Downrigger speed/temp gear questions. Help

[orsturgeon]

I have been looking at a couple of speed/temp guages that attach to the downrigger. Any one have any experience with the following?

Sub-troll 900 from Moor Electronics

and/or

Fishhawk Thermo-troll 840

Thank you
Orsturgeon

[img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[Pilar]

Orsturgeon, confused here. Does this check speed and temp at depth? Is the sensor on the downrigger ball? Just curious ..... It would be way cool to know about the water down where you are fishing.

[orsturgeon]

Pilar,Take the mystery out of trolling with downriggers. No longer is the speed and temperature at the lure a mystery. The ST-900 consists of only three interacting parts: the display readout, the antenna and the sending unit. The sending unit attaches to the downrigger cable and transmits a signal to the antenna mounted on the downrigger boom. The display unit may be installed up to 15 feet from the downrigger. This easy-to-install unit does not require transducers or grounding rods. Monitor the speed of your lure – not your boat. You also know what the exact temperature is. Illuminated display screen.

This is the propaganda for the Sub-troll.

This could help me in sssooooooooooooo many ways. I just want to talk to someone who has experience with this type of setup.

Orsturgeon

[Jeffhead]

Not to put a damper on the idea, I just wonder if or how the signal from the unit effects the electrolysis between the rigger wire and the zincs on the boat. Would be leary of anything that would increase or interfere with that action.
Also two ways to check for proper speed and flasher action is when you hookup the main line to the release clip drop your gear just below the waterline and adjust youe speed accordingly, I find that nooks like a slower speed so I adjust the boat speed so that the flasher is just starting to rotate, for silvers speed that puppy up to anywhere from 2.5 to 3 MPH, also check the swayback of the rigger' wire after you get it down to depth, should be somewhere between 20 and 40 degrees while you are trolling and you should be able to see the rod tip bobbing rythmicly as the flasher is rolling. This is much easier to see with the metallic type flashers such as the Abe n Al than with the plastics like the Hot Spot. If you are using a black box to control the electrical field around the boat keep the gear wiyhin 10 ft of the release clip, if not run it back about 25 or 30 feet. I know that this is outside of what you asked about but I just thougyt I would share what I have learned in quite a few hours of Puget Sound trolling.
Good luck and tight lines, Jeff [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Save your self from getting gray hair or going bald and go with the Fish Hawk 840. They might cost a little more but you can't beat em and also you get what you pay for. Here on Lake Ontario the Fish Hawk is most popular. I don't own one, I have 2 Ray Jeff Troll Command 285's only problem is they stopped making them. They do create some swayback, but no big deal. They don't seem to bother the fish. Sorry to say I've heard the Subtroll is nothing but trouble.