Downrigger Newbie

[new boat]

Spent all day installing two Scotty electric downriggers on the boat. Now I need to figure out how to use the darn things. I assume you simply tie the herring rig to a swivel at the end of the mainline, run the line out about 30 feet and then clip the mainline on the ball and lower away. Am I close to right? Also, when fishing two poles on the same ball, clipping the second line above the ball, how far above the ball and how often to you tangle the whole mess when lowering the whole rig? Does the boom go at a 90 degree angle, 45 degree angle or straight off the back of the boat? Does anyone use these things for sturgeon? Any help, advice or cautions would certainly be appreciated. Don't wait too long to post, I am leaving at 4:00 a.m. for Ilwaco. Thanks again!!!
images/icons/grin.gif images/icons/grin.gif

[Roeboat]

The electrics sure are nice to use! I still have the manuals and they work good. On the electrics you need to secure the rubber stop ball on the cable about 10 feet down so it stops the electric and lets you bring up the final ten feet of cable slowly. The booms are fished straight out to get as wide a spread as possible. 30 feet out for a flasher, a bait, or a spoon is generally adequate. Using 2 lines on one downrigger is a real pain in the a** in my opinion. At Ilwaco, the fish are shallow so you may just want two additional rigs on light mooching weights perhaps running the shallower upper depths for silvers. If you choose to run two rigs off one cable allow about 15 feet apart to attach the second release. The electrics handle up to 15 pound cannonballs. Have fun! I'm headed to Westport for a little hookie.

[Bait O' Eggs]

This topic struck my interest tonight. I fished a downrigger for the first time today with my 4 year old son. I have had the downrigger for years but never got around to using it. I went to Green Peter and chased some kokanee around. I clip the rigging (4 ot flasher and 4 feet to wedding ring) behind the ball, up tight. I lower it down 40 feet and before I get the 2nd pole out of the boat I have a fish on pole #1. I tightened the release up a little to much at the downrigger ball, because it would not release. Nothing like bringing in a kokanee with the downrigger ball attached, reel a little on the pole, then a little on the downrigger images/icons/rolleyes.gif I got that problem fixed and could pop the line out of the release very easy with a twitch on the pole. Anyway I never could get another bite off the downrigger pole. I tried putting the rigging up tight like the first fish, 10 feet, 20 feet 50 feet behind the ball, I tried 30, 40, 50 and 60 feet depth. The cable on the downrigger was just singing and I couldnt get another fish to touch that pole. Is it normal for the downrigger wire to make so much noise. Meanwhile I put 9 fish in the boat, lost about that many at the boat, and had numerous bites on the other pole fishing with lead.

I obviously have no idea how to fish a downrigger, and got lucky on the first fish.

Any suggestions on what I was doing wrong?

[Hookset]

When the wire is singing the wrong tune, like to loud, you need to slow the boat down, your trolling or drifting to fast. Try using sea anchors or a bucket to keep your speed in check. The noise is common when your speed is up, like trolling with the wind and/or current.

Not sure what your doing wrong, I have heard of other people experiencing the same problem with a downrigger. Could be you have a negative charge or to much postive charge on your downrigger wire.

When I use downriggers, I like a lot of flash and hook a set of flashers directly to the ball, use a clipon release 4 feet above the ball/flashers to connect the mainline to, which has a 4/0 dodger attached with 18" to 30" leader to lure.

When I use this setup, the mailine is only let out 10' back behind the cable since I want the added attraction of the trolling flashers to pull the fish to the lure and dodger. The other important item is the release. Use the halibut style clips to connect to the cable with monofilament connecting the release (smallest release you can find, Seps makes a good one). You can see the bite better since the line gives and moves with the fish.

Hmmmmm, maybe the problem is the charge on your cable.

Gregg

[Deleted User]

On Lake Ontario I used to go with the number 70 equation. If the ball is down 50 feet the lure would be 20 feet back but now adays we use longer leads because of the water getting clearer (**** Zebra mussels). Usually set the second rod at 10-15 above the lower one. I use Blacks releases for salmon or trout. They're ez to use.
Here are a few sites that might help you out http://www.midtel.net/~sblacko/index.html
and http://www.lakemichiganangler.com/