I'm new to the downrigger so any tips,hints or tricks you can share with me will be a great help. Don't worry about being too basic, this is a brand new toy.

Thanks:cheers:

What kind of bottom are you fishing? I fish LIS, and very rarely see guys using them. What are you trying to get down there, and what depth? There are probably better and easier ways to accomplish getting a bait down to the proper depth. I assume you are using this out in the salt, right?

If you really want to troll, try wire line or lead core. Those can easily reach depths of 30 feet. Also, the Mann's Stretch lures are 5 or 6 bucks and they will also get down to 30 feet with simple braided line. Are you fishing deeper water?

Jon

I got one last season...my first one also . They work well but it takes a little testing. It also complicates fishing slightly. For those that like to keep it simple...this is not for them. The reason you don't see a lot of them is that around here, the fish tend to hang around structure (rocks) and drop-offs. Trolling across or near one with most downriggers means an expensive hang.

I always avoided them until I read about one that has its own depth transducer and can contour the bottom. (you set it for a depth off the bottom and it adjusts auto-magically.) I tested it out and it is kewl and does indeed work. I plan to use it more this season when I troll.

Why use a downrigger...simple, cause wire plain sucks to fish with. I own wire 4 rods and 6 wire reels and have trolled them for my entire life from Fire Island Inlet to Nantucket. IMO while wire IS productive (no doubt about that!)...it is a lot LESS fun to fish with. Yes it is still exciting to see a big fish boated but the battle is unsportsmanlike and is the reason why the IGFA disallowed it.
When you use braid on a downrigger on a light rod...that is fun and a lot more comfortable.
All the charter guys troll wire...why? simple, it produces fish for brainless fisherman. You end up draggin the poor fish at at 3 knots and winchin him in....there is little sport, but you do put fish in the box. It is also hard work and there can even be painful at times. :eek: Tube and worming on wire is like casting a bucktail...there is an art to it and it takes some experience to develop the technique. I don't hold it against anyone and I still carry the wire on board for slow days...but I like the rigger too.

No matter which model you have, it will take some time to get use to it. One nice thing about it is that you KNOW exactly where the lure is. You can put a floating plug at 58' if you want. Wire is a guessing game but I found the best way to fish wire is to keep it bouncing on the bottom from time to time so yo know your close.
Start off buy fishing a spot with near constant water depth with it until you get use to the features.

There is a guy here on this board (forgot who) who trolls live eels with downriggers and is very effective. I think I may try it this year...live bait on a down rigger.

good luck

I have been using a downrigger for a couple seasons now I find it perfect to use when trolling live bait whether it be eels, herring, or shad deep. For trolling deep plugs I still stay with wire. I typically have 40' of line behind the ball, the last 10' will be flourocarbon.

The individual who sold me my Cannon Digi Troll IV downrigger sold his boat is is unloading these nearly new units. He claims to have put the ball in the freshwater twice. I bought one from him last season and I was happy with it. He wants 750 for each. (The list for a lot more then that 1400 or so) he is also tossing in some attachements.
If interested PM me. These are expensive units with a mini computer module onboad that allows you to program it to cover certain depths and even jig it between two depths automagically but the reason I got one is you can get an optional transducer for it from cabelas which allow it to bottom track. You can keep a bait 3' off the bottom and troll right over a sandbar with hitting the bottom and watch it on your fishfinder.
way cool. He asked me if I wanted the others... He bought 4 and has 2 left. I think one is enough for me at this time (actually, I would not mind having the another unit but I spent enough money on fishing stuff this week and have to restrain myself!
:) )
for the tech's see the cannon web site.

I troll 2 electric Canon dr's. I would agree with alomost all the feedback above. Definately try them on flat bottom first. You'll want to get used to keeping a close eye on the bottom and raising them when needed....quickly. Fior this reason I strongly recommend electric. I wouldn't want to have to crank 2 at once in an emergency. As far as knowing the depth, yes it's more accurate than wire or lead core but there is a significant slant invovled depending on current and speed that must be adjusted for. Also, keep a very close eye out for things like lobster pots. Downrigger cable is quite strong and so are pot lines. If you catch a lobster pot things can get very hairy very quickly. This can be expensive or dangerous depending on how you handle it. My advice would be to stay clear of lobster pots completely since they can be hidden underwater and can have quite a tilt themselves. You can see a pot on the surface 30 yards away and still catch the rope at the bottom. I won't tell you how I know that.