downrigger question

[mtreno]

i am wanting to mess around with a downrigger a bit this upcomming season and have a few questions

the "mini rigger" - price seems right for a guy who may scrap the whole idea after a few weeks... looks like it will mount to my current rod holder bases - any issues with that? it comes with a 4lb ball but i will trolling at high speeds with large baits so i think i will need a much larger ball - will this unit handle the stress?

i never used one before so let me ask a stupid question - rigger on back rod holder - rod in next hold up - run bait out to prefured distance - clip line to release on ball - with reel on freespool and clicker on run ball to depth

how do you run more then one line per rigger?

[AaronM]

Why don't you experiement with leadcore, long-lining, or snap weights? Many people who downrig are moving to snapweights because it is A) just as effective much cheaper and C) VERY simple. Have you considered any of the above or are you set on using riggers?

[solbes]

I have the Cannon mini rigger. Works pretty well I guess. The cable and mount should be able to handle up to an 8 lb ball. I attach mine to my transom, but add a 1 foot strip of 1/4" oak on the back to help distribute the stress.

It's not as simple as I imagined, but I've had some success using it. Mainly I use it to fish for suspended fish over deep holes.

[Crusty old Swede]

Just one question how deep do you want to go?

[mtreno]

i run leadcore all the time walleye fishing and use to mess with snap weights as well. i thought about trying a snap weight system for this but when i was thinking about the amount of weight i might need i started to lean towards the downrigger route.

i want to get some baits that normal would run 1 to 5 ft and get them into the 27 - 32 ft range.

[traveler]

I've used a mini troll off and on for years...they are a good unit, I run mine like solbes does, and running down to about 30 feet works well. I'm running a heavier ball, 6 or 8 I'm not sure, and the unit handles that OK, but high speed/large baits? I dunno...thats a LOT more than it's designed for i think. Might hold up, might not:)

[solbes]

I usually troll with husky jerk-baits, floaters, rogues in the 25-35 foot range. Right above or just inside the thermocline.

I have made the mistake of trying to troll underwater structure with it. If the fish are at 30 feet, trying to troll around the 30-35 foot contour. This has not gone well and invariably I hang up the 8 lber (good thing I'm going slow) or I end up losing the lure. Better off just cruising the depths and avoiding the structure.

Off topic: Matt, your old Minn-kota PD now belongs to my neighbor as I sold him my boat awhile back. Still running just fine I believe.

[Crusty old Swede]

I'll suggest a 6# ball right off the bat for that deep, if you want to run with some speed. The down rigger will be much easier to get to the depth you want with a lot less line in the water than lead core or snap weights. To run two rods on one rigger you'll need a staker release for the cable.

[2thepointsetters]

i am wanting to mess around with a downrigger a bit this upcomming season and have a few questions

the "mini rigger" - price seems right for a guy who may scrap the whole idea after a few weeks... looks like it will mount to my current rod holder bases - any issues with that? it comes with a 4lb ball but i will trolling at high speeds with large baits so i think i will need a much larger ball - will this unit handle the stress?

i never used one before so let me ask a stupid question - rigger on back rod holder - rod in next hold up - run bait out to prefured distance - clip line to release on ball - with reel on freespool and clicker on run ball to depth

how do you run more then one line per rigger?

Your Questions in Order

1.I have never used mini riggers, but I know you can get a good used full size manual rigger for $100 or less if you watch the classifeds. They can be removed quick if you dont like it. I would recommend skipping the mini rigger if you want to run a decent sized weight off it.

2. They need to be mounted very solid. There is alot of pull on the side/back of boat when you are dragging a 8 to 12 pound ball. I would need to see a picture of the rod hold base to see if it would work. I mount mine with four 5/16 ss bolts with backing plates.

3. I would not use a 4lb ball. Your blow back would be horrible. 8 would be the smallest. I only run 12's.

4.Where can you the rod in regards to the rigger? Honestly you could put it just about anywhere as long its on the same side of the boat.

5. Your right about the free spool with the clicker to let the line out. I run anywhere from 12 to 50 feet of line behind the release. It all depends on the lure (stickbait, spoon, flasher etc)

6. To run more than one line per rigger you run a stacker release. Its another release that is clipped on the rigger cable usually 12 or more feet above the bottom release.

This is the only pic I could find of my boat that shows rigger and rod placement. In this pic I am running four riggers wth 2 double stacked and 3 lead core rods on inline-boards off the sides and wire rod with a 1lb ball down the chute.

[solbes]

Wow, some serious 'rigging there! You manage all those rods with a top set too. I would be lost very quick with a setup like that.

[SM1]

looks like the picture went away. Is there anyway for you to get it back up? Id like to see it.

I run 4 cannon downriggers off my lund fisherman. They have their application. I dont fish an area where I get to use them as often as I would like to. I have only used mine for walleye so far.

[jigginlow]

looks like the picture went away. Is there anyway for you to get it back up? Id like to see it.

I run 4 cannon downriggers off my lund fisherman. They have their application. I dont fish an area where I get to use them as often as I would like to. I have only used mine for walleye so far.

This is a bracket that a buddy fabricated to accomodate up to three rods- worked pretty good for stackers and extra long lines and planer board rods.

[jigginlow]

Forgot to check watched topics before I sent it -oops.

[ScottL]

Hey 2thepointsetter,

Is your track system Bert's, and how long is it?

Thanks in advance

[2thepointsetters]

Hey 2thepointsetter,

Is your track system Bert's, and how long is it?

Thanks in advance

The tracks are from traxstech and they are the longest ones made which are 72".The rod holders are borrowed traxstech but I bought cannon adjustable rod holders this year. I like the way they are built solid and the one hand adjustment will be nice. The tracks are awesome, buy the longest ones that will fit on your boat.

Here is a better pic of my set-up. I am getting rid of the triple trees and adding a rocket launcher.

[matthothand]

Snap weights and downriggers are different. If you want to get a crank down 20-27' fast consider dipsies otherwise if you stick with a rigger an 8 lb ball will be fine at 27' pulling "walleye size" shallow running stickbaits.

[2thepointsetters]

I would love to see a walleye trip a dipsie. Do you think the rod would even shake? I will have to try the dipsie for walleye next summer on Vermilion just to see what happens.

I dont fish inland lakes very often, but when I do the downriggers always get used and they are very effective for walleye.

[matthothand]

Walleyes can trip dipsies. If it hadn't worked for me I wouldn't have brought it up.