Downrigger idea

Saw this on another site and it made sense. 

Get an old fishing rod cut it down till its just about 2- 2 1/2 feet long after the foregrip and attach a roler top.
I'm more than sure anyone can ebay or craigslist an old line counter reel for a few bucks.  some heavy mono and and a clip...bingo! instant downrigger similar to my clothespin rig setup for tarpon.. just alot shorter.
Would be pretty cool for salmon i would guess...

Have you tried this yet?  If so,  how did it work?

I've been checking out downriggers and I'm not all that impressed with the smaller units.  The drag system on tne Canon looks unreliable.  It's just a small thrust bearing, crank it down tighter to add more drag.  Scotty claims to have te largest drag but, I couldn't find any details to back it up.  I'd be curious to learn if the Scotty has a real drag system.  Both brands are plastic and the big reels (without level wind) use up a lot of space.

It seems like a hefty reel with a good drag and a stiff rod or SS tube with a pulley would work just fine.

Nice seen this a couple times. Havent tried it yet but may in the future

As for the drags on the Cannon and Scotty DR there should be plenty of drag for a kayak under way since there ment for boats to be pulling plugs and things on.

RHYAK,
I'm sure the smaller Scotty and Cannon are adequte for a kayak, I just think they are really poorly designed and they will fail in short order.  The bigger Scotty units seem OK but, they are a bit on the big side for a yak with the horizontal spool. The Walker Kingfisher looks like it might hold up for  awhile.  Need to get weight and dimensions but it's the best design that I've seen as far as the clutch and the space that it consumes.

Dave

I didnt even bother putting on a section of rod.  dont need to lean over very far to clip it up this way.

I marked kite string at 10' intervals with a sharpie to send the 4lb finned weight how deep I wanted to go.


 
 

Fishbucket: Are you able to steer very well with that amount of weight?  Ever tried it in saltwater?    Ever had the weight get snagged? I'm supposing you could try yanking it loose, then cut the line, or if it put you in danger, chuck the whole thing overboard.

I didnt even bother putting on a section of rod.  dont need to lean over very far to clip it up this way.

I marked kite string at 10' intervals with a sharpie to send the 4lb finned weight how deep I wanted to go.

Looks good to me.  After all, we are just hanging a weight over the side of yak.   Not having an old rod and reel I ended up ordering a Walker Kingfisher.  Hope it's not too big, if so it will go to a Freind with a PB.  I plan to mount if off center to counterbalance the trolling weight somewhat.

Fishbucket: Are you able to steer very well with that amount of weight?  Ever tried it in saltwater?    Ever had the weight get snagged? I'm supposing you could try yanking it loose, then cut the line, or if it put you in danger, chuck the whole thing overboard.

4 lbs is not a problem at all in fresh water. I've even had it bouncing on the bottom a time or 3. never in Salt.
 I keep a sharp knife at the ready if it hangs and is going to get scary.  Kite string pops easly with a sharp blade. 

we are just hanging a weight over the side

Thats the way I figured it..a string and a weight is all a downrigger is.  The reel just makes it easy to send the weight up and down.

You guys have given me ideas.  I have all the materials to make one or two of these up.  My Scotty DR on my P-15 works perfectly, but I am still not happy with my Revo setup.  This option might just be the real deal.  An old Penn Long Beach on a Calcutta rod but/roller tip cut down might just work better.---Jefff

I bet Glenn could do something cool with this  :

I have been using this setup for years.  Works fine.

I bet Glenn could do something cool with this  :

i got yelled at by Mr Foken Foken Foken last weekend, that i had to much stuff on my kayak.... i dont want to get yelled at if i build this....

I bet Glenn could do something cool with this  :

i got yelled at by Mr Foken Foken Foken last weekend, that i had to much stuff on my kayak.... i dont want to get yelled at if i build this....

Ok well you can build it and I will use it.

This is a great idea. Just built one with an old Penn long beach and a busted up old salmon rod and a roller tip. I also filed down the butt and threw on a Scotty rail mount for easy mounting and adjusting.

I use spectra line for the cable and then I nail knotted at 10' intervals with and alternating color dacron. Yellow and orange. I also put a drop of super glue under the knotts before I cinched them up to asure they don't drift. Real easy to count them on the way down. One color is odd the other even. Saves using a counter spool. "Kiss"....