DW72 if you don't have slack line between front and rear release the table flag will not pull down when you have a fish on.If the line pulls through the release while trolling that slack line will be pulled tight.You have to replace the pads or whole release.I just replaced all our rear red OR16 releases last month for that very reason.
As for the spring location,I don't use springs anymore.Many years ago went on a charter and he was using rubber bands.I switched to rubber bands and have not looked back.I use size 33 rubber bands I get at Staples.I loop one end of the rubber band through the forward hole in the arm of the board.Then I stretch the rubber band over the leading edge of board and loop it around the end of the wire hooked to the tattle flag.When I put out the boards to start fishing, I put out my lure then put the line on both releases and hold the board to see if the tension is correct on the tattle flag.If the flag is getting pulled down I adjust the tension by moving the rubber band to either side of leading edge to keep that flag up.Then I pull on the line to see how much tension it takes to pull the flag down and move the rubber band again to get tension just right.I will adjust that rubber band more if when board running,the flag droops down.The rubber bands wear out so I change them every other trip.