Downriggers....

Well, at least there's going to be variety this year... so many different styles, rigs, lures, and what-not.  It'll be interesting to see what works (consistently) and what doesn't.  We'll have to generate a "Master Salmon Technique" list somewhere so newbs (including me) can see the results.

The scientist in me loves nothing more than deductive experimentation.

Backslider

I guess the clicker is not enough the salmon can swim straight up

Mooching maybe but trolling I think the clicker will do the job, that bells going to tinkle constantly it would drive me batty.

I am going to use THIN 15# spectra which is only 4# diameter.

Wish I was that brave, I'm old School line that thin scares me  I would worry about a nick in the line the whole fight.

I like simple the the guys that catch Salmon do keep it simple, if Salmon are in the area they are pretty easy to catch.

I'm going to use a Fenwick Moching rod with a Line counter reel, 20lb Spectra, fishhead release with a 1lb ball, and a FBR,RSK or a Croc.

I will have a second rod set up for Trooching with a bananna sinker and a crowbar for fishing bait balls.

I will bring a small and med Deep 6 in case of a lot of Shakers or Silvers.

Wish I was that brave, I'm old School line that thin scares me  I would worry about a nick in the line the whole fight.

I have a 6 foot 20# mono leader, and salmon are not spiny so it should be no worries.

I like simple the the guys that catch Salmon do keep it simple, if Salmon are in the area they are pretty easy to catch.

Agreed...I thought a spoon and a weight was pretty simple!

Here's what I have evolved to (although I have only used a downrigger probably less than a dozen times):
First, for me and my kayak, what not to do:, I bought the smallest Scotty and used it on a Rhino Bar on my Cobra FnD salmon fishing in Nootka Sound, Brit. Columbia.  I hated the hum of the cable and the kayak plastic seemed to intensify the sound.   It was a pain to crank up the ball because of the horizontal angle of cranking making it awkward.  It was a strain!  Then on one outing a PB trolling toward me forced me to go inside toward the shore and my ball caught bottom at 85 ft.  That was crappy (actually scary) because the wind blowing, the current moving in combination with my bobbing kayak in the small swell actually made the kayak start to dive (a al submarine).  I had to paddle my ^$%&^  off to get over the snag and loosen the cable to finally free it.  (I then realized I should always take WIRE CABLE CUTTERS for such emergencies esp. if I have a fish on). 
Second, and this one works!: when I got home I bought a cheap surf rod butt (only the bottom stout half) with an old salt water reel. I bought the rod for a buck at Urban Ore recycling in Berkeley (any thrift shop will do).  I shortend the butt to fit into my rod holder on the Rhino Bar by cutting it to size with a hacksaw.   I put 60 or so lb. test braided line on the reel and color coded the line every 10 ft. with a permanent marking pen (no line counters!  no counting/remembering reel cranks!).  The braided line eliminated the hum!  That was a plus in itself.  I have a few quick releases some with light holds for small fish like Kokanee and others for bigger fish like Chinooks.  I use various size weights, but I also use a laminated table with the angle of the line and the length of downrigger line out and I have calculated the depth of the weight using trigonometry to match the angle and length of line. If I use less weight and paddle faster, the angle of the downrigger line is less vertical and I only need to estimate the angle (I shoot for 22.5 or 45 degrees because it's easier to estimate) as  I have predetermined my depth and let out enough downrigger line to get the weight to the desired depth as it reads on my laminated table.  I have caught fish with this (two fish).
The only other possible problem with this method is if the downrigger line has a bow in it from water resistance and it is not down as far as I believe.  It seems pretty accurate though  as I have hit bottom where I expected it according to my fishfinder.  I did this latter test at Lake Berryessa.
I mount the downrigger rod on the far left (port) side of the Rhino bar and I mount my fishing rod on another rod holder closer to the right (starboard) side of the Rhino Bar and all is over the right (starboard) side of the kayak.  The downrigger line is very close to the kayak and as bsteves mentioned, closer to the center line of the kayak.  This creates less leverage for the downrigger to capsize the kayak to the right.  Everything is in front of me so I can watch the rod as I paddle. 
The few times I have used this method, it has worked for me. 
finally, with all of this said . . .  what I really prefer is to use a banana weight with bead chain swivels six feet above my bait (or lure) or a sinker release with the weight.   
Tom

how much weight do you use with setup #2?

J

J,
I use a one pound ball on my 'rod stub' "downrigger."  I have never used 2# on this rig (but that is what I used with the Scotty in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Is.).  I have used the 1# ball in the Carquinez Strait and in Lake Berryessa, San Pable Res. and Stampede Res., but only for less than a dozen times total only because fishing conditions dictated using a banana weight, lead core or top lining.  It seems to work fine although I am still watchful and learning (there is always that unforeseen situation lurking out there that will be the ultimate test like strong wind with current and a large fish on in close to the kayak with downrigger line out and going toward shallow water). The two fish I caught were bass at Lake Berryessa in calm conditions.
For the banana weight (non-downrigger) I believe I'm using 8oz. and I have used this off Half Moon Bay, Carquinez Strait, Trinidad Bay, Nootka Sound, off Bamfield in Barclay Sound (w. Vancouver Is.) using FBR and anchovie/herring/sardine, spoons, or  plugs.
(I most often use these set-ups to  fish for Chinooks, Mackinaw, Stripers, trout, and to a lesser extent freshwater bass.)
Tom

J,
I use a one pound ball on my 'rod stub' "downrigger."  I have never used 2# on this rig (but that is what I used with the Scotty in Nootka Sound on Vancouver Is.).  I have used the 1# ball in the Carquinez Strait and in Lake Berryessa, San Pable Res. and Stampede Res., but only for less than a dozen times total only because fishing conditions dictated using a banana weight, lead core or top lining.  It seems to work fine although I am still watchful and learning (there is always that unforeseen situation lurking out there that will be the ultimate test like strong wind with current and a large fish on in close to the kayak with downrigger line out and going toward shallow water). The two fish I caught were bass at Lake Berryessa in calm conditions.
For the banana weight (non-downrigger) I believe I'm using 8oz. and I have used this off Half Moon Bay, Carquinez Strait, Trinidad Bay, Nootka Sound, off Bamfield in Barclay Sound (w. Vancouver Is.) using FBR and anchovie/herring/sardine, spoons, or  plugs.
(I most often use these set-ups to  fish for Chinooks, Mackinaw, Stripers, trout, and to a lesser extent freshwater bass.)
Tom

When you have a chance, could you post a photo of your kayak with the stubby rod downrigger, along with the fishing rod?

I'll try to post photos of the set-up on Monday evening.  I'm going up to the mountains after work tomorrow and I'll try to get take photos.
Tom

FYI-I depth tested my setup todat and got snagged in 90 feet at Mendo @ 1.5 mph...it really does sink like a stone!  Doh!!!

Here's is my set-up on a Cobra Fish n Dive
I used to put the smallest Scotty downrigger on the bar in the right position, but the winding was awkward and tightening down the reel to hold at a particular depth wasn't a practical means for me.
Tom

2 of 4 photos

3 o4 photos of rod butt downrigger with 1# ball

4 of 4  photos of rod butt downrigger

It's out of focus, but you can see that the line on the spool is color coded.  It is marked every ten feet so I know how much line is out.  Also I cut off the rod butt to fit the rod holder on the kayak.  The braided line doesn't hum like the metal cable on the Scotty.  Braided line is silent.
Tom

sweet! looks like a ken kickfish style setup. do you fish two rods tho?  .

topline and downrigger? where's your second downrigger going to go?