Downrigger weight selection

[Berryessa Boater]

Hello "All", Am currently in the process of setting my boat up with downriggers. I choose to use 5 "Big Jons" (manuals) (unless someone has negative feedback concerning "Big Jons"). I am going to mount 3 on the stern & 1 on the port beam & 1 on the starboard beam. My question is....Should I run all the same downriggers sized weights or should I run different weights at different postions on the boat, also what size in (lbs), would you recommend?.When I "USE" to troll for Salmon (remember the "Good Old Days"?) using weights on a sinker release, I would use 3lb balls on the "Corners" port, starboard, and then run 2, 2-1/2 lb balls off the "back" (stern)....I was wondering if this approach would also apply to downrigger weights?, Or is it best to keep all downrigger weights the same?, Thanks for any advise/experience.....Can't wait to have "ALL" 5 downriggers....."Down & Fishing"......Mark

 

[Kokaholic]

Good luck with all five, 4 is enough for me. I like using the same amount of weight on each one . More weight, less pull back, adjust you depth to keep them apart, at least minimum of 5 feet between, my recommendation, just me, I"m not a pro, this just works for me.

Two rods port, two rods starbird, I would run heavier weight on my deepest rods, lighter shallower. This is me, no pro, just a fisherman, love too see others input and ideas. This works for me

 

[Berryessa Boater]

Hello Kokaholic, I should have mentioned my boat is a 25fter, with an 8',6" beam, also am planning on altering the "stock" 20" Big Jon outrigger boom length with a longer one on both the port & starboard beam locations, to get over a 11ft spread......Mark

 

[Kokaholic]

That will work. just need to do some experimenting with your speed that you fish, set ups and I think you will have it down. Good Luck!!!

 

[SuperD]

Your weight choices should preferably be a minimum of 8 lbs and better if 10 lbs. When you run downriggers, knowing your exact depth is the name of the game. Lighter weight means blow back because of drag. Choose pancakes or shark weights as they tend to have much less drag than say the ball weights. I wouldn't have different weights and additionally, I'd recommend you have an extra for the day you hang a ball on the bottom or a tree and have to cut the cable to free yourself. An extra weight and a couple extra termination kits on board is a life saver.

 

[HiTechKoke]

Definitely use the same size weights on all of them otherwise you will have different blow back angles and when turning you may tangle a few lines and that is not fun... I speak from experience. Essentially my Walker due to the different cable but same weight has a different angle and in windy conditions when turning the potential is there to tangle depending on your separation.

Extra Terminal Kits a must. I like the Scotty ones that do not require a crimper.

Extra weights a must... KokaneeMart used to carry good pancake weights at a good price but I do not see them now. I was a frequent buyer in 2009... which was not my plan.

Pancakes vs Sharks vs Re-Bar

I have re-bars when I know I may bounce bottom or am in a tree zone fishing. Sharks are great but spendy.


Did you get my private message Mark? Just wanted to check since you are very local to my location.

Kevin

 

[Mark McWillis]

My boat is 24' with a 9' beam and I run 4 Scotty 1106's with 60" booms. I have 4 and still have tangles. I wouldn't even try 5. I run all 10# weights.

 

[Full_Monte]

When I did commercial salmon fishing for a very short time, we used our heaviest weights on the front riggers and the lighter ones in the back. This helped keep the lines from tangling. Of course, the front lines were also kept far out to the side of the boat...much further than our dinky riggers allow.

 

[trollmonkey]

My two manual penns keep me busy when I'm fishing by my self.You better be sure to have plenty of help on board.101juggle101

 

[Kokonuts]

I use 2 Scotty 1160s & somtimes I've used 4 poles but I can count on a tangled mess sometime durning the day!
For weights I make my own pancake type and used 8 lb last year but I am going to make some 10 & 12 lb. this winter for less blow back. 8lb is fine as long as you are not going over 25 FT. deep.

Kokonuts tooexcited

 

[HiTechKoke]

When I did commercial salmon fishing for a very short time, we used our heaviest weights on the front riggers and the lighter ones in the back. This helped keep the lines from tangling. Of course, the front lines were also kept far out to the side of the boat...much further than our dinky riggers allow.

That brings back memories... I assume you had float lines in that commercial setup? We did the same thing in my summers of my youth on commercial salmon setup... the float lines that drifted way to the back on our boat had much lighter weights.

 

[Full_Monte]

That brings back memories... I assume you had float lines in that commercial setup? We did the same thing in my summers of my youth on commercial salmon setup... the float lines that drifted way to the back on our boat had much lighter weights.

We were operating hydraulic Gurdies. The captain did use float bags sometimes, I think on the front lines, but I don't remember if he changed the weights when he did that.