Downrigger Weights

[Mojo]

+1 The right clip is important. I prefer to do a manual release due to the hookset being better and more control over the fish. I run 10 lb. pancakes that I respray yearly with plastidip and add holographic tape to the fins.

+2 on the manual release. That way you are in control of the slack.

 

[Stanson]

Does anyone know were you can get a pancake mold for 10 lb weights
I have, four-10 lb ball weights that I could melt down
I look about a year ago and did not find any then.
Someone must be making them.
Stan

 

[niswanger]

Newbie here...first post

So did a search on down-rigger weights and viola I'm here. So a quick intro:

I've caught only about 6 fresh-water trout in my life (German Brown and Cut-Throat on the Snake River back in the early 90's when I was stationed up there in the Navy). I'm a SE fisherman (Bass and saltwater).

Family is heading up to northern NM (Lake Heron) the first week of Aug. Been reading up on Kokanee and we really wan to land some to put on the dinner table. We will not have a boat, but will will be able to fish deep, just need to work at it a little more

Using this rig (Father-in-Law's):

So, our plan is to use a make-shift down-rigger (really just a rope, tie-off, weight, and release rig). I "think" 30-35' is going to be the sweet spot first week of Aug.

So 10 pounds seems a little heavy for us no? Any suggestions on rigging for us?

Thanks,
Roy

 

[SuperD]

How about a heavier fishing rod and a linecounter reel as a make shift downrigger? For my small boat or canoe, I have a 12" boom, C Clamp mount Cannon downrigger with a 4 lbs weight.

 

[niswanger]

Thanks for the quick reply SuperD...the 4lbs sounds more manageable. I'll be sure to share this link with my father-in-law. I have zero down-rigger experience but at least he has used them in the past (CA). Talked with him just yesterday and we were discussing just using a heavy line/weight/tie-off, as in no down-rigger at all; just know what depth we want before heading out and do it old school.

See this 1 week stay at Heron Lake in NM isn't just about fishing, it's a family stay, we just need to get to 35' and catch a few Kokonee to put on the dinner table Probably won't be back in a very long time

 

[SuperD]

Issue with a heavy line and a light weight will be blow back. The drag of the line in the water will create a 45° in the rope and you won't be at the depth you want unless you do your algerbra and have a lot longer rope.

 

[niswanger]

Yep and I precisely follow you...kind of like knowing the pulls out when using planes like the pink lady etc. So, I'm a rookie, heck not even that, so I can only speculate...hummm...let's see:

Sailing kayak will have varying speeds depending on wind and what the operator does with the sail. So to make this easy, I would need to know the median speed for trolling for Kokanee...what about 3 knots with a +/- 1 knot variance?

If we use a 4# down-rigger disc/ball and want to achieve a 35' depth at 3 knots using a typical dodger/flasher with a wedding ring setup wonder what sort of hyper-bolic that would create and thus what length we would really need? May have to compromise too for lower speeds so the lure doesn't plummet to Davy Jones locker

 

[SuperD]

Koke speed is between 1.0 and 2.0 and chances deminishing from 1.5 to 2.0.

 

[niswanger]

Okay so really slow. I guess the real question now is if the down-rigger will really be at a 45 degree angle at this speed and depth?

I calculated 40' of down-rigger to maintain 35' depth at a 30 degree angle.

 

[650cent]

I wonder if there would be any interest if a loan or rental program was set up to borrow various downrigger weight molds? I have a lot of lead but I don't want to buy several mold to try for only three or four balls. I would be willing to pay for postage and maybe a small fee to use the mold.

Bill

 

[den63]

I just swiched to Shark 12LBS wights thay track stright blow back I was doen 60 feet my fish finder showed me at 59 feet trolling 1.2 . my fish cach has double thay are not cheep abought $100 I think if you order them from the factery in canada you could save about $30

 

[den63]

Ok guys, I am new so I got questions. What is blowback?
I will be using my Penn manual (600?) downriggers with an 8 oz lead ball. Apparently I need to rethink the set up. Also, I still have stainless steel cables on them. Should I be changing over to monofiliment or Dacron or what?

Check the waranty if you change the cable it my void the waranty.

 

[den63]

10lb sharks in crome all the way baby!!!

I use 12lb sharks in crome my cach has bubled

 

[RalphL]

manual release

+1 The right clip is important. I prefer to do a manual release due to the hookset being better and more control over the fish. I run 10 lb. pancakes that I respray yearly with plastidip and add holographic tape to the fins.

newbie dummy here. what is a manual release??

 

[Kokonuts]

DR weights

101idea101 My latest project is more DR weights. I use 11/2" x 15" chrome tube for 10lb, and 11/2" x 11" for 8lb weights.

So far they are working great! I really like them because they track straight, nothing to hang up on and they fit into the pole holders for easy storage and travling around the lake.
Also I have a "Bottom Dragger" model for the Brown Trout & other fish on the bottom.

I'll take some pictures soon!

Kokonuts

 

[trollmonkey]

newbie dummy here. what is a manual release??

Welcome you will learn a lot here.A manual release is when you reel down and snap the rod tip up to pull the line from the release clip.For the last few years I've been setting my lines deep in the clip so more than half our fish have to be manually released. I also use 1'-2' long cable on my releases, so the rod can really dance ,but thats covered in other threads. Pancakes Rulethumbsup