Black Boxes

[MolarBoater]

Has anyone had any experience with Black Boxes? As far as I know, they are battery operated voltage boxes to put a charge down your downrigger cable. This charges the water and attracts fish. Cabela's has one for $99. Is it worth the $$$$$$$ or just another gadget to catch fishermens' cash instead of fish?

[Tums]

Originally Posted by MolarBoater

Has anyone had any experience with Black Boxes? As far as I know, they are battery operated voltage boxes to put a charge down your downrigger cable. This charges the water and attracts fish. Cabela's has one for $99. Is it worth the $$$$$$$ or just another gadget to catch fishermens' cash instead of fish?

EMC2 there is something to the eletric impulse generating a field to atract fish. Companies like cannon have been sporting some simular products. http://www.cannondownriggers.com/sit...i_troll_iv.htm
It is widely known that some fish will hurt themselves in captivity in aquariums where there is eletrical current present. However I think this works more on some species (like sharks) more than it does on others. As to where if it will help in the bottom of the fish box line I do not know. If you get one let me know how it works out.

[Genelie]

Yes , if any one has ever used one; the info would be interesting to read about.

[Genelie]

Yes , if any one has ever used one; the info would be interesting to read about. So I must hold off on the poll untill more info provided

[MolarBoater]

Decided to buy chum instead....maybe later

[Genelie]

I just bought a chum churn...they say they this devise cuts up the bait, the noise it makes, attracks the fish, and fo course allows for a large slick of chum...looking forward to a test run with it.

[MolarBoater]

2 words, Special Kitty

[AstroDiver]

I know from personal experience that sharks are attracted to underwater strobes like on a camera. I don't know if a sound thing or what? I was pn a shark dive several years ago where a nurse shark kept swimming right next to my head where the strobe was.

[Codfish]

I have used a black box on downriggers in the past. Both fresh and salt water. I was targeting salmon in all instances. I did not have any better luck with the boxes than without. This was a $300 box set up made in Alaska and marketed by a commercial fisherman who swore by it.

I will not say they do not work at all, just that on the several times I tried the thing, I caught no fish. The lack of luck may not be atributeable to the box. I had very high expectations though and that lead to a deep distrust of the box when it did not produce as hoped. If I had caught fish by the dozens however, I would still be using the thing and swearing by its performance. I have of course caught fish by the dozens without it and therefore do not lament the passing of the box to another anxious fisherman.

codfish

[MolarBoater]

I have read that many predator fish are cureous to the sound of motors humming and even some musical artists played loudly over your boat speakers. At night, light obviously attracts bait and then bigger fish as well as scents and noises like rattles and vibrating lures.
Guess since these are all forms of a "wave" (sound, light or vibration) guess shooting some electric "waves" might, in theory, create some predator fish interest. Like anything else though, if they aren't there to begin with, there will be no one to be attracted to it. Hard to decide on its' efficacy.
Here's something to ponder, will you notice an increase in galvanic corrosion on your motor or anodes or the downrigger line with this leaky current?