downrigger suggestions?????

[Ridgerunnr]

Heading to Canada in 3 weeks. Lookin to outfit my Lund Pro w a downrigger or two..I have never used one before so need suggestions and items required. My buddy suggests a 10# ball for deep lakers n musky trolling.

What system is decent quality yet wont break my check book? For release mechanism i see Walker appears to be the ticket??

[Ballyhoo]

Cannon all the way. They make the best downriggers. that is why that is about all you see on the charter boats. Walker downriggers used to have a spring that ran the depth counter and you had to reset it everytime you let the ball down because it slips. Don't know if they still do but if so do not buy them, you will be disappointed. Get something with a gear drive depth counter.

[Ridgerunnr]

Yikes i just check E bbbbbbayyyy and theres wayyy too many listed to even know where to start.looking to spend bout 300 for a manual pair..i see cabelas has a pair of walkers incl a rod for each for bout that

[mthunter]

Before you buy something you should figure out where on the boat you will mount them, you may want something with an extendable boom depending how far from the back of the boat they get mounted. I have the cannon uni-troll HP with the extendable booms and love them. Cannon is the way to go IMO.

[Ridgerunnr]

Riggers would be on rear of boat couple feet from end..one on each side.

[nolte]

If you're going non electric, get the canon uni-troll 10. The 5 doesn't have the extendable boom and is cheaper, but for the little bit of money I'd go with the option in a 10. If you want to go real cheap a lake or easy troll might work for you. I like the clutch system they use for deployment and the retrieve on the ball. Much easier than other manual riggers.

[yaggie]

If you use them much at all you will wish you went electric. I went with Big Jons and have had no problem. If you plan on going down over 40 foot you need 10 lb. I tried 8 lbs at first. Now use 12 lbs. which keeps the weights straighter down.

[Ridgerunnr]

I will only use them once or twice a year..wish i had the dough for a pair of electric ones...maybe should just buy one elec one instead for now?

[MN Mike]

I bought a differnt boat a few years back and it came with Elect. Walkers, I've been happy with them, they are older and do not have the auto shutoff ( but the new ones do in the right models ) like the Cannons' do, I'd like to have that feature.

If you plan on fishing deep, I would recommend an electric downrigger. There are some manuals out there that retrieve pretty fast too.

If I were to get new ones, it would probably be Walkers again but I would also give Scotty a look too, just for kicks.

Mike

[Northlander]

If u arent a die hard rigger guy save some money and get some hand crank walkers. Great quality and price.