With all the posts that I have made recently about using Jet Divers out on Lake Erie, I remembered that my neighbor had a couple of releases he had purchased. I went to the net to look up some information and found that they were being made right here in Monroe by Captain Dave Benore of Kingfisher Charters. What’s better than a Michigan product? A local Michigan product that has been put to the test on the same waters we all fish.
Instead of just going to the site and then posting links back here on the blog, I decided to call the captain himself and get some more details first hand. A quick call Thursday evening was followed up Friday morning with a more detailed conversation. Captain Dave has been chartering on Lake Erie since 1986, and he was informative, and took me step by step through the process, the how’s and why’s of his Jet Diver Release.
Don’t fight the diver, just the fish is the principle behind the release being used on the Jets. Although he did not invent the first type of release for Jet Divers, Captain Dave has refined it. During our talk it reminded me of those old commercials on television, ” We didn’t invent the widget, we only made it better”.
That’s what the owner of Kingfisher Charters has done by taking the original concept and refining it. His product is one of the lighter, weight wise on the market, and yet uses sturdy nylon coated wire on the release. The most popular sized Jet on Lake Erie, the #20 will not sink while letting out line from your rod and reel set-up. This helps the anglers who use the Precision Trolling guides stay on the dive curves found in the book.
The releases were put to the test on Captain Dave’s charter boat, the King Fisher II . When he was satisfied with their performance, he began to sell them. They have now been available for a little over a month now on his website under Captain Dave’s Jet Diver Release System, then for a short time on Ebay, and now Craig’s List.
The releases are easy to install, and you only need an electric drill with an 1/8″ bit. Basically its drill the hole, install release and go fishing. Each package has detailed directions, and the website also has an instructional link/page as well with pictures to help walk you through the easy steps involved. Just click on “ Installation Instructions ” to see what is involved.
Give them a try, the price is right at $21.00 for six releases, and that includes shipping through the post office. Why fight the diver and the fish at the same time? It will also give you a better idea of the size of your fish as you bring it in, because you no longer feel the drag of the diver. Sounds like a win win.