Down Rigger Releases

What is everyone's opinion on which are the best down rigger releases? Using Cannon adjustable releases right now and not very happy with them, they are hard to adjust to just the right tension. Heard of using rubber bands but not sure how that would work with stacking. Was thinking of trying either the Church or Off Shore Releases.

Thanks, Ron

My friend who owns a charter boat (Playin Hooky) uses rubber bands and they work well.  Here's how he ties them:

Also, slider rigs on a downrigger this is how he does it: 

So we have a few trips out using our new Scotty releases, so much better than the Cannon Ratcheting releases we were using. Easy to use and so far have worked flawlessly! They have the 18" lead with makes it much easier setting rods.

Have used most all of them,  have settled on "Black Marine RC95" by far the quickest simplest and surefire release that I have used.  All I use now.  Super easy to adjust.

I use the red OR8 heavy tension Offshore release. You can place the line at different depths in the pads depending upon how far down or the relative size of the fish that you are catching. The pads are replaceable if you are lucky enough to wear them out.

I use a clear snubber in front of my release. Really helps to see shorts because between the length of the cable on the release and the snubber they can bounce and be seen rather than dragging them around all day.

One other trick is if you do have a small fish that does not release I find I salvage more fish if I put my thumb on the reel spool and then drop the down Rigger until the release. Much better than dragging them up through the water column.

Grey Beard

rubber bands..  since the early 80s

Chamberlain is one of the best releases I have found by far. Easy to use as well as infinite adjustment.

https://www.downriggerrelease.com/

I still use bands, many I know do.

I've tried many releases and Scotty makes the best IMO.

Does anyone use rubber bands for releases anymore? I haven't since the 80's. Not sure if I even remember how anymore.

I’ve never had any cable damage issues. I don’t stack on my depth raider rigger.

So it sounds like Scotty is a good bet, any experience with the self locating snaps? Do they damage the cable?

Scotty's for sure. I use them for both riggers and stack's. Don't bury the line into the release. Put it around the line and they work great. Small adjustments after that depending on line, tension, etc. The little Scotty releases work great for planer boards (leading clip with red Off Shore on the rear) when using 20# or bigger line. I bury the line on these one's. When I go to Erie, I put the orange Off Shore's on the front as they work better for 10-12# line.

I like the scotty releases.  Easy to use especially if I have someone that is not that experienced clipping it in.