This allows cable to unravel when weight becomes entangled or caught on an obstruction. On Walker manual units, the clutch is built onto the handle, allowing weight to be lowered and retrieved quickly with one hand. Electric units have a clutch knob with friction pads, working very similarly to the drag on a level wind reel. Line releases are placed on this cable. Downrigger locking knobs for security are an option available on some units and are important to impede theft.
Weights are usually six to twelve pounds and come in numerous shapes and colors.
A good guide to how much weight to use is a minimum of one pound per ten feet with a maximum of sixteen pounds. However, in most cases using more than ten pound weights on a manual unit can cause you to look somewhat like Popeye by the end of the day. Releases Correct application of the line release systems is essential for successful downrigging. The ability to attach the release at any point affords placement of more than one line on a single downrigger cable.