DOWNRIGGER ADVICE

[CAPYTAIN]

Hi, new to forum am not new to fishing. Recently purchased a new boat and I'm look at a few options as far as downriggers go. If you had unlimited funds for 2 downriggers what would you buy? I am currently in between Cannon's Digi Troll 10's and Mag 20's but I cannot figure out what the differences are there. Or if I can hook up the Cannons to my Garmin ecomap 73d. Open to other ideas but I like the cycle and bottom tracking features I read about that Cannon offers. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you!

 

[SuperD]

Capytain, do you venture out in the salt or stay primarily in fresh water? Unless you did some deep, deep stuff in the ocean, I'd lean toward the Digi Troll 10's.

 

[LesB]

Cannon and Scotty both make great electric downriggers. I have owned both but now use Scotty. The Cannon Mag 10 or the Scotty 1106 would be my current two choices.
In 30 years of using downriggers I can count on the fingers of one hand the number of times the bottom tracking feature would have been useful. When I'm concerned about hitting bottom I usually set an alarm on my depth finder to warn me. I guess if you were trolling or drifting for Halibut it could be useful.
Note" the Cannon electric auto stop feature relies on an electrical current and triggers when the circuit breaks as the weight comes out of the water so you can't use a non conductor like braid for the cable. Scotty is a mechanical switch triggered by clips put on the downrigger cable and is easily adjustable....I like to stop mine with the weight still in the water so it doesn't swing around in the air. The Scotty method would also let you make multiple stops if you have more than one rod fishing on the downrigger.
I noticed both have sales going on right now.
Other important things is a swivel base and a way to secure the downrigger against theft....nothing is totally secure but you need to make it difficult for the thief...especially the opportunist.

 

[Kokaholic]

Over the years i have been able to fish with on, multiple occasions, the following riggers, Walkers, cannon, big jon, Penn and Scotty. I personally own Scotty 2100 series down riggers. In my opinion, Scotty is by far the best on the Market. IF you were to take some time and look on line at what most all of the Guides in British Columbia, and Alaska, and throughout the mid west, you will find Scotty riggers on their boats. I feel they are the best built and far cheaper than Cannons.

While Canon Digi trolls have a great feature with tracking the bottom, Unless you plan to use that feature, why pay the extra money. If I was to go buy Scottys, I would purchase the 1106's with the 60 inch shaft and never look back. I feel confident you will be totally satisfied. And No, I do not work for Scotty and do not get a kick back for selling them.

 

[downriggeral]

I'll toss my thoughts in the hat. I have friends with Cannon on their boats that I have fished with a lot and I have Scotties on my own boat. I really like the Scotties over the Cannons. Clutch/brake going down gives great control on the Scottie; fast and easy using no power. The up is fast but not too fast. The mechanical/electric stop allows me to run snubbers and keep the weight just under the water so it's not hitting on the side of the boat in the wind and waves. And here is the final part.....mine are 26 years old and still covered by the Scottie lifetime warranty!! thumbsup Parts are rarely needed but when I need them Scottie has been there.

 

[mtncat1]

Over the years i have been able to fish with on, multiple occasions, the following riggers, Walkers, cannon, big jon, Penn and Scotty. I personally own Scotty 2100 series down riggers. In my opinion, Scotty is by far the best on the Market. IF you were to take some time and look on line at what most all of the Guides in British Columbia, and Alaska, and throughout the mid west, you will find Scotty riggers on their boats. I feel they are the best built and far cheaper than Cannons.

While Canon Digi trolls have a great feature with tracking the bottom, Unless you plan to use that feature, why pay the extra money. If I was to go buy Scottys, I would purchase the 1106's with the 60 inch shaft and never look back. I feel confident you will be totally satisfied. And No, I do not work for Scotty and do not get a kick back for selling them.

I KNOW Jared is sponsored by scotty is that true for you? as far as down riggers cannon are the only ones I would even consider. some features I like on the cannons fast retrieve, power down option, also can be lowered manually, if that's what you want . superior design ,composite construction ,direct drive, vertical wire reel, auto stop , positive ion control, etc. bottom tracking is a waste of money imho . scotty on the other hand has a belt drive, a difficult to adjust spool drag, no ion control, no power down option. but to each there own I guess. I would recommend mg 10s and never look back. p/s cannon are also lifetime warrantied .

 

[lowe1648mt]

I agree with both Kokaholic and downriggeral. I've mounted all those brands and have used ever one of those except the Penn an Walkers . On my own boat I use Cannon Digi troll 3 Only because I found a pair of used ones for free. Only thing wrong was the circuit board on the dominate Dr. Price for a new board was 400$. I can operate with out that.
Go back to Classifieds, Looks like SuperD has Cannon mag 10s for sale.

 

[LesB]

I KNOW Jared is sponsored by scotty is that true for you? as far as down riggers cannon are the only ones I would even consider. some features I like on the cannons fast retrieve, power down option, also can be lowered manually, if that's what you want . superior design ,composite construction ,direct drive, vertical wire reel, auto stop , positive ion control, etc. bottom tracking is a waste of money imho . scotty on the other hand has a belt drive, a difficult to adjust spool drag, no ion control, no power down option. but to each there own I guess. I would recommend mg 10s and never look back. p/s cannon are also lifetime warrantied .

I would agree that the Scotty belt drive is questionable but I have not had any problems with it. As far as ion control I had that on a Canon downrigger and found it basically useless (think snake oil), especially in fresh water which does not conduct electrical current very far from the source. I also can't see that "power down" is any better then the clutch release on the Scotty. Scotty also has a life time warranty. As I stated in the beginning of my first response they are both fine downriggers it is just personal preference; horizontal or vertical spool?

 

[Kokaholic]

I have never had a problem with the belt drive on my Scottys. Knock on wood i will now for saying that.

mtncat1, What Jared gets and what I get is two different things. I get a fair price on the Scottys. However, I also know the reps for Cannon and If I wanted to get Cannons at a fair price like I did the scottys, I could get them to. We also have some guys on our staff that Run Cannons. Its not a sponsership thing for me. I simply suggest Scotty because I believe in them and they have never given me problems. Its all a ford, dodge, chevy thing.

 

[mtncat1]

I hear what your saying and I didn't mean any disrespect by it I just was interested in your situation . it is a definitely a preference . and like lure choice if your not comfortable with what you use you probably won't have very good luck .

 

[Kokaholic]

No worries and no disrespect taken. Tight lines, Would love to meet up and go hit Willard sometime and swap stories with you.

 

[mtncat1]

we could hit it sunday if your up to it

 

[mtncat1]

check that snow on sunday I may hit it in the morning

 

[Kokaholic]

tied up this weekend, im open Tuesday, thursday, after work, and all day friday

 

[downriggeral]

I see some concern about the belt on the Scotty. I have had NO issues with the belt. They are Kevlar reinforced like the belt that runs the camshaft on millions of cars not to mention the ones in the four stroke marine applications. I changed mine after 25 years use when I replaced the brake pads after 25 years of age. They did not look worn, I only changed because I had the units apart for service anyway.
All of that said I agree it's all about what you like; Dodge Ram, Fords and Chevy's.....all good trucks. Love my Cummins!