downrigger question

[80skeys]

new to downrigging. the release clips I bought consist of a clip attached to a big metal hook. does the hook connect directly to the weight, or is it better to use some line or steel leader in between?

 

[LongLine]

Re: downrigger question

What kind of release is it? Sounds like a Blacks. If so then yes, rigger cable attaches to one end & hook attaches to the weight. Hook is there so you can remove or change weight.

The more hardware you have between the cable & the weight, the more chance you have of something failing at the wrong time. With a Blacks, I remove the wire hook & run my cable right through it to the weight.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[rolmops]

Re: downrigger question

What kind of release is it? Sounds like a Blacks. If so then yes, rigger cable attaches to one end & hook attaches to the weight. Hook is there so you can remove or change weight.

The more hardware you have between the cable & the weight, the more chance you have of something failing at the wrong time. With a Blacks, I remove the wire hook & run my cable right through it to the weight.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

I did the same with my big john releases and it works great.

 

[80skeys]

Re: downrigger question

Actually, what I've got looks a lot like this Scotty planer board release: http://www.cabelas.com/p-0019643016016a.shtml

now I'm wondering whether this is even meant for downrigger or not

 

[LongLine]

Re: downrigger question

Not really meant for main release on the rigger although could be attached to the second ring i.e. tail, of a weight but I wouldn't recomend running that way. Can be used for a "slider" line on the rigger though if you're fishing real deep and if you have nothing else.

On the planner board, the metal hook goes around the line from your boat to the board. Your fishing line goes in the plastic part.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: downrigger question

That is one of the things I like about the Chamberlain release- it has a strong pass-through connection and does well with small or large fish. I also like the high up-tension I can get with this release.

 

[80skeys]

Re: downrigger question

Thanks for the info, guys. I'm going to have to go the store and get some releases that are meant for downriggers.

 

[80skeys]

Re: downrigger question

Follow up:

the "planer board" releases have been working well with the downriggers so I've decided to keep them.

I'm quite happy I decided to start using downriggers. As someone who mostly fished streams in the past, it's neat to catch a trout in a lake at 40 feet down.

I'd like to try fishing for macks, but I've been told I need to constantly adjust the depth to keep it 5' above the bottom while trolling. This seems to very difficult or impossible using a manual downrigger.

I've also been told I can jig for them, but if they're down at 80', I don't know if I can anchor my boat and stay parked above them at that depth. (I was already having trouble anyway staying anchored in shallow water until I made some adjustments that I got from people who responded to another thread I posted.)

The macks will have to wait until I can figure out the right approach.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: downrigger question

....I'd like to try fishing for macks, but I've been told I need to constantly adjust the depth to keep it 5' above the bottom while trolling. This seems to very difficult or impossible using a manual downrigger......The macks will have to wait until I can figure out the right approach.

I assume you mean lake trout when referring to macks. Catching them is not as daunting as it sounds, at least here in the east.

You don't have to "adjust depth" by moving the cannonball. By using your sonar- and a general lake bottom depth chart if you can get one- you run your ball down to the right over-bottom depth and troll using the contour of the bottom as a reference. You can generally keep the ball at a given depth along a steep breakline that transitions to a deep water shelf or what have you where you have marked holding trout.

And you don't have to be perfect either- you might be running 3 feet off the bottom and up to seven or ten feet breifly if the bottom changes a lot, but as long as the lure averages 2/3 or 3/4 of the time at the "right" depth, you will likely boat some fish. Lake trout lie on the bottom or real close to it, and the "five foot rule" just means keep your bait/lure within striking distance. I have caught lake trout on breaks fishing leadcore at over 3mph when I was hoping for landlocked salmon. The rules aren't always the rules if you are catching fish.

 

[LongLine]

Re: downrigger question

Ditto what Mark_VT said. On jigging, some guys I know simply drift & jig. Others may occasionally put out a sea anchor.

One trick you may want to consider while trolling is running your rig 5-7 ft off the bottom then putting engine in neutral for a few seconds occasionally, to let lure flutter downward.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[80skeys]

Re: downrigger question

Well, I'll try drifting and jigging first, which sounds easier. I don't know about you guys, but the lakes around here are not bottom friendly. A lot of them are man-made from flooded canyons, and there's a lot of fast depth changes.

I know there are people in Colorado who use downriggers for macks (lake trout), but I think they are guides and other fisherman who fish only one lake and are very familiar with the contours of the lake. Otherwise, I don't see how it can be done.

By way of example, just this past weekend, I was at Blue Mesa. I was trolling in 120' water with my downrigger ball at 60'. Well, before I knew it the bottom went from 120' to 40', and I had to stop the boat turn around and pick my cannonball off the bottom.

20 or 30' of travel often will see the depth change from 20' to 150'. Literally.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: downrigger question

...%...20 or 30' of travel often will see the depth change from 20' to 150'. Literally.

Cool. I guess not so much... I hate quick breaks. Found one at Seymour last fall with my cannonball. 40' to 6' suddenly- my getting messed up with the ball and stopping the boat lost my fishing partner Ramel a really nice hard-pulling brown he had almost to the boat. Arggh.

 

[LongLine]

Re: downrigger question

That'd definitely be a challenge. You'd have to know the contours real well then troll around them. Just for "jiggles", one thing I'd try with a jig is to try to walk the jig down the slope. (cast to shallows, lift tip, let out line, lift tip, let out line, etc)

Good Luck,

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[80skeys]

Re: downrigger question

thanks for the tip, I'll give this a try

That'd definitely be a challenge. You'd have to know the contours real well then troll around them. Just for "jiggles", one thing I'd try with a jig is to try to walk the jig down the slope. (cast to shallows, lift tip, let out line, lift tip, let out line, etc)

Good Luck,

Tom B.
(LongLine)