Advice on positioning of rod holders

I am getting ready to install folbe rod holders on our new boat, we have scotty downriggers with the rod holder on the boom. My thought is that the folbe is for the stacking rod, or when flatlining, or possibly as the primary rod holder as the folbe is a superior holder when just running one set-up on that side. I am thinking that the mount should be behind the downrigger towards the back off the boat. Any thoughts? Also will install ball babies, or should I go with the Scotty clips for the boom or both? Any thoughts are appreciated. Also, does anyone use backing on downriggers when loading braid? I am going with the scotty 200lb. test at 300 ft Bob R

I changed over to folbes about 4 yrs ago replaceing my scottys, I love the folbes, I run 4 cannon DR as you mentioned I use the boom mount on the DR.I set my rod holders close to my seats for quick pick up. These are behind my DR. I cant help as didn't switch my DR to braided line cable works great for me. I do use the extensions on my folbes. I think you will enjoy the results with the switch over.

Bob, are your only downriggers at the back or do you have any on the sides? If it was me, I'd put the bottom rod in the Folbe and the top rod in the Scotty holder. The location other holders would to the right of the downriggers on the starboard side and to the left of the downriggers on the port side.

Braid is pretty thin, I'd leave 100' of my wire on as backing.

The scotties are on either side of our boat (20 ft. Duckworth). They are about 24" to 28 " ahead of stern. We have the off-shore bracket for motors (150 and 9.9 hp yamis). I thought that I could use the folbe as primary holder as you suggested. Extensions sound like a good idea, are they sturdy enough for salmon fishing in the salt? I have some lovely rod leashes we bought years ago, gives me a little peace of mind, esp. with newbies. How are you tying braid to wire? Hopefully will give you all some American Lake reports when weather and fish warm up.Hopefully Merwin will improve this year, last time we fished it was with Kokonuts (Richard) who was a great host. We had only fished it a couple of times ourselves in the flatback Old Town canoe with the 4 H.P. which is certainly limiting when the wind picks up. We are hoping to return the favor later this year. Bob R

I use 1/16" crimping sleeves to make my ocean leaders and my tethers for downrigger release clips. I bet it can work for downrigger cable to braid. Search crimping sleeves on amazon to see what I'm talking about.

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Originally Posted by SuperD

I use 1/16" crimping sleeves to make my ocean leaders and my tethers for downrigger release clips. I bet it can work for downrigger cable to braid. Search crimping sleeves on amazon to see what I'm talking about.

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I'm already there, been making my own release lines for freshwater for years, have a good crimping tool. I'll try it and look for other options as well ,I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks to all for advice, see you out there. Bob R

I too switched to Folbe a few years back, takes folks a few practice releases to understand the operation. I have a Lund with a wide gunnel and mounted 3 flush mounts per side and one on each rail in the front. This let's me move them around dependent on fishing position without much thought. They're awesome rod holders.

I used an Albright knot to attach my braid to the wire. Here's a video clip...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aM1SDq7ruSM
I went back to cable because I missed the auto-stop on my cannon - I fish by myself a lot.

How do you trade out braid for cable? I figure a spool on a drill to remove wire, but how to put braid on with tension? I would think putting the braid on without tension would cause the braid to cut into itself when significant (10lbs. or more) is put on and let out. Or am I mistaken and can just put it on and use? I decided against using wire as backing. Anyone use the scotty weight retrieval system? How do you like it? I picked up a pair of scotty line stoppers (heavy twine to crane swivel) at the sportsman show, attended some excellent seminars, although I missed the kokanee seminar, I went on a different day. Thanks for info, Bob R P.S. Ii'll sell someone the cable off my new scotty's, anyone interested let me know.

Bob, you are 100% correct about putting the braid on under tension. What I would do is just go ahead and put the braid on without worrying about the tension. The first time you can get the boat out, go to the deep part of the lake and let all the line out with your heaviest weight and retrieve the whole spool under the weight tension.

To create tension on the braid I just hit the up button and applied pressure with my fingers and acted as the level wind to get it on the spool evenly. If you get it on the spool reasonably tensioned, you shouldn't have any problems, and you'll get the final tension when you lower and raise the ball. If you are looking for a good release, I highly recommend the Chamberlain releases - you can easily adjust them for the relatively light tackle and bite of a koke, or the heavy tackle and more violent bite of an ocean going king. If you get the Chamberlain stackers, attach a safety line to the release with a snap and clip it to your downrigger cable so you don't accidently knock it off and watch $20 bucks sink to the bottom.

Great responses, i know what you mean about losing releases, I set up a clip system for our shuttle hawks to keep them on the downrigger line. I'll try the chamberlain releases, I've done O.K. with the type of release that comes with the shuttle hawk but the line tends to cut into my skin when my skin becomes saturated with water. It takes a little force to set the line in and that braid cuts like a razor. Now I have to get to a deep lake, maybe American Lake will do, although kokanee catches there are waiting for warmer water temps evidently. The reports I've read have mentioned trout, but no kokes yet. Maybe we'll be the first! Bob R

I've tryied about ever release there is chamberlins are fantastic. You won't be sorry I've been running for about 3 yrs.

I am going to try them, at least on my bottom rods, I don't think that the shuttle hawk will "rise" with the chamberlain, and that shuttle hawk is so trick, to see it coming up on it's own with a fish on knowing I won't have to raise that lower set-up to re-clip stacked rod. Bob R