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Whether trolling for king or silver salmon
in the salt or prospecting inland waters for lunker lake trout, success is
often dependent on one constant—getting your gear down to the fish. With the
use of modern downrigger technology, doing just that has never been so easy.
Generally speaking, a downrigger is a spool of braided wire
mounted to the boat. A heavy weight is hung on the end of the wire, and a
downrigger release is hooked to the wire. The fishing line is hooked into
the release. The downrigger can then be lowered to the desired depth, and
when a fish hits, the line is released. The angler can then do battle
without the added burden of heavy lines and cumbersome lead weights.
But shopping for a downrigger can be confusing, as there
are many different brands, types, and sizes. There are long-arm and
short-arm models, manual crank editions, and high-tech electronic
downriggers with an array of special features. However, there are a few
general guidelines that can make choosing the right downrigger for your
boat—and your preferred trolling method—a lot less complicated.
Choosing the Right Downrigger
On a small boat (15 feet and under), you are generally
sitting down when operating a downrigger. Consequently, you’ll want a
short-arm unit that can easily be rigged by reaching over the side of the
boat. Too long of an arm will cause difficulties in hooking weights and
setting the release. Long arms on small boats can also present a significant
safety hazard if the downrigger weight hangs up on the bottom when a strong
wind or tidal current is pushing the boat. In severe cases, a long-arm
downrigger could even capsize a small boat. With larger boats (22 feet and
up), you have greater range in regards to arm length.
Where a downrigger is to be mounted should also play a
part in the decision. If you can mount over the stern of the boat or on the
side within a foot or two of the stern, a short-arm downrigger (24 to
30-inch boom) will usually do. However, if planning to mount over the side
of the boat more than a few feet forward of the stern, consider a boom 48
inches or longer. A short-boom downrigger mounted forward will likely have
the wire either scraping the side of the boat or near the prop. Longer arm
downriggers can also help to keep weights from banging against the side of
the boat after they break the water surface. If planning to fish two or more
downriggers simultaneously, a long-arm model should be selected for
placement on each side of the boat, which will minimize the risk of lures
tangling during turns as well as provide more fishing coverage. A short-arm
downrigger can then be fished directly off the stern.
With respect to electric versus manual, it is undeniably
easier to simply push one button and bring up a downrigger. However, as with
the size and arm-length characteristics mentioned above, anglers should
avoid putting a large electric downrigger on a small boat. If consistently
fishing deep, though, an electric downrigger will reduce a lot of extra
strain on the angler.
Cannon
www.cannondownriggers.com
Cannon, an acknowledged leader in controlled-depth
fishing, offers a full line of downriggers and accessories, from the
simplest and most inexpensive portable hand-crank units to the most deluxe
electric downriggers available. Two features help set Cannon Downriggers
apart—their exclusive bottom-tracking feature and Positive Ion Control (PIC).
PIC is based on the fact that the metal components of a
boat in contact with water, such as the motor and downrigger cable, create
a steady but unpredictable electric charge in water. The strength and type
of charge varies greatly depending on both the different types of metals
contacting the water and the water’s mineral content or conductivity.
Since fish are attracted by a slight positive charge and repelled by a
negative or strong positive charge, generating and controlling the correct
charge can be critical to success. Cannon’s Adjustable Positive Ion
Control not only creates a constant, slight positive electrical charge
along the cable, but the strength of the charge can be adjusted.
Cannon’s exclusive bottom-tracking feature automatically
adjusts the downrigger weight to follow bottom contour within a set
distance—even if the depth changes by as little as one foot. Units with
this feature can also be set to allow for up to fifty feet of blowback for
accurate bottom tracking in virtually all trolling conditions.
The Cannon Digi-Troll IV ($1,199.99-$1,249.99) is
designed for serious sport fishermen who demand the ultimate in downrigger
technology. The Digi-Troll IV's electronic control lets anglers program
three descent and retrieve speeds and five different depths, then access
them at the touch of a button. Its cycle-function will jig baits or lures
at a predetermined depth and time interval—a feature particularly
effective for Pacific salmon. Digi-Troll IV is equipped with Positive Ion
Control, as well as a Depth Display Screen that shows true bottom depth.
The Mag 20 Digi-Troll ($849.99), Cannon’s newest
downrigger, was designed to put more lures into the strike zone faster and
easier than any other downrigger on the market. A significant downrigger
innovation, the Mag 20 Digi-Troll allows the option of plugging up to six
Mag 20 DT units into the controls of the new Bottom Line Tournament NCC
(Navigational Command Center) 6300. With this advanced fishfinder, the
angler can control all downrigger functions—raise, lower, all-up, bottom
track, or cycle—right from the fishfinder. The Mag 20 DT also has a cycle
function and a Positive Ion Control (PIC) feature that can be remotely
adjusted from the Bottom Line unit.
For fishermen who head for big lakes, the rugged Magnum
10 ($469.99-$519.99) has long been a favorite. The strong, compact
electric motor is guaranteed for life, and combined with Cannon’s
clutch/brake control, it provides a smooth descent of the weight. The
electric downrigger for smaller boats, the portable Mini-Mag
($337.99-$386.99) is the perfect alternative for occasions that don’t
warrant the full-sized Magnum 10. The Mini-Mag is compact, lightweight,
and mounts quickly and easily to any boat, plus its rugged electric motor
provides high performance and low amp draw.
Scotty
www.scotty.com
In-house design, engineering, tooling, and manufacturing
have been Scotty hallmarks throughout over 40 years of production. Scotty
electric downriggers are fast, powerful, and durable, with enough speed
and lifting power for any angling job and a lower amp draw for longer
fishing and less charging. Every Scotty downrigger is also backed by a
lifetime warranty.
The most popular Scotty electric downrigger is the 1106
Powerpack ($399.99), especially for anglers with big boats. The arm
telescopes to 60 inches for extra reach, but still collapses down to just
under 36 inches for easy storage. It comes with a free swivel base, two
power-grip plus releases, and a free 8-pound weight. If a shorter-armed
electric downrigger is needed, the 1101 Powerpack ($368.95) is identical
to the 1106, except that it features a 30-inch boom.
The all new Scotty 1099 Depthpower 24 ($299.99) electric
downrigger represents the highest level of performance and reliability
that Scotty offers. With a 235 feet-per-minute retrieve (8-pound weight),
it is one of the fastest downriggers available today, and it also features
full hands-free operation, low amp draw, high lifting power, and full
saltwater protection. The Depthpower 24 comes with 250 feet of cable, a
tilt-up mounting plate, and a 24-inch boom.
For anglers interested in a manual downrigger, there’s
the Scotty 1085 Strongarm ($181.99). Its low profile, high-speed
horizontal wheel retrieves cable at two feet per turn, and it includes
adjustable slip-clutch control, an automatic brake, a heavy-walled
stainless steel 30-inch boom, tilt mount, and 200 feet of cable, a digital
counter, and snapper line releases.
Penn
www.pennreels.com
The Penn Fathom-Master 835 ($499.99) electric downrigger
is equipped with a simple switch control for automatic raising and
lowering of the weight, and the programmable depth stacker enables
different downriggers to be run at set line depths for maximum variation
in lure presentations. The high-strength glass-reinforced polycarbonate
housing and spool are impermeable to rust, pitting, and corrosion. Other
features include a 48-inch gold anodized aluminum boom, water-resistant
housing, dual circuit breakers, and a fully sealed printed circuit board.
A 12-volt DC power cord and 200 feet of cable are included with the
Fathom-Master 835.
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