Director of the Off Shore Tackle Pro Staff, for Ohio, so I don't think they would approve of me using someone else's releases on the boards.

Understood! The OR-18s work great, but they are a bit pricey. Otherwise I would probably use them on mine too. They don't have a pin though, do you ever have any issues with them coming off? That is the other reason I have been reluctant to use them on the back. I am testing the Scheels cam style releases on the back of some of mine, and so far, so good. They are similar to the OR-18s in how they operate, but they have a slot that the line goes into so it can't come out until the cam is opened up. But again, I understand that you can't use them.

[Capt Juls]

They don't have a pin though, do you ever have any issues with them coming off?

Oh, but they DO have a pin. If you push the lever forward instead of backwards, the pin sits in front of the release, instead of in the middle of it...keeping the line behind the pin, so you don't lose the board, if the line slips out of the pads, for whatever reason.

If that is happening, there is a tension screw underneath, so it can be tightened up again.