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L

LedHed

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Mar 23, 2010
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So Cal I.E.
Went to the swapmeet (flea market) today and found a deal. Got a pair of Cannon Lake-troll downriggers, with bass pro weights/cannon releases for $100. Don't think they were used - very clean.

Something new to try out this year.
 
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Shoemoo

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Nov 1, 2011
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889
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Boise, ID
You can troll a lot deeper with a downrigger than you can with weighted line. When a fish hits, the line pops out of the release clip so you can fight the fish with a minimum of weight and resistance. People use them a lot for salmon, trout and kokanee up here.

Good deal. Just watch your depth and keep them out of the wood. Snagging the cannonball is bad news. Also, don't put your pole in the pole holder until you have the ball at the correct depth. Then put the pole in the holder and tighten up the slack. Otherwise you run the risk of popping the release when you put the pole in the holder. Then you have to reel it back in and reset everything.

 
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LedHed

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Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
5,146
Location
So Cal I.E.
mla - we are going to use the downriggers to troll crankbaits. If we are in 50' of water, and we have marks at 30', we can lower the baits down to the 30' mark and stay there.

Rt - too funny - we'll be lookin for slabs

Sm - great tips, thnx. I'm sure you just saved us some headaches. Sounds like you been around a downrigger or two...

DC - it could happen

No way SB, can't give them things away - with my luck I'll probably have to start pouring my own....

Jungle - You remember all those marks on the gaph when we would leave the Marina? We want to get some of that. I think they are Crappie. We are going to find out....


 
S

Shoemoo

New member
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Messages
889
Location
Boise, ID
I picked up a lot of info about them when I lived near Seattle. They are used extensively for trolling in the salt water.

One other tip... make sure you remove the balls when you haul the boat out. They are made to play out cable under resistance so you don't rip the side off your boat if the cable should get snagged. Bouncing down the road with the balls attached is a recipe for disaster.

I read a horror story online once where a guy parked his boat at a friend's house in exchange for letting the friend use the boat without him occasionally. Until the friend got stopped by the highway patrol for dragging the downrigger balls 60 feet behind the boat on a trip back from fishing. The shock from going over bumps caused the cable to play out until the balls touched the ground, then the friction from contact with the road played out the cable. You don't want that to be you.
 
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