Do I need downriggers?

Bobberman · 01-21-2008, 07:09 PM

I have very limited experience fishing for lake fish, and would like to target some local fish(central Oregon) this year. I have a 19' north river with a 9.9 and a 80lb electric, as well as a drifter. How important are Downriggers to fishing around here?

jzell · 01-21-2008, 08:06 PM

I'll place a bet that the Central OR boys will say yes.

For Macks and Kokes....yes they are a must have tool.

whatugetemon · 01-21-2008, 08:31 PM

I've caught lots of kokanee without them, but they are nice to have. They allow you to make much sharper turns without tangling gear. Sometimes though, I have a hard time getting the line out of the clip without losing the fish.

In the spring when I usually fish for them, I catch most of my fish without the downrigger early in the morning and just before dark less than 20 feet down. When the sun has been on the water for a while the fish go deeper and the downriggers do come in handy.

ElkTalker · 01-21-2008, 10:15 PM

You only need two.

fish-on-bend · 01-22-2008, 04:57 AM

You can get by without them, but once you fish with them, you will be deciding which brand and where to mount them on your boat.

ok doke · 01-22-2008, 05:24 AM

I fished crescent a couple of times without them. Very frustrating to see schools of kokes on the fish finder at 65-85 ft and not be able to troll through them. Not much fun with 6oz of lead and a flasher trying to get there. I tried to jig for them but found it to be extremely difficult to stay on top the fish. Next year I had two downriggers. Defiantly worth the investment. On the other hand I�ve never used them at wickiup. To many stumps and to shallow for me to try although I have seen them being used buy others.

FallRiverGuy · 01-22-2008, 06:51 AM

I feel naked fishing with downriggers. Even fishing at 5 feet I use downriggers. I like the aspect of controlled depth fishing that they give you. Like FOB said, once you use them you'll not want to go back.

moknots · 01-22-2008, 08:23 AM

All good input. I'd add a few thoughts:

1) don't let lack of downriggers keep you off the water, there are some perfectly acceptable, and sometimes suporior options. One is spooling up with very small diameter spectra (10# or less if you can find it -- I have some 6# that's really skinny), and spending the time to develop depth tables for one or more weights of trolling sinker (I'd start with 2, and add 1 and 3oz if you really get into it). A line counter would be a big help too, if you want to get down to 50 or 60 feet -- I'd skip trying to go deeper. Set up two identical rods -- even small changes in weight, line diameter (drag), or lure drag can really through you off.

2) learn to fish with jigs, or bait, or both. For sheer numbers of fish, the guys that really know this game often outfish trollers. Really often.

3) If downriggers threaten your fishing budget, jury rig one or buy a cheap one and see what you think. I've used 3 pound weights on a saltwater rod and reel with very good success on my sailboat, which will probably never have downriggers on it.

Doc_Rhen · 01-22-2008, 08:29 AM

I have fished Central Oregon for 30 years without DR's and two years with. They are helpful but not completely necessary.

FallRiverGuy · 01-22-2008, 08:32 AM

Both of you are correct, you don't need them. And, jigging is a great way to catch Kokanee. I admit it, I'm addicted to my downriggers.

oregonmike · 01-22-2008, 09:19 AM

They seam intriguing, what the best source to buy a good starter downrigger, online or in a store?

fish-on-bend · 01-22-2008, 01:07 PM

Sportsman's Warehouse or Cabelas for price and selection. Bi-Mart or Big-R sometimes have sales. For starting out it might be best to buy in person rather than online or from a catalog. Canon has probably the best manual 'riggers for a good price. Fallriverguy has Scotty's, moknots has Penn's. I used to have a Walker, now I have 2 Cannon electrics. More than 1 way to skin this cat.

oregonmike · 01-22-2008, 01:16 PM

Oh,
A reason to go to Sportsman Warehouse...

smalldog · 01-22-2008, 01:39 PM

I have two and never use them except for Chinook out in the ocean.
I have had people using them next to me when no one else was and lost fish that crossed the cable when they run.
If your using them, it's a good idea to stay away from a crowd.

wanafish · 01-23-2008, 12:28 PM

I just started using dr's for Kokanee last year at Green Peter. Fish were 45-60 down most of the time and can't believe I used to drag 2oz of lead and flashers. Had to use steelhead rods to withstand the resistance. Now with the dr's it's ultalight rods and confidance that my lure is where it's supposed to be.Go electric if you can. Set the hook on the fish and push the button and the dr ball comes up out of your way while fighting the fish. But with that being said I still don't use them much in central Oregon. Mostly jigs. I usually have 4 people in the boat and it's easier and most of the time more effective. However last year I couldn't buy a fish jigging at Wickiup and only the trollers were scoring. So dr's are not necessary but definitely add to the enjoyment of trolling IMHO. Mainline to a small dodger,15" leader to a small double hook hoochie, add a little corn, drop it back 50', clip it in, drop the ball down to just above the level the fish are showing, listen to the wire singing, watch for the wiggle. Dang, now I'm getting anxious!

Don Fischer · 01-23-2008, 05:29 PM

In as much as I don't know squat about down riggers, this is probably much to do about nothing. I did decide I needed to try it but couldn't see spending the money even for a cheap one just to try it. So I made one, just never used it yet. It's a large ocean reel with 80# test line on it. I cut an old boat rod down to about 24" and epoxied a small pully in the end of it. For a weight, I filled a tomato paste can with lead. Used to fish for kokes in Montana in Flathead Lake, used spoons. never caught one in Ore, not sure how to do it. But retired now so gonna work on it this spring.

Forgot, made the holder for the down rigger out of maple and guess a simple rod holder will work with it.

Bobberman · 01-24-2008, 08:47 PM

I would love to get on some fish around C oregon in the near future. I will pay gas, and bait/lures/beer

Bobberman

Greg516 · 01-25-2008, 07:27 PM

Bi-mart usually have the manual ones.

Roperguy · 01-25-2008, 10:22 PM

wait till the fishing is good, go to joe's and get a clamp-on type and try it. if you like it, get a good one. if you don't, return it.

jzell · 01-26-2008, 11:02 AM

I order things online that I can't get at my local retailers. But most of the time I spend my money locally. If you're thinkin bout buyin some riggers the Portland and Redmond shows will have good prices and that's the best spot. We bought our pair over a 2 year period at the show.

jz