POSITIVE ION CONTROL
The Positive Ion Control System
Your boat has an electrical charge around the hull in water. If a boat is properly bonded and properly zinced, that charge should be slightly positive when measured from ground to the downrigger cable. Positive Ion Control (PIC) is the use of electricity to control that charge and its fluctuation so that it is always maintained at a specified set voltage.
The practice of setting up and maintaining a slight positive charge on fishing gear has been used by commercial fishermen for many years. This practice has enabled some fisherman to increase yield when used along with other good fishing and boating practices.
Cannon’s electric downriggers offer fishermen a big advantage in being able to stabilize and control the positive charge around their boat. Because of the Lexan® construction of the frame, Cannon downriggers are insulated from your boat’s hull charge. When the stainless steel downrigger cable is lowered into the water, the natural ionization between the cable and the boat creates a positive charge of 0.7 to 0.9 volts in saltwater and 0.3 to 0.6 volts in fresh water. This natural voltage is dependent upon salinity and mineral content of the water. Your actual voltage may vary.
How the Positive Ion Control System Works The PIC system uses an internal circuit that passes the voltage through the drive train of the Mag 10HS \ Mag 10TS \ Mag 5HS to the reel set
screw. The set screw contacts the cable. Care must be taken to ensure contact between the cable and the set screw when replacing the cable. The positive Ion Control system applies a constant 0.6 volts on the trolling cable at all times.
Measuring the Natural Electrolysis and PIC Voltage on Your Boat
A voltmeter with a scale of zero to one volt will measure the natural electrolysis. Place the ground lead of the meter on the motor or the battery ground. Place the positive lead on the stainless steel downrigger cable while it is in the water. The downrigger must be unplugged. The voltage you measure on the volt meter is your boat’s natural electrolysis voltage. Use the same set up to measure the PIC voltage; just plug in the Mag 10HS \ Mag 10TS \ Mag 5HS.
Using Positive Ion Control
Positive Ion Control is very effective when trolling. The zone of attraction created at the downrigger wire will attract the fish. It is best to use a short drop back between the downrigger release and the lure. Drop backs of 10 to 20 ft. are typical. A drop back of 50 to 100 ft will entirely negate the effects of the PIC circuit.
The PIC can be one of your best fishing advantages, depending on fish type and location. For example, Puget Sound Steelhead may not be effected the same as Great Lakes Steelhead. To fully benefit from PIC technology, it is important that your boat is properly grounded. For more information on this subject, refer to “Secrets of Fishing with Electricity” by Ollie Rode.
Blowback
Simply stated, blowback is what happens to the downrigger weight when you pull it through the water behind your boat. As your speed increases, so does the horizontal distance between the weight and your downrigger. The faster you go, the farther the weight is behind you. The farther the weight is behind you, the shallower the weight is.
The following charts provide you with blowback information for three sizes of Cannon downrigger weights pulled at three different speeds with no lures attached and with no current. Current drag, water salinity and the use of
As an example, the first chart shows that if you are trolling at 4 MPH with an 8 pound weight and you have 100 FT. of cable in the water with no current; the downrigger ball is actually at a depth of about 80 FT.
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