Down rigger worth the trouble ?

The way salmon fight and run gives you good chance of getting hung up in the wire. In a kayak you can't fight the fish and bring the DR weight up at the same time. I will mooch or drag a double deep six. I use a DR all the time in freshwater for trout and Striper. Usually no issues there.

You can get plenty deep with a 1.5-lb ball by slowing down for a moment and letting your setup pendulum down to your desired depth, then speeding up to raise it again.

You can get plenty deep with a 1.5-lb ball by slowing down for a moment and letting your setup pendulum down to your desired depth, then speeding up to raise it again.

This is good advice. If you suspect the fish are deep it's not a bad idea to pack a couple 2.5 pound balls as well. 2.5 # coupled with spectra and a limber rod will get down pretty deep.

I personally wouldn't mess with a downrigger on the ocean, to many things can go wrong. Simple is best and if they are truly deep mooching may be your best bet.

-Eliot

"...to many things can go wrong."

Yes. I don't like the idea of having a hard connection from my kayak to what is essentially a small anchor that can get snagged up in the rocks. The risk would be very low in freshwater, but that could get hairy in the ocean...

I appreciate all the input. would probably be more comfortable with an outrigger accessory on my yak if I was gonna use a downrigger down deep. If I find it to be a calm day with light swell I would probably go for it. The salmon tend to be up high in the early morning and deeper later in the day. Maybe will have some luck and get one early. . Either way I am going to find a good spot to mount it on my yak for salt or fresh water and post a pic !! . Good luck everyone on this years salmon season and I hope to post the biggest salmon  

Uummm !! Menudo and. Ncka highlights on a rainy day, What more can you ask for??

I personally wouldn't mess with a downrigger on the ocean, to many things can go wrong. Simple is best and if they are truly deep mooching may be your best bet.
-Eliot

Be ready for anything if you're using a DR. I heard of a large shark (unconfirmed species) breaching because it was attached to the end of the line.

With that said, I'm using a Scotty 1021 bracket that holds the 1060 at an angle. The wire has been replaced with 150# braid and a knife is always nearby to cut the line if need be. I was using a 6# ball but might use something a little heavier to minimize the scope. And I'm using this on an AI so it's a little easier to control the whole setup. If they're up top, it's easier to use a double deep 6.

Remote control downrigger.
Someone wanted photos to make one so I made them this video.
It works for me when I use a DR.

I personally wouldn't mess with a downrigger on the ocean, to many things can go wrong. Simple is best and if they are truly deep mooching may be your best bet.
-Eliot

Be ready for anything if you're using a DR. I heard of a large shark (unconfirmed species) breaching because it was attached to the end of the line.

With that said, I'm using a Scotty 1021 bracket that holds the 1060 at an angle. The wire has been replaced with 150# braid and a knife is always nearby to cut the line if need be. I was using a 6# ball but might use something a little heavier to minimize the scope. And I'm using this on an AI so it's a little easier to control the whole setup. If they're up top, it's easier to use a double deep 6.

That looks like a nice set up for the AI. The akas and tramps change the whole equation!

That being said you are smart to keep the knife handy. Every year I read on coastline about a few people who lose their downrigger balls to thresher sharks. I know the chances are slim but that could be pretty exciting on a yak!   

I really want an AI someday almost exclusively for the salmon trolling. I get really tired off dragging balls with a paddle.

-Eliot

Downrigger on an AI changes the equation for sure. Much safer than using a downrigger on a paddle-yak (or pedal yak) without stabilizers...less chance of flipping or getting swamped, thanks to the extra stability & buoyancy.

Tote that is a masterpiece! Very cool setup. And great background musak in the video.

If using a downrigger from a kayak to get deep in Mbay (like 150-250ft), I would be more concerned about crabpots than sharks or kelp. Mystery ropes connected to buried traps that you can't even see...snag a rope and continue moving forward as the rope stretches, then SNAP as a swell lifts you up, and it either rips off your downrigger or swamps your kayak.
Make sure the mount/base is fully reinforced too.

How many kayakers in Monterey Bay have caught salmon on downriggers? Not many. There's your answer!

How many people have tried and how often?

   I used a cut-off pole and old reel /spectra with 2.5 fish weight system a couple of years ago, and amazingly, caught a keeper salmon on the second try. 
   But the first try resulted in a snag on unseen kelp, and in mild swell, a few anxious minutes trying to free it and finally cutting the line (which is still there to snag someone else).  I was in danger of capsizing as the small swell rolled through.   The reel wouldn't handle a bigger weight.
     I still wish I could use some kind of downrigger, but the "too many things can go wrong" thought is holding me back. 
 

   I used a cut-off pole and old reel /spectra with 2.5 fish weight system a couple of years ago, and amazingly, caught a keeper salmon on the second try. 
   But the first try resulted in a snag on unseen kelp, and in mild swell, a few anxious minutes trying to free it and finally cutting the line (which is still there to snag someone else).  I was in danger of capsizing as the small swell rolled through.   The reel wouldn't handle a bigger weight.
     I still wish I could use some kind of downrigger, but the "too many things can go wrong" thought is holding me back.

I've been contemplating the same thing - most advice I've read about kayak down-rigging is to swap the wire out for heavy braided line (easier to cut in an emergency?!). Having seen a few folks at Lake Barryessa using them - (I think they were Hobies?), it seemed that the kayak did tilt heavily to the side that the downrigger was set up on - my only solution on my Ocean Kayak would be to mount it in the middle behind the seat - but then that makes pulling it up off the bottom a little tricky (would have to turn around to reach it). Have heard & read great things about the DIY downrigger via an old shortened tuna rod w/ a big reel (with line/depth counter). Seems lighter and safer to me...

I think I'll use sinker releases. We used them on a PB, and did well, on salmon. No worries about sharks or tangles like you do with a down rigger. You just loose a weight each catch or snag. Flipping your yak can be much more expensive and cold too.

i always used sinker releases for salmon, until i got the AI, now i use a downrigger with spectra.  A few said it was risky getting the fish tangled with the rigger, but i haven't had that experience yet. Either the fish runs clear, or i can wind up the rigger line while fighting the fish.

Not sure i'd use a downrigger on a regular kayak.

AI changes the game.