Using lead line and a downrigger

[black lab]

I have a 12' Aluminium boat so there isn't a lot of room. Could I use a Lead line on my Wife's rod in the front and use a downrigger at the back for me without getting the lines all fouled up on turns ???

 

[pizzaman_288]

thats what we do on our boat just take your turns slow and you should be fine

 

[Mudinchev]

I usually run 2 (sometimes even 3) lead lines and two DR and usually dont have a problem with tangles.

You could always stack both rods on one DR as well.

 

[black lab]

What size boats do you have ? I"m wondering if a larger boat would be more forgiving ?

 

[Mudinchev]

21' duck worth, but with a small boat I would take lead over anything else, less hassle with weights and extra gear with the limited room. When I was a kid my dad use to take me out in a small aluminum boat and we used lead line all the time.

 

[trollmonkey]

Hey BL,I started deep trolling from a 12' aluminum with an ancient 5.5 hp Johnson.It had 2 short arm manual riviera riggers mounted on the drivers bench out each side. We also ran leadcore out of both sides about the middle of the boat.It worked pretty good,just always had to watch the leadcore on sharp turns (the prop really likes to grab leadline).Otherwise we just tried to spread our lines as much as possible. It was worth a few tangles ,as the leadcore often picked up the biggest fish(distance from the boat?). Like Mudinchev said stacking would a great way to get another line down.

 

[MTmountainman]

We had the downrigger and leadcore (and planer boards) out of my 14' w/ 6 HP this weekend and had a blast! Fish took everything and it was fun to watch the boards go down

 

[black lab]

From past experience, seems like everything likes to head for the prop. laugh hyst I was looking for a spare rod holder mount today to put on the downrigger side for my Wife, but some of the shops were closed because of the Holiday. Seems like when we go fishing all I do is look after the Boat, Gear and Netting Her Fish. 101sweatinit101 What's the easest way to to stack a release ?

 

[trollmonkey]

I use a stack release with a spring clip that hooks on the cable.Normally I stack 10'-30' above the ball release,depending on how deep I'm fishing.Get a little spread between your stacked rods. I set my shallow rod so the line pulls straight up (hopefully)and the deep line pulls off to the side. You get some tangles with uncooperative fish,but not that many. TM

 

[MTmountainman]

I have been using long rods (actually old fiberglass fly rods) in holders from the middle seat back and was amazed at how sharp of S-curves I could make. The long rods seem like they could never tangle with the prop or the downrigger, which is setup straight off of the back. I'll bet it is harder with a larger boat.

 

[ElPasoCounty]

I have been using long rods (actually old fiberglass fly rods) in holders from the middle seat back and was amazed at how sharp of S-curves I could make. The long rods seem like they could never tangle with the prop or the downrigger, which is setup straight off of the back. I'll bet it is harder with a larger boat.

This...

I use eleven foot ugly sticks with Penn 209s...I went to that when I had a bass style boat...ran lead from the bow on both sides and downriggers from the rear...never got tangled on a fish...only when I got stupid and didnt pat attention would I get tangled...

The biggest issue I had was when I used 8ft ugly sticks...got lead in the prop a couple times...

 

[Flyguy55]

For 3 lines a downrigger out each side with a leadline out the back works well . downrigger lines are straight down and the leadline is far back. Often the leadline catches the most.

 

[ctkid]

I do that. the DR goes off the side and the leadcore behind it. works good, no tangles. lead core with a small flasher with a db smelt, the kokes love those. i was amazed at how many i caught using that rig.

 

[black lab]

What's a db smelt 101smily101