View Full Version : Attachment of trolling gear on downriggers?
Bluknight
06-23-2009, 10:00 AM
Gearing up for some summer kokanee trolling on Merwin/Yale and came across a question. I know lots of folks are doing fine flat lining right now but when they go deeper this summer I will be running my new downriggers for them.
Now the question - Do you put the flashers or dodgers on the downrigger ball and then run the fishing line off the downrigger cable or do you just put the flasher / dodger rig directly on the fishing line? I saw the technique of putting the flashers attached to the ball thus leaving the line to just have the wedding ring or hoochie rig on it. I thought this would be nice for fighting the fish once it was on because you would be pulling less gear on the main line.
Also - if you do attach the release to the downrigger cable how do you do that? My releases (Cannons) just have a snap release on them that would just let the release ride up and down on the cable?
Any thoughts / comments / snide remarks are welcome!
FallRiverGuy
06-23-2009, 10:43 AM
I run my dodger in line with the lure and attach the ball trolls to the downrigger ball. No need to fight with the ball trolls in line.
twisted lines
06-23-2009, 11:40 AM
- if you do attach the release to the downrigger cable how do you do that? My releases (Cannons) just have a snap release on them that would just let the release ride up and down on the cable?
Any thoughts / comments / snide remarks are welcome!
http://www.fish307.com/productimages/scotty/1180_pl_sm.jpg (http://www.fish307.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=254)Try somthing like this, works for me....
HighSlacker
06-23-2009, 11:47 AM
You need to buy the special clips (not sure what they are called but they easily attach your release to the cable and can be moved up and down the cable and hold it in position) avialable at Fishermans or just about any Outdoor store that has downrigger supplies. You can attach your flasher rig directly to your downrigger ball, then you have the option to put your release at the end of your flasher, which will tend to pull the back of your flasher up possibly not allowing the blades to turn, or putting it 2'-3' above the ball whith the forementioned clip and then attaching your lure line after letting out 5'-10' just enough so they don't tangle and letting it down slowly.
jzell
06-23-2009, 12:15 PM
Dodger + lure on your line. I use the seps release that attaches to the ball. To avoid possible tangles I don't run a lake troll type attraction to the ball. Simple and clean. Just the way I choose to roll.
jz
Kokonuts
06-23-2009, 12:49 PM
http://www.fish307.com/productimages/scotty/1180_pl_sm.jpg (http://www.fish307.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=254)Try somthing like this, works for me....
I like to use the Seps or Shasta clips , they are much smaller than the Cannon. I also use the cip as shown above to attach it to the DR line about 5ft. above the ball with the flashers attached to the ball. Sometimes I use a flasher that is 5 -6 ft. long, then I lower the Ball 5ft. lower than than I want the Dodger. I also run the dodger back about 10ft. behind the flasher on the ball.
What really has me wondering is, How far will the Kokanee come to the dodger if they see the flasher?
If you see fish at 50 ft. will they travel 5-10 or more feet up to check the lure?
Ive seen some picts. from under water cameras & it seems they just appear out of the gloom & then check out the lure. A lot of fish look at it before one finally takes it, or its the same fish comming back again & again. Hard to tell!
:cool:...Kokonuts
I start out the day with just a dodger (sling blade) and a lure. If things are slow I will add a gang troll to the ball and clip the line about 2-3 feet above it. Like zjell says, this can cause tangles so you let your ball down slowly.
The little yellow releases are the only way to go and most refer to them as Seps releases. Seps sells them and so does Vance Tackle. You can also see them sometimes at fishermans marine if you are in the Portland area. I place my line right in the middle of the pads, give my rod a good loading and will hold most fish without releasing.
Cannon
06-24-2009, 08:25 AM
I have run them similar to everyone else. I prefer to just run a dodger in line with my lure. But when slow I have had good luck putting my troll flashers directly on the ball and hooking the clip to the troll with about ten foot of line to my dodger. I have also used a stacker with the troll on the ball and my line three or four foot above on the stacker.
Quackerhead
06-24-2009, 09:38 AM
:clap::meme:
Check out Shasta Tackle on the web...they have a product called the Fishhawk that allows U to attach your line to your downrigger line @ any depth and reattach w/out bringing up your downrigger ball ...this system comes w/release clip & works great for me.
moknots
06-24-2009, 11:49 AM
Seps release, period. By far the best one I've seen for kokanee. Have fun! Get a book on using downriggers (Protroll, Seps, Amato Publishing).
Bluknight
06-24-2009, 06:33 PM
Thank you for all the responses! Made an trip to fishermans today and got all rigged up. Kokanee beware :thisbig:
crawdad
06-25-2009, 06:42 PM
Another huge advantage of using the release clips that attach to the cable rather than the ball is that you can leave the ball in the water when re-rigging. If you use the release clips that come off the ball and the weather gets at all choppy you have this big lead weight swinging around wacking your knuckles and maybe your boat. Its also just a pain. With the cable type releases you can just leave the ball in the water. Its easier regardless of whether or not you have the trolls running off the ball.
SilverBullets
06-25-2009, 08:50 PM
Another advantage of attaching the release clip to the cable above the ball is not losing your set-up if you drag the ball on the bottom...just raise the ball a bit and your back in business.
Mister G.
06-25-2009, 09:25 PM
:clap::meme:
Check out Shasta Tackle on the web...they have a product called the Fishhawk that allows U to attach your line to your downrigger line @ any depth and reattach w/out bringing up your downrigger ball ...this system comes w/release clip & works great for me.
Another vote for Shasta tackle ShuttleHawks. I have swapped out the ST releases for the SEPS kind and had a buddy put a safety wire on the front after having one slip out of my downrigger line and sink slowly out of sight.
Also, I've found that at really slow speeds, like under 2 mph, it takes the Hawk a long time to get down to the downrigger ball, so if I'm down more than 30' or so I'll speed up slightly to get the Hawk down and then go back to slower trolling.
db
crawdad
06-25-2009, 09:40 PM
:clap::meme:
Check out Shasta Tackle on the web...they have a product called the Fishhawk that allows U to attach your line to your downrigger line @ any depth and reattach w/out bringing up your downrigger ball ...this system comes w/release clip & works great for me.
Dude, why didn't I think of that? That looks awesome. I just ordered one. Thanks for the tip.:applause:
Doc_Rhen
06-26-2009, 03:41 PM
Another vote for Shasta tackle ShuttleHawks. I have swapped out the ST releases for the SEPS kind and had a buddy put a safety wire on the front after having one slip out of my downrigger line and sink slowly out of sight.
Also, I've found that at really slow speeds, like under 2 mph, it takes the Hawk a long time to get down to the downrigger ball, so if I'm down more than 30' or so I'll speed up slightly to get the Hawk down and then go back to slower trolling.
db
Nice mod, I have heard of losing these to the water gods but haven't had it happen to me yet. Good tip with the increasing speed to get them down, I have had the same experience. I can see mine on my graph which is nice so that I know that it hasn't hung up on the way down. Another thing to watch for is kinks or frays in your cable. These will hang the hawk and keep it from getting to the depth you expect.
Cap'n Ron
06-28-2009, 09:17 AM
I used one for the 1st time last weekend. Trolling between .9 and 1.2 and couldnt figure out what I was doing wrong. Now I know. I also got frustrated with the red dubro release and replaced it with a yellow seps. I was using it as a stacker and it worked pretty well. Only time you have to bring the downrigger up is when bottom line gets bit.
taprice
06-28-2009, 02:37 PM
I have been using the shuttle hawks for years. They are really nice and work very well. I too have swapped out the releases. That is my only complaint. i have lost two that have come off the cable. Not fun watching them sink away.
But they work slick not having to pull the ball up and down.
Hookachinook
09-03-2009, 01:32 PM
:clap::meme:
Check out Shasta Tackle on the web...they have a product called the Fishhawk that allows U to attach your line to your downrigger line @ any depth and reattach w/out bringing up your downrigger ball ...this system comes w/release clip & works great for me.
I have tried the Fishhawk but have had some problems with it diving back down after reinserting the line in the clip. Also, how does one know how far down the Fishhawk goes????? Thanks for your thoughts.:passout:Later----just read a post about speeding up to get the Hawk to dive but still how does one know if it has bottomed out?
Doc_Rhen
09-03-2009, 04:57 PM
I have tried the Fishhawk but have had some problems with it diving back down after reinserting the line in the clip. Also, how does one know how far down the Fishhawk goes????? Thanks for your thoughts.:passout:Later----just read a post about speeding up to get the Hawk to dive but still how does one know if it has bottomed out?
You should be able to feel it stop pulling line when it hits the stop. This is more pronounced the faster you go. Dropping a shuttle hawk seems to work best at at least 2.0 but I was running mine at 1.2 a couple weeks ago with no problems. In my old boat I could watch the hawk on the fish finder.
I find the you need to pull up and forward on the shuttle hawk. That way it will catch the water at the correct angle and dive.
Good luck!
Rick on Rogue
09-05-2009, 04:25 AM
http://www.fish307.com/productimages/scotty/1180_pl_sm.jpg (http://www.fish307.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=254)Try somthing like this, works for me....
I use this clip, and love it. It is usually attached to the ball troll
http://www.ifish.net/gallery/data/500/flash7.jpg
then my line is clipped in and it works great. I remove that sliding clip thing and It becomes part of my ball troll.
Hookachinook
09-14-2009, 11:01 PM
I find the you need to pull up and forward on the shuttle hawk. That way it will catch the water at the correct angle and dive.
Good luck!
Mutt, Thanks for the advice. I will try it.
Hookachinook
09-14-2009, 11:02 PM
You should be able to feel it stop pulling line when it hits the stop. This is more pronounced the faster you go. Dropping a shuttle hawk seems to work best at at least 2.0 but I was running mine at 1.2 a couple weeks ago with no problems. In my old boat I could watch the hawk on the fish finder.
Thanks Doc.