Tarpon 140 with a Downrigger

Hey all,

I have been chatting with RacinRob a little bit about the DR placement on my Tarpon 140 but wanted to open the conversation up to everyone to get some more ideas and feedback. The model is a 2007 and does not have gear tracks. I am currently looking to install the DR on the right side near back rod holder. My concern and RacinRob is that where the rod holder is placed will effect the paddle stroke with the blow back from the fishing line when coming unclipped. I was also considering placing the DR in front of the scotty rod holder, but would that be a difficult place to retrieve the DR line while fighting a fish? Thoughts? All feedback would much appreciated. Thank you! 

Here is the other pic. Yak had pre drilled already when I received it.

I did DR install on my Trident 15 paddle. It is hard when a hooked into a fish.
Personally I would go with dive planer like a DeepSix diver.

Or just buy a Hobie Revo.

I posted a description of the way that I mounted a Scotty Lake-Troll downrigger on my Hobie Revolution, how I set up my kayak for downrigger trolling, and how to use a downrigger from a kayak at http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12575.msg138905#msg138905 . This post should give you some general ideas about how to set up your Tarpon for downrigger trolling.  However, a Cannon Lake-Troll is a big downrigger which would get in the way of paddling a paddle kayak like the Tarpon.  A Scotty Laketroller downrigger would be a much better choice for a paddle kayak, because you can mount it next to your thigh where it is easy to operate, but it doesn't interfere with paddling.  Shown below are some pictures of the way I mounted a Scotty Laketroller on my 13' Ocean Kayak Trident.  I have a friend who installed a Scotty flush mount base on the outside face of the gunwale of his Trident, I think between the attachment points for the right handle, so the downrigger is sticking up at a 45 degree angle from the side of his kayak.  This works well for him.  Don't use a locking flush mount, because they aren't waterproof; use a standard flush mount.

A Scotty Laketroller is a pretty primitive downrigger which doesn't have a brake or clutch like those found on larger downriggers.  The cable reel is locked with a hand nut.  An advantage of mounting a Scotty Laketroller next to your thigh is that you can control the descent of the downrigger weight by leaning your thigh on the edge of the cable reel, while paddling forward with both hands.  And it's a bit tricky to hold a fishing rod with one hand while you hold the cable reel in place and tighten the hand nut at the same time with the other hand.  ITs a lot easier to hold the cable reel in place with your thigh while you tighten the hand nut.