down riggers (worth the cost?) - Page 3

maar · 11-23-2007, 12:27 AM

If you are looking for electric, Academy (P-cola)has a couple of Cannon Mini-mags left that are on clearance for $149.88. Correction $99.88 now.These were $379

David Ridenour · 11-23-2007, 08:47 AM

Downriggers are a wonderful tool to add to your offshore arsenal.Once you learn to use them you can cover the water column very effectively and you would be amazed at how versatile they can be with a little imagination.

Such as: Imagine drift fishing or sword fishing with deep baits deployed off a downrigger instead of having pounds of lead on the business end of your terminal tackle. Fish strikes, releases off clip now its you and the fish with no weight to interfere.

Chum bagsat anchor or adrift deployed off your downrigger or suspended midway down to target certain species.

Stop and go technique: When entering a large pod of bait while pulling subsurface lures on downrigers, stop the boat. Allow the lures to slowly float up or sink as the case may be. Either action will mimic the natural occurance when predators slash through a scholl of bait and stun or slice their prey. I've had uncountable doubles after slowing or stopping for one fish and suddenly get a strike on another lure.

Stackers are another great tool for using downriggers. They allow you to pull multiple lures or baits on one downrigger cable. Of courseyou need an experiencedand hard working crew to maintain numerous baits on several downriggers but it can be a very productive method.

I've found the biggest advantage of my downriggers is the consistency you can reproduce once you key in on the "magic" depth. You can also troll with much shorter lines off the balls allowing a much shorter turning radius to get back on the fish quicker. You need only the tackle required for the species necessary with little worry of fighting additional weight or inline planers, large lures etc. I've been using them in freshwater over 20 years and in saltwater about 13.

If you can get the deal at Academy I'd go for the electrics.Cannons are a reputable company that stands behind their products. Their motorscarry a lifetime warranty.

Hook · 11-23-2007, 10:37 AM

Depends on what kind of fishing you will do most often.

Realtor · 11-24-2007, 11:06 AM

Whew, well after a lot of thinking and beating my head on the driveway, I got a set of downriggers. (early Christmas gift) Electric ones at that! Lots of thanks to Scott (Brnbsr) for the insight. Now for the installation, I am headed over to the boat in a little while to see if this is something I can handle, or farm out somewhere.

Scott, Thanks alot.

Jim

Bill Me · 11-25-2007, 05:09 PM

How do you use the rubberbands in lieu of clips?

brnbser · 11-25-2007, 06:58 PM

I use rubberbands both with and without clips.

with clips, I put 5 twists in the fishing line so the baits don't move, put the rubberband through the loop at the end of the twists and the other end of the band through the finger on the clip.

without clips, I use a length of about 3' of braid with a snap swivel on each end. one snap swivel goes to the back of the downrigger ball and at the other snap swivel is where is use the band to the twists in the rod line.

Jim, If you need a hand, give me a holler. It's not like I don't drive by your boat twice a day, 5 days a week. I probably get to see her more than you do. They are really a pretty straight forward install. Use good backing washers and nylon lock nuts and a dab of 5200 on each bolt hole and it'll be good.

Bill Me · 11-25-2007, 10:35 PM

Makes sense. My biggest challenge has been using the downrigger trolling at higher speeds with artificials. Especially alone or with just one crew member ots a full time job to keep two of them in the spread.

brnbser · 11-25-2007, 10:44 PM

downriggers were never really designed for higher speeds. we troll live baits and ribbons but never trolls faster than about 2.5-3 mph. and have caught wahoo up to 70# and a white this year even when not targeting anything but kings on light tackle.

need2fish · 11-26-2007, 08:01 AM

Every time we've gotten the speed up to 5 mph the line starts planing (starts heading mor parallel to the boat instead of perpendicular) and we have to slow down. At 2-4 mph we've caught some pretty large wahoo while hunting kings.

