PIC stands for Positive Ion Control. It is a system used on downriggers to manipulate the electrical field surrounding your boat and fishing gear.

Its primary purpose is to neutralize the fish-repelling negative energy naturally emitted by your boat and replace it with a mild positive charge that is known to attract fish.

Here is a breakdown of the science, the "why," and the "how" of using PIC voltage.

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1. The Science: Your Boat is a Battery

To understand PIC, you have to understand what happens when you put a boat in water.

• Electrolysis: When you submerge different metals (aluminum hull, stainless steel prop, lead weights, downrigger cable) in water (an electrolyte), you essentially create a weak battery.

• The Negative Field: Due to the chemical reaction between these metals and the water, most boats naturally emit a negative electrical charge. This charge travels down your stainless steel downrigger cable and creates a "zone of repulsion" around your lure.

2. Why is it used?

Fish are extremely sensitive to minute electrical fields; they use this sensitivity to find prey and navigate.

• Repulsion: A strong negative charge (or an excessively high positive charge) signals danger to a fish, causing them to turn away from your gear.

• Attraction: Research has shown that many predatory fish (especially Salmon, Trout, and Sharks) are attracted to a faint positive electrical field. This specific voltage range mimics the bio-electric signature of wounded prey or a school of baitfish.

In short: PIC is used to mask your boat's "bad" negative signature and broadcast a "good" positive signature that makes fish curious and aggressive.

3. How is it used?

PIC systems function by sending a regulated positive DC voltage down the stainless steel downrigger cable.

The Equipment

• Built-in Systems: Many modern electric downriggers (like those from Cannon) have PIC built-in. Some are fixed (usually at +0.6 volts), while others allow you to adjust the voltage (0.2V to 1.2V).

• "Black Boxes": If your downrigger does not have PIC, or if you want precise control, you can install an external "Black Box" (like the Pro-Troll or Scotty Black Box). This device connects to your battery and your downrigger wire to manually regulate the voltage.

The Voltage Settings

Different fish react to different voltage levels. If the voltage is too low, you lose the attraction; if it is too high, you will spook the fish.

Target Species	Recommended Voltage Range
Chinook (King) Salmon	0.60 V – 0.70 V
Coho (Silver) Salmon	0.60 V – 0.65 V
Sockeye Salmon	0.50 V – 0.60 V
Trout / Kokanee	0.65 V – 0.75 V
Halibut / Sharks	0.80 V+ (Often require higher voltage)

Essential Rules for PIC Success

1. Must Use Wire Cable: PIC relies on conductivity. It will not work if you use braided line (Spectra/Dacron) on your downrigger because the electrical signal cannot travel down to the weight. You must use stainless steel cable.

2. Insulation: Your downrigger cable must be insulated from the boat's hull. Most downriggers have plastic spools which naturally isolate the wire, but you must ensure the wire doesn't touch the boat rails or metal hull.

3. Short Leaders: The "zone of attraction" is localized around the downrigger cable and ball. If you run a leader longer than 20-30 feet, your lure may be too far away from the positive field to benefit from it.

Summary

• Without PIC: Your boat likely emits a negative charge that pushes fish away.

• With PIC: You neutralize that charge and create a "baitfish signature" that pulls fish toward your spread.