Scotty mounts for downriggers

I have a question regarding mounting Scotty downriggers.
Right now we use Laketrollers, and they're simple and drop right into a Scotty deck mount. I have Scotty mounts installed in the side pocket of the Hobie TI, allowing a Laketroller to be used on either side.

However, if I upgrade to an electric downrigger, or a higher end manual DR, will it be able to mount via the Scotty mount? Is there an adapter I can get to use the Scotty mount? Or do I need to install a new mount to the side of the boat? And if so, are the holes spaced the same as the Scotty mounts? I'd rather not drill more holes if possible.

Lots of questions. Thanks in advance!
Andrew

The attached picture is to show where the Scotty deck mount is installed.

I've mounted a Scotty Laketroller downrigger on my 13' Ocean Kayak Trident, and a Scotty Depthmaster and a Cannon Lake-Troll on my 13' Revolution.  The Cannon Lake-Troll is definitely my favorite downrigger setup.  For an explanation of how I mounted it on my Revolution, how I set up my Revolution for downrigger trolling, why I set it up that way, and how to use a downrigger from a kayak, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12575.msg138905#msg138905.

You aren't going to be able to mount a large downrigger on a Scotty side-deck mount.  The downrigger would put too much stress on the mount.  You need to mount the downrigger's slide-in base on a piece of plastic or wood which provides a strong and rigid base for the downrigger.  The flat areas on top of the gunwales of a pre-2019 Hobie Outback like your kayak make it easy to mount a downrigger on your kayak.  For example, you could screw a section of gear track to the bottom of one of the trays on the gunwales of your kayak, and use the track and two hand nuts to hold the base down on the gunwale.  For a description of how you could make such a base, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13167.msg144750#msg144750.

Thanks Pete.
Okay, another question...how deep can I troll with a Laketroller? I have each loaded with 250lb braid. Will that with 4lbs get me down to 175' for Monterey salmon?

Thanks Pete.
Okay, another question...how deep can I troll with a Laketroller? I have each loaded with 250lb braid. Will that with 4lbs get me down to 175' for Monterey salmon?

I have trolled as deep 200' with my Scotty Depthmaster off of my Hobie Adventure/Revo 16 (before I got the AI). It sort of worked, but there were times when the current made it difficult to control my kayak. Since there were other boats around, it did not seem too safe. Also, not much fun to crank it up that far by hand... As I recall, that was with a 6 lb ball and 50 lb braid.

Thanks Pete.
Okay, another question...how deep can I troll with a Laketroller? I have each loaded with 250lb braid. Will that with 4lbs get me down to 175' for Monterey salmon?

When I downrigger troll, I like to be able to see my weight on my fish finder, so I know where it is with respect to suspended fish and the bottom.  I find that what limits the depth at which I downrigger troll is the depth at which I can no longer see my weight, either because it gets blown back out of the cone of my sonar, or just because it's too deep to provide a solid return.  If you have a downrigger with an accurate line counter, you were fishing in real deep water, say 600 feet, and you wanted to troll well above the bottom, say 300 feet down, you could let out enough downrigger line, say 350 feet, to put your weight at 300 feet below the surface, and then troll without being able to see your weight.  But I prefer to be able to see my weight on my fish finder.

I frequently downrigger troll for lake trout down to 180-200 feet with my Cannon Lake-Troll downrigger, an 8 pound weight, and 175 pound Spectra low-drag downrigger line, if I keep my trolling speed under 1.5 mph.  With a four pound weight and 250 pound braid, I suspect that your weight will get blown back out of the cone of your sonar and disappear from your fish finder screen at 80-100 feet.  With a real good fish finder, perhaps somewhat deeper.  And cranking up a weight with a Scotty Laketroller is harder than cranking up the same weight with a bigger downrigger such as my Cannon Lake-Troll.  So if you want to downrigger troll down to 175 feet or more, I suggest that you get a bigger downrigger, a heavier weight, and thinner downrigger line.

I just installed one on my Outback.  I used a 1/2" thick piece of lexan for my base.  I also installed it so it hangs off and just misses the side of the yak.  Less torque on the mount and I can see what's going on real easy.  Used it at spicer last week and all went well.

I just installed one on my Outback.  I used a 1/2" thick piece of lexan for my base.  I also installed it so it hangs off and just misses the side of the yak.  Less torque on the mount and I can see what's going on real easy.  Used it at spicer last week and all went well.

Jerry, could you post a description and/or pictures of how you attach the Lexan base plate to the gunwale of your Outback?

I've mounted a Scotty Laketroller downrigger on my 13' Ocean Kayak Trident, and a Scotty Depthmaster and a Cannon Lake-Troll on my 13' Revolution.  The Cannon Lake-Troll is definitely my favorite downrigger setup.  For an explanation of how I mounted it on my Revolution, how I set up my Revolution for downrigger trolling, why I set it up that way, and how to use a downrigger from a kayak, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=12575.msg138905#msg138905.

You aren't going to be able to mount a large downrigger on a Scotty side-deck mount.  The downrigger would put too much stress on the mount.  You need to mount the downrigger's slide-in base on a piece of plastic or wood which provides a strong and rigid base for the downrigger.  The flat areas on top of the gunwales of a pre-2019 Hobie Outback like your kayak make it easy to mount a downrigger on your kayak.  For example, you could screw a section of gear track to the bottom of one of the trays on the gunwales of your kayak, and use the track and two hand nuts to hold the base down on the gunwale.  For a description of how you could make such a base, see http://www.northwestkayakanglers.com/index.php?topic=13167.msg144750#msg144750.

I have a Cannon Lake Troll like yours. Do you have a video of how you mounted it or different angle of views and dow it works?


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you have an AI or TI right?

I mounted my manual on the AI to the cross bar, so it was basically behind me a bit.  I'd just turn 90 degrees to wind it up. Not hard. Boom would be out and back, so it ended up in the gap between the ama and hull.
 The cross bar would be strong enough for a small electric (24" boom) if you reinforced it so that it wouldn't rotate on the bar. probably by dropping some supports down to the deck.

 My manual i trolled down to 150 with an 8# ball.

Thanks Pete.
Okay, another question...how deep can I troll with a Laketroller? I have each loaded with 250lb braid. Will that with 4lbs get me down to 175' for Monterey salmon?

Phew!  For a while there I thought I was the ONLY one thinking about this upcoming salmon season.