11-23-2007, 12:27 AM	#21
maar Member Ruby Red Lip Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 59	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) If you are looking for electric, Academy (P-cola)has a couple of Cannon Mini-mags left that are on clearance for $149.88. Correction $99.88 now.These were $379

11-23-2007, 08:47 AM	#22
David Ridenour Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Knoxville,TN Posts: 1,416	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) Downriggers are a wonderful tool to add to your offshore arsenal.Once you learn to use them you can cover the water column very effectively and you would be amazed at how versatile they can be with a little imagination. Such as: Imagine drift fishing or sword fishing with deep baits deployed off a downrigger instead of having pounds of lead on the business end of your terminal tackle. Fish strikes, releases off clip now its you and the fish with no weight to interfere. Chum bagsat anchor or adrift deployed off your downrigger or suspended midway down to target certain species. Stop and go technique: When entering a large pod of bait while pulling subsurface lures on downrigers, stop the boat. Allow the lures to slowly float up or sink as the case may be. Either action will mimic the natural occurance when predators slash through a scholl of bait and stun or slice their prey. I've had uncountable doubles after slowing or stopping for one fish and suddenly get a strike on another lure. Stackers are another great tool for using downriggers. They allow you to pull multiple lures or baits on one downrigger cable. Of courseyou need an experiencedand hard working crew to maintain numerous baits on several downriggers but it can be a very productive method. I've found the biggest advantage of my downriggers is the consistency you can reproduce once you key in on the "magic" depth. You can also troll with much shorter lines off the balls allowing a much shorter turning radius to get back on the fish quicker. You need only the tackle required for the species necessary with little worry of fighting additional weight or inline planers, large lures etc. I've been using them in freshwater over 20 years and in saltwater about 13. If you can get the deal at Academy I'd go for the electrics.Cannons are a reputable company that stands behind their products. Their motorscarry a lifetime warranty.

11-23-2007, 10:37 AM	#23
Hook Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Gulf Breeze Fl Posts: 966	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) Depends on what kind of fishing you will do most often.

11-24-2007, 11:06 AM	#24
Realtor Senior Member White Marlin Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 2,669	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) Whew, well after a lot of thinking and beating my head on the driveway, I got a set of downriggers. (early Christmas gift) Electric ones at that! Lots of thanks to Scott (Brnbsr) for the insight. Now for the installation, I am headed over to the boat in a little while to see if this is something I can handle, or farm out somewhere. Scott, Thanks alot. Jim __________________ Jim Summers www.PensacolaSharkFishing.com www.PensacolaHouseHunter.com @CaptFatJax (Twitter)

11-25-2007, 05:09 PM	#25
Bill Me Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 869	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) How do you use the rubberbands in lieu of clips?

11-25-2007, 06:58 PM	#26
brnbser Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cantonment, FL Posts: 2,349	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) I use rubberbands both with and without clips. with clips, I put 5 twists in the fishing line so the baits don't move, put the rubberband through the loop at the end of the twists and the other end of the band through the finger on the clip. without clips, I use a length of about 3' of braid with a snap swivel on each end. one snap swivel goes to the back of the downrigger ball and at the other snap swivel is where is use the band to the twists in the rod line. Jim, If you need a hand, give me a holler. It's not like I don't drive by your boat twice a day, 5 days a week. I probably get to see her more than you do. They are really a pretty straight forward install. Use good backing washers and nylon lock nuts and a dab of 5200 on each bolt hole and it'll be good. __________________ ************************************************ ************ Capt. Scott Brown http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...sp?gallery=351

11-25-2007, 10:35 PM	#27
Bill Me Senior Member Grouper Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 869	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) Makes sense. My biggest challenge has been using the downrigger trolling at higher speeds with artificials. Especially alone or with just one crew member ots a full time job to keep two of them in the spread.

11-25-2007, 10:44 PM	#28
brnbser Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Cantonment, FL Posts: 2,349	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) downriggers were never really designed for higher speeds. we troll live baits and ribbons but never trolls faster than about 2.5-3 mph. and have caught wahoo up to 70# and a white this year even when not targeting anything but kings on light tackle. __________________ ************************************************ ************ Capt. Scott Brown http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com...sp?gallery=351

11-26-2007, 08:01 AM	#29
need2fish Senior Member Sailfish Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Navarre Posts: 1,544	RE: down riggers (worth the cost?) Every time we've gotten the speed up to 5 mph the line starts planing (starts heading mor parallel to the boat instead of perpendicular) and we have to slow down. At 2-4 mph we've caught some pretty large wahoo while hunting kings.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode