Alvey and Breakaway Cannon Casting Trigger?

[bordeaaj]

Do any of you Alvey owners use a Breakaway cannon trigger release? Also known as the Bionic Finger, they cost about $25-$35 and are most often used on spinning reels but I have read they can be used very effectively with Alveys as well. They are apparently called cannons for a reason and are supposed to make casting much more comfortable and add quite a bit of power to the cast while saving fingers and thumbs from cuts...esp when using braid, heavy bait or sinkers, or doing serious powercasting. The advertisements say that using your finger (or thumb) instead of a release aid hinders casting performance and distance. This casting aid has a slick, smooth surface and allows for a cleaner release for significantly increased distance according to reviews I have read. This sounds great as I just purchased an Alvey 650 rapid retrieve for some Hawaiian rock and cliff fishing and need all the distance I can get. With an Alvey, it sounds like you make sure the cannon is mounted behind the lip of the spool and use some kind of triple wrap trick when placing the line in the cannon (I assume this means you wrap the line 3 times around the small spool of the cannon). Then you just hold the lever with your finger or thumb and simply release the lever at the right moment during the cast. They supposedly help reduce line slap as well. Anyone have any experience with an Alvey set up like this? Where exactly do you mount the cannon on the rod? Is it just as pictured below? Any pictures of your setup? Thanks! :)

Breakaway Cannon Casting Trigger
http://www.tackletactics.co.nz/breakawaycannonimage.jpg

In Use On Spinning Rod
http://www.tackletactics.co.nz/button.jpg

You can find this basic info at http://www.tackletactics.co.nz/cannon.html
(http://www.tackletactics.co.nz/cannon.html)

[peterbo3]

Hi Bord,
Spinning reels & Alveys are different dogs. An Alvey compliments a purpose designed & built rod primarily used for surf (beach) fishing. They are used in other applications but their reputation was made in the surf.The Alvey is totally bulletproof. Sand, salt water & abuse by fishos have no impact on the reel. In fact, I do not know how Alvey stays in business because the reels never wear out.
Back to your little device. I cannot really see where it fits in. If you fit it above the lip of the Alvey in the casting position, you will not be able to swivel the reel back to the retrieve position. The Alvey sits much closer to the rod than a spinning reel.
With the correct casting technique & the right rod, you can cast all day with an Alvey without any damage to the digits. With each Alvey comes a little manual on casting & maintenance. Follow the directions & with a bit of practice you will be casting like a pro.

[Benno75]

Hi Bord, I agree with Peter. The beauity of an alvey (appart from being indestructible) is their simplicity. The cannon sounds like a gimick to me, but I've never seen the device and can't quite understand exactly how it could improve casting distances

Granted you do cop a bit of line slap when really roosting a heavy bait a long distance - can be particularly uncomfortable in on a cold, wet, windy, winter evening. Its all part of the experience though.

One piece of advice though: personally I wouldn't put braid line on an alvey reel. It would slice up your finger like a cheese knife, mono can be bad enough.

[bordeaaj]

Thanks for the feedback peterbo and benno. You list the very reasons I purchased my Alveys (the 6500BCVRR for casting and the 655BC boat reel for kitefishing). Simple and indestructible is good on the Hawaiian lava beds and cliffs. I'm also considering trying out a Seamartin for the same reasons.

As far as the cannon goes, it seems gimmicky to me too and I wouldn't have given it a second look except that I learned about them on a long distance casting forum where some of the guys use them while fishing. They said Alveys casting distance are already top notch, esp in the smaller sizes with light line, and claim this thing actually does increase cast distance in both spinning reels and Alveys. They just weren't too clear on positioning of the trigger. It sounded like the recommendation with Alveys was to put the trigger in a comfortable spot slightly to one side of the rod and just behind the lip of the spool. I guess it would be easy for one to experiment and find the most comfortable spot to place it. Increased distance, easy on the fingers during all day sessions, curiosity made me think it might be worth checking out what the real Alvey experts think. This was a good start, keep the answers coming!!! :)

[peterbo3]

Bord, I will probably be hung for saying this, but..........................................
If you are really looking for distance with BRAID, then something like an ABU 7000 or 9000 will outcast an Alvey with the right rod. If you are fishing in a clean environment then an overhead may be the go. Of course, there will be the unavoidable "birdsnests" but this style of reel works well on ledge fishing. Even more so if you can obtain an aftermarket handle with more length to give you extra power on the retrieve. Downside of the ABU is the higher skill level required to use it to its maximum potential & the extra care needed to keep it working.

[bordeaaj]

Bord, I will probably be hung for saying this, but..........................................
If you are really looking for distance with BRAID, then something like an ABU 7000 or 9000 will outcast an Alvey with the right rod. If you are fishing in a clean environment then an overhead may be the go. Of course, there will be the unavoidable "birdsnests" but this style of reel works well on ledge fishing. Even more so if you can obtain an aftermarket handle with more length to give you extra power on the retrieve. Downside of the ABU is the higher skill level required to use it to its maximum potential & the extra care needed to keep it working.

I personally am not going for braid, they meant braid on a regular spinning reel when using a cannon for the most part. Most of the ledge fishing in Hawaii is done with just the type of equipment and technique you describe. We have this equipment and still use it...the Alveys are just for the fun of trying out something new without the worries of destroying a fancy expensive reel. I also got a couple of their kids rod and reel combos to use as ultralights for smaller gamefish.

But, for tournaments the Alvey casters do use braid and I read of casting 112 gram led 205 meters, and a 112 gram sinker with a 4 inch piece of wood 184 meters. With a 028 braid and 125 gram weight they say a cast of 230 meters is no worries. Not as far as a multiplier reel but still a very long cast...and for a fraction of the cost and maintenance. They use the small 4 and 4.5 inch Alveys reels which they say trow a smaller loop and so cast further but take a lot of of winding afterward. One guy said a 5inch Alvey is the max for real distance casting. Not that I am going to do any tournament casting...but interesting just the same.

Obviously, I wont be able to cast like that...with or without a cannon release trigger. :)

[gonecasting]

It isn't what you asked but,

I would use either a leather finger stool or a piece of bike inner tube that fitted snugly around my finger to grip the line.

You can get a good grip without the sting :D

With the the cannon you don't get any feed back as you cast.

Hope this helped

[Millby]

I agree with Peterbo. I love my ABU 7000 for beach fishing.....

[bordeaaj]

I agree with Peterbo. I love my ABU 7000 for beach fishing.....

I agree...the ABU reels are awesome for distance casting esp when modified properly (which is beyond my capabilities). I hear they are the reels to beat in the tournaments. :)