What is the best weight for a downrigger?

Six to eight pounds is typical for most moderate depth freshwater applications and ten pounds is typical for saltwater. (see Weight Table). The amount of weight needed on a downrigger is a function of the speed you are trolling and the depth you are fishing.

Are downriggers worth it?

Downriggers are an efficient way to put live bait and lures in precise zones of the water column, and all anglers know that being in the right depth leads to more fish in the box. Downriggers are consistently used to target king mackerel, amberjack, cobia, grouper, among others.

What size downrigger do I need?

1. Small boats (15 feet and under) are generally better off with a small compact downrigger with an arm length of 20 to 24 inches. 2. Large boats (22 feet and up) are generally better off with longer arm downriggers with booms reaching from 30 inches to 48 inches or more.

How deep can you fish a downrigger?

A downrigger weight of eight pounds is adequate for fishing depths up to about 50 feet and speeds approaching 2.5 MPH. A 10 pound weight will be required for fishing depths in the 50 to 75 foot depths. When faced with depths ranging from 75 to 100 feet, a 12 or 14 pound downrigger weight is needed.

How much line should you let out when trolling?

Let out 50 feet of line and clip into the release. If that’s not enough distance to prevent your lake’s wary walleyes from seeing the ball…then let out 150 feet of line! Just remember, the flat-line diving depth of your crankbait still applies behind the ball!

Can you troll without a downrigger?

Getting your lure to the depth of the fish is best done with the aid of a downrigger. Manual downriggers can be purchased for less than $100, but you can troll successfully without them. With kokanee at shallower depths in the spring and early summer, downriggers are less important.

What should I look for in a downrigger?

Fishing on the ocean requires downriggers made from sturdy, corrosion-resistant material. Electric models are better for fishing great depths because of their faster retrieval rates and added convenience. Manual models are lighter, more compact and more economically priced.

How much line do you need behind a downrigger ball?

30′. No problem getting strikes.

How deep can you troll with a downrigger?

A downrigger weight of eight pounds is adequate for fishing depths up to about 50 feet and speeds approaching 2.5 MPH.

How fast do you troll for chinook salmon?

As you change trolling speed, the depth of your lure or bait changes. Two mph is a good trolling speed for coho salmon, but a speed of 1.5 mph is a better speed for chinook salmon, and you will be fishing even deeper at the lower velocity.

How far behind the boat should I troll?

20 feet to 150 feet
Bait Position and Distance Behind Boat Proper distance for most boats will be anywhere from 20 feet to 150 feet behind your boat. Whether you have inboard diesel or outboard gas engines, your power dictates the distance you troll your baits and lures.

What speed should you troll at?

The best trolling speed depends on several factors including the type of fish, water conditions and lure choice. In general, trolling speeds between 1.5 and 2.5 mph, as measured by GPS, are a good starting place for most species like walleye, trout and salmon.

How do I buy a downrigger?

Length and ability to mount. When looking at downriggers, make sure the boom is long enough to clear the back of your boat and the gunnels, wherever you plan to mount it. Also, make sure that the downrigger comes with a base or that one is available to meet your needs as far as fixed base, tab lock or swivel base.

How many lines can you run off a downrigger?

Active Member. If you can run two downriggers with one line each and do it smoothly, then you should have no problem running 2 lines off each one. Set up your first lines as you normally would. drop them 20′ and clip on your next line.

At what speed do you troll for salmon?

Salmon tend to be solitary creatures except for when they’re schooling in the ocean. Trolling lets you target all of their hidey-holes, especially if you’re fishing in deep, vast waters. You can also mix up your bait on each line – so if one hooked lure or bait fish isn’t attracting them, chances are the others might!