| Downrigging tips and techniques for the savvy | | | | weight. |
| fisherman. | | | | After determining the size weight you need it's |
| Downrigging is undoubtedly the most accurate | | | | time to do some experimenting before heading |
| way to control fishing lure depth next to being at | | | | out for the fish. Get to a depth around the same |
| anchor with a heavy weight on the bottom. With | | | | as that you will be fishing. Set the boat speed to |
| a little experimentation and some patience, along | | | | the speed you think you will need for the species |
| with record keeping you can easily become very | | | | you are targeting. Drop the the ball all the way |
| proficient at reaching the depth you want; that | | | | down until you notice the cable slacking. Quickly |
| being were you think the fish are. Or, of coarse, | | | | stop the descent and start to retrieve cable until |
| were your fish finder is showing you they are. | | | | it becomes tight again. Check the depth gauge on |
| My personal preference is the Cannon electric | | | | the rigger and note the ball weight, speed, depth |
| downriggers for several reasons. I have owned a | | | | of the water and depth of the reading on the |
| few other brands I won't mention by name that | | | | downrigger. |
| simply either fell apart or rusted apart long before | | | | From here, experiment with different speeds and |
| I felt I had gotten my moneys worth. | | | | cable depth to record enough information to |
| Now Cannon makes some really sophisticated | | | | know how much cable to let out at any given |
| downrigging system but we are going to talk | | | | speed and depth. You should be able to calculate |
| about the simpler electric rigger called the Mag | | | | the amount of cable needed to run 5 10 or 20 |
| 10TS. Magnum is the downrigger that serious boat | | | | feet above the bottom by using a percentage of |
| captains trust for its dependability and durability. | | | | the cable needed to reach the bottom. |
| They rely on its unparalleled toughness, the | | | | I usually stay about 10 feet above the |
| fastest retrieval rate on the market (250 feet | | | | bottom-for a couple of reasons. One; I don't want |
| per minute) and a Short-Stop feature that | | | | to get hung up on something I can't get loose |
| protects the boat from swinging weights beating | | | | from and have to cut the cable. And two; I know |
| holes in the side of the boat. The Mag 10TS | | | | the bottom fish will come up that far and farther |
| features a stylish metallic white finish and a | | | | to take the right bait. |
| stainless steel spool that's tough enough to handle | | | | We always keep our lead line from the ball to the |
| monofilament or today's popular "super lines." It | | | | bait or lure at 10' or less to take advantage of |
| also has the Positive Ion Control to create a | | | | the negative Ion field surrounding the ball. Any |
| fish-attracting electrical field around your boat. | | | | further back you loose that advantage. |
| First thing you need to know is how deep and | | | | All that said; now all you need is a good line |
| how fast you will be trolling. The faster and or | | | | release hooked to your ball, a good stout 7' rod |
| deeper you troll; the heavier weight you need to | | | | and conventional reel with the proper size line, the |
| compensate for the drag of the water. Most | | | | right bait and boat to haul it all in. Start |
| Great Lakes fishermen who downrig for salmon | | | | downrigging today; you'll be glad you did. |
| use a 5lb ball because they are trolling only 1.5 to | | | | You will find the complete line of Cannon |
| 3 mph and 15 to 30 feet deep, so the drag isn't | | | | Downriggers, accessories and all other fishing |
| that great. On the contrary, a deep sea | | | | electronics you need at |
| fishermen downrigging for grouper may be down | | | | For more helpful articles and fishing ideas visit our |
| to 60' or more and trolling at 5 knots; that's a lot | | | | social site at MyTackleSpace and check out the |
| of drag and would be better served with a 20lb | | | | the blogs and forums. |