Placement of downriggers

[Kokanee-Toni]

I have seen placements of downriggers in boats and they are always the same (2). But at a seminar last year Gary Mirales said to place them as far forward as possible (1) so that you can get behind them and away from the cable if it isn't up. Then I saw a video of Sekiu coho where the down rigger was at the very back (3).

What I would like to know is why you, who have downriggers, chose to have them placed there?

 

[DLM]

I run 3 on my 16' Alumaweld. Two are as far forward as was practical to mount them and still use side and back curtains. the one on the back is seldom used as the ball when lowered is directly under my tranducer and clutters up my sonar screen.

I have found it helpful to have the forward riggers equipped with longer booms, but longer booms are also helpful on the rear riggers to get the gear out behind the boat further.

This is a great topic, glad you brought it up. I am sure there will be many many opinions on this subject. I am planning on a new boat asap and downrigger placement is going to be a major factor in boat selection.

 

[SuperD]

I run 4 and sometimes 5 downriggers. Positions 1 & 3 for the standard 4 riggers. Position 1 allows for easiest boarding of the boat. Position 3 provides the greatest possible distance between the riggers that are on the same side of the boat. Unlike DLM, I like my back riggers to be as short as possible to eliminate the need for chord retrievers on my back riggers. Sometimes you will see guys with only 2 riggers using the #3 mounting position and I can just about guarantee that the reason they selected that position is because that back corner provided enough surface area for the mounting base. Many boats have thin gunnels which makes mounting in the forward position more difficult. But since the advent of the V-Lok mounting system, that isn't as much as a problem.

 

[SuperD]

P.S. - If you mount in postion 3 and have a kicker motor, get a prop guard for your kicker.

 

[mrmike]

I can say Gary Mirales way would be correct. I made that mistake and placed mine to far to the rear/stearn, couldn't get at them to load or to land a fsh because everything was to far back. I then had my holding brackets pushed foward. I also had these (female) brackets custom welded on my boat for easy removal of my down riggers, when not in use. these way I have nothing interferring with my gunales when netting a fish when I'm fishing for something else I don't need down riggers for. I have seen alot of videoes were boats were so cluttered they couldn't get at there fish. Like coolers /fishing poles they are stepping over everthing. The only thing I have on my gunnales are my folbe pole holders and you can snap them completely out of there bracket and remove when you need to.

 

[nofish]

I would recommed that you get in your boat and have someone hold one on the side of the boat, go throw all the paces from setting the line in the rigger to fighting and netting a fish. Also need to think about getting in and out of the boat. I have mine in the #1 spot and I like it, easy to set the lines in the releases, lines and cables away from the kicker and for the most part the fish stay behind the boat and out of the cables. The bad part is that I have to take them off when getting in and out of the boat but that is no big deal for me becuse I take them off when I am not using them. Hope this helps.

 

[dragonfly]

on my thunderjet inboard with a kicker i run 2 electric scottys on the rear, they have the long mast and i extend them all the way out and pivot them about 45 degrees foward and use a scotty ball retriver so you don't have to lean out and have no problems hooking up, we always stack plus when we have the kids and its slow we run a shuttle hawk on top of them and go down about 3 to 5' so they can catch trout so every one is catching something. but on a smaller open boat like an smokercraft lodge i had i ran them foward and worked off the rear because you do every thing at the back of the boat .so you need to put them where it's easey for you to get to them . dfly

 

[kokanee_slayer]

So for my "Two Cents Worth" I would say either the 1 or 2 position. Yes, you have increased chances of wrapping a DR cable in the prop particularly when fishing Salt Water with the currents and increased trolling speeds. However, increasing the size of the DR weights reduces the blow back and the chances of fouling a prop. I would much rather have the Downrigger out of the way when fighting a fish.

 

[Fallriverguy]

As you can see on my boat I have them in position 3. I have one right out the back as well on which I run a small ball and simply life up the downrigger boom to access the ball and clip. I don't have the 60 inch booms yet but will next season. There is just enough room for me to access the riggers from the rear. There is actually no reason why you can't get at them from the front either. I have done this and it not been a problem for me. I would be worried about getting my cable in the kicker if the placement was too far towards the bow however. The idea of a kicker guard is a good one if you choose placement 1. So far I have not wished mine were further forward and have yet to think I loose fish or have difficulty netting fish due to their placement.

 

[SuperD]

Fallriverguy, I've cut off my cable twice before putting on my prop guard and it was that #3 position rigger on the kicker side. One time it happened while I was backing up trying to unhang a weight and the other time was when I was fishing in snotty conditions and the wind blew my bow 180 degrees, spinning my cable into the path of the kicker. I'd recommend a prop guard to anyone with a kicker.

 

[Bduck]

I have my DR's in the #3 position. My kicker is on the port side but whenever I swivel the DR straight back the cable is right off of the prop. I always had a fear of the cable get caught in the prop until I installed a prop guard. Up to that point I have never been tangled in the prop but was constantly self conscience about it. The guard gave me ease of mind to concentrate on other matters like CATCHING FISH. I do notice once in a while on a fish release will make a suicide run into the prop. The prop guard will trap and help dice some seagull food. 101faceslap101 whistlersmother

 

[mrmike]

I can see looking at the added comments it has a lot to do with the type of boat you Own. My boat has a pump,and its an open guide model were I place MY downriggers up high (1 position) isn't a problem. I DON'T HAVE THE WALK through wind shield type (with is probable the most popular)were your down riggers put up higher would interfer with your seating. I PERSONNEL HAD MY DOWNRIGGERS in the number three position and hated it/every thing was in the rear of the boats your trying to net around your kicker your big motor your cables and weight are right were you have to net a fish the only space available is 5 ft or so directly behind your stern/in the 1 poistion you have numerious area to net as everything is behind the down rigger your cable and weight and your fish if say your fisherman is standing by your down rigger you have all that room forward and on the side of the boat ,but thats just me, but I've never even come close to putting my downrigger cables in my kicker motor prop in the one position I run a 5# ball (weight) ON MY DOWN RIGGERS and I own electric Cannon Mini were my boom are short .Maybe if I was running a prop on my big motor I might have a problem with my cables/ good luck I could see were you maybe a little confussed.