Downriggers....

This is were a yak like the Hobie comes in handy... But, I still don't like them that much.

Freddie

For me, I'm not really concerned with the negative impact I might have on the ocean by leaving a bunch of lead balls on the seafloor.

I am concerned with the negative impact this may have on my wallet. I mean, its gonna cost me $1.50 to $2 each time a stupid blue hits my lure. That just plain sucks.

So I am planning to work with a 'rigger this season. However, I do see problems with trying to troll on the 'rigger. Like, for example, do I have to paddle a bunch to gain speed, then begin lowering my rig? Or can I lower it while just drifting? [I assume that I'll have to paddle, then lower the rig...but that may prove to be difficult in the middle of the ocean]

PK

Let out the amount of line you want to troll with. Paddle out so it is behind you. Once it is out you can stop paddling. Clip your line to the release, lower your downrigger to the desired depth then start trolling. If you want you can drop it about 25 feet, then paddle a couple of strokes so things straighten out, then repeat the process if you want to go deep.
I had mine at 50 feet in one shot and had no problems at all. Might be different while drifting in the big blue.

I spent some time on Sunday experimenting with the downrigger.

I really, really like the fact that with a 4 lb fish + full size dodger + Apex, there was so much less tendency to turn to "lureside". I'm going to absolutely love that part. No more needing to crank on one side, and loaf on the other while paddling.

However, the clip kept coming off of the 65 lb spectra that I'm using as downrigger line. I talked to Glenn at Fishermans Warehouse about this, and we came up with a solution. Use a Cannon adjustable release at one end of the cable, then a snap about 6" below that, and then a Scotty release at the other end. Use the Cannon release just as a stop on the downrigger cable, and the snap takes the actual tension from the dodger/lure. I'll post a real photo, but here's a sketch.




Regards,
Scott

bluekayak,

I'm using an off the shelf Scotty "laker" downrigger. I did some more experimenting this past Sunday, and the "snap and release clip" system worked pretty well. Yes, before getting wet, I realized that the snap should go on top of the release clip...

Keep in mind that if I were using cable, the standard clips would work as is. I do have one more possible innovation that could make this an extremely simple to deploy system, but I need to talk with Glenn about this tonight.

Using something like a Penn 500/501 on a very stubby "rod" would do the exact same thing. But the Scotty was $65, and I don't have a spare Penn.


Regards,
Scott

seems like you don't even need the rod, just a reel or spool of some sort I was wondering if I could just deploy through the scupper hole.

(blue, I tried to go full stream of conciousness, joyceian prose there, like you, hope you like it,  )

Regarding the cost of the cannonballs, it looks like it will be more like $5 a pop this year, according to Brian Hoffman's report in yesterday's Chronicle...

http://www.sfgate.com/sports/outdoors/fishing/

I am thinking along the same lines as bluekayak. I've got an older reel and a rod I should be able to cut down. Also I think on coastside I saw where a guy had taken a cut down pole and reel and attached it to the bottom of a scotty rod holder. Then your fishing rod could go directly above the downrigger pole in the scotty rod holder. Then you really just have to mount a single scotty attachment point somewhere and both the homemade downrigger and fishing pole would use the same attachment point on the kayak.
 
I looked around and I can't find the picture, if I do I'll post it up. Or better yet if I get a chance and make one up I'll post that instead.
Jeff

Seems like someone else had a similar idea regarding getting the main line down the downrigger line. Anyone ever use one of these?

http://www.shastatackle.com/webstore/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=87&CFID=3281717&CFTOKEN=5536664

Or this?

http://seps.web.aplus.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=43000&Category_Code=STDU

Regards,
Scott

Seems like someone else had a similar idea regarding getting the main line down the downrigger line. Anyone ever use one of these?

Not until now but sounds like a good idea. Nice find! Once I get everything together I think I'll take a serious look at these. If it works it would save you from having to bring in the downrigger every single time you checked bait or got a light bump but didn't stick the fish.

Jeff

I'm hoping that the end result will be that I won't have to paddle, crank downrigger, paddle, crank downrigger, repeat until you reach 50-100 feet. I should be able to measure downrigger depth with the depthfinder as well.

FW has the Seps product. I'll be experimenting with this on Sunday.

Scott

Some of you guys'll appreciate this

While I was typing that last thing in I looked down at our little bullmoose(3 1/2 months, 24lbs) and noticed my shirt was covered with that special peanut butter mustard blend

What are you feeding that boy? Ours is a tank compared to a lot of kids we see, and is 20 lbs at 6 months. 75th percentile for weight. On American charts. Off the chart for Chinese I'd imagine...  Have you gone to solid food yet? That makes the peanut-mustard blend sooooo much better. Oh yeah.

Oh, and back to fishing. If lead prices hold, then I imagine no legislation will be needed to kill sinker releases.

Scott

little bullmoose(3 1/2 months, 24lbs)

 

We're getting way of topic here but, mine is 14 months and 24 lbs.   That puts him in the 25th percentile or so for weigth but he's also in the 95th percentile for head circumfrence so he's a bit top heavy.   

Those Shasta tackle line deployers look cool, nice find.  When using my downrigger, I set the shallow alarm on my ff to alert me to any potential situations.  Last week I fished @ 5 feet and had the alarm set at 10.  Out of 9 hookups, I had to pause the fight once to raise the weight.  This will become more difficult at greater depths for kokes, but shouldn't come into play in the ocean too much.  If you have the room or a scotty mount, the triple rod holder is spaced about right to put lead in the water on one side and set you holder on the other.  Here is a pic of mine.  The open deck enthusiasts won't dig it, but it works good for lakes.  May have to rework it for the ocean or large species.......

The ugly stick looks like it'd do fine as is Only modification being strapping it down for a solid setup when cranking on the hookup

Sticking out of the main rod holder at 11 o'clock the way I usually put my trolling rod it looks like the line would come pretty close alongside of the yak

On the new shimano I tried one of my charter specials and the tr100g

the tr100g looks like the ticket making a nice light setup that'd be good for mooching too



Mooch...hey Mooch! I think this might be your next mooching rod

You should have a look at these rods, 10 1/2ft of skinny light salmon antenna When I saw my boy holding it out in front of him without a hint of effort I knew it was good