Use the orange bead stops if you're using braid, which I highly recommend. Tie them with a double palomar knot and use 3 stops with a dab of super glue to keep them from sliding. Braid is quiet, doesn't give off any current, and doesn't splinter like cable. I also use a snubber (Goldstar Green), 12# finned balls, good Sampo ball bearing swivels on flashers. I do not like the Scotty releases. I'd never found them to be the correct tension, either too loose or too tight, even with adjusting the clip or swapping out the pads. I highly recommend the heavy off shore release that John's Sporting Goods makes. I also use a small gaff and have marks on the wooden handle with intervals marks at 16", 22", 24" and 36", you'll never need a tape to fumble around while determining if a fish is worthy of the box. Oh, and I use a little surgical tubing on the release clip holds to keep them from sliding up or down the braid. Someone mentioned having a spare belt on board, I found this to be of wise info. Last summer we were 30 miles out and one belt failed and wouldn't you know it, the fishing was HOT. It took more time having to swap the belt from one rigger to the other as we had to filter through wild Coho after Coho trying to get our legal limits. Now, I carry spare parts aboard and make sure the riggers are working properly.