Downrigger Wire Vibration

[keweenawfish]

I have a noticeable hum or vibration coming from my downrigger wires. It makes my teeth hurt and, I suspect, it also irritates fish. I fish Lake Superior. Typically my downrigger weights are 100 ' to 150' below surface. I normally troll between 1.5 mph and 3 mph. Does this hum spook fish? If yes, how can I eliminate it?

[Priority1]

I have a noticeable hum or vibration coming from my downrigger wires. It makes my teeth hurt and, I suspect, it also irritates fish. I fish Lake Superior. Typically my downrigger weights are 100 ' to 150' below surface. I normally troll between 1.5 mph and 3 mph. Does this hum spook fish? If yes, how can I eliminate it?

I don't think the hum spooks fish especially Kings. That rigger wire whine from the wind along with the cable blow back and bend in the Dipsy rods was our indicators for proper speed before we had all the good stuff. Personally I don't mind that eerie hum of the wires but to some it's like fingernails on a chalkboard.

[Rascal Trophy Fishing]

Slower speed and heavier weights on the rigger will help. Also direction trolled to make wires straight down in the water without much blow-back. My lake trout speeds normally average .8-1.2 mph on surface, if that's what you usually target.

[Richard]

I find the him acctualy attracts fish. Also when fishing alone I can use it to tell me when I get a hit. The tone will change when the line releases.

[sherman51]

I used riggers for salmon and run 2.5 all the way up to 3.5 and the hum was just part of salmon fishing. now I use 2 riggers on erie for eyes and run 1.8 to 2.0 or that is my target speed. I use the 13# pancake weights now. and I don't think I even get the hum. maby I've just gotton over it over the yrs, LOL.

[overthelimit]

You can change from wire to braid and that should stop the hum, but many fisherman believe the humming will bring active fish into your spread.

[keweenawfish]

Thanks everyone. I guess I will just have to accept the noise and assume it is doing me some good.

[sherman51]

Thanks everyone. I guess I will just have to accept the noise and assume it is doing me some good.

if it gets to bad you can always do what power pro said and switch to braid. you can find 200# braid on ebay pretty cheap.

[laker1]

In Florida charter boats cut a tennis ball and fold it over the wire to reduce hum.