Is 80# spectra enough for a downrigger?

1825 Views 4 Replies 5 Participants Last post by DreamWeaver21, Oct 12, 2007

JoshH

Discussion Starter · Oct 11, 2007

I got a Penn 625 downrigger and have a 6 pound ball. It needs new cable but I cant get any right now. I have 80 pound power pro sitting here but Im not sure if its strong enough to hold the weight? Trolling will be under about 6-7 knts

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

Chris Couture

· #2 · Oct 11, 2007

I wouldn't use it! I would recommend you using 250 pound mono on it. I always take the wire off for a couple of reasons.

1. Mono is suppose to not make as much noise in the water.

2. I would rather have to cut mono out of my prop than wire.

3. If a fish gets around the mono and takes off, it will cut the mono. Yes, you will have lost your ball but you have a better change at catching the fish.

Save

X-Shark

· #3 · Oct 11, 2007

Totally agree with Chris.

Save

brnbser

· #4 · Oct 12, 2007

it will work fine,this tournament season we started out using200# tuff line then we stepped down to 100# power pro with 10# balls on both so with 80# braid and #6 balls, you will be fine

the power pro has far less resistance going through the water than mono and wireand no humm like wire. many of the tournament anglers have been having problems using mono on their spools, mono will swell with temp changes and salt residue and has been splitting the spools. Cannon came out with the new white downriggers with the stainless spools this year specifically because of the problems with mono

your biggest problem is going to be trying to use them at 5-7 kts. downriggers are not designed for trolling that fast and will rise considerably defeating the whole purpose for having them, at that speed, your better advised to use trolling weights (cigar shaped).

the biggest problem that can happen with braid is that they will wear and groove you rollers (at the end of the boom).

See less See more

Save

DreamWeaver21

· #5 · Oct 12, 2007

I tried 80lb spectra on a penn downrigger. Didn't really care for it. Tough to handle it broke once with a 10lb ball. I imagine you would be close to skipping a 6lb ball with all the blowback at 7knts.

Save

1 - 5 of 5 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month