Down Rigger Question
 

Just wondering why I never see anyone use down riggers on salt water? Do you use them, do they work well? If not why?

Thanks

use them !

Used to use them. They work. Just not my type of fishing anymore.

They work in salt. Esp slow trolling live bait!

I think with the evolution of braid there has been less need for wire line and other methods to troll deep. You can get braid to get deep with weights and various deep plugs, planers etc where with mono it was more difficult.

Mostly I feel downriggers are not used because it adds too much complication to fishing...it is effective though. I use to use a Cannon DigiTroll IV that is bottom following. This is really cool. It comes with its own depth transducer and you set it to stay X feet off the bottom. If it gets deeper it auto-magically lets out more line and takes it in if it gets shallower to keep the weight at your desired depth. I used it and it does work well. Imagine how this would work trolling a bunker 3-4' off the bottom of a structured bottom... I still have it but I don't take it out of the box much because it is heavy, big, requires electricity and adds too much complication and is in the way a lot, esp on a small boat. Also when the bite is hot and heavy you don't need this thing, esp when the boat is rocking back in forth in a rip.

I may use it again but it is not on my list of things to do at the moment. (actually I have been thinking about using it for tuna to slow troll live baits deep when offshore)

Thanks for the input