downrigger halibut

packer · 04-13-2008, 04:30 PM

For us old guys i've heard talk of using downriggers to get to the fish so you don't have to fight the weight when you hook up . has anybody tried it . It seems like you could run a little more weight doing it this way .

sarmstrong · 04-13-2008, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packer

For us old guys i've heard talk of using downriggers to get to the fish so you don't have to fight the weight when you hook up . has anybody tried it . It seems like you could run a little more weight doing it this way .

Ive been just as curious about this method , hope somebody gets back to you/us

Dylan · 04-13-2008, 08:46 PM

I've been on a boat fishing with this technique. One guy (the captain of course) with downrigger and two or three others conventional. We had a few tangles and it didn't work as well as we wanted. However, when it worked, it was a lot more fun to bait check or fight a fish. And we were using spreader bars at the time; I think they are really prone to tangling/knitting.
We did try to put the rod using the downrigger out before the others; to keep them away from each other, but it didn't always work.

It has potential I think, but there's some risk. Like to hear some other's experience with it.

my

, for what it's worth.

Greg516 · 04-13-2008, 08:49 PM

use a outrigger pole too?

Mypursuit · 04-13-2008, 08:54 PM

I have tapped the weight off the bottom @ 150'. It's risky business unless you are certiain that you're bottom is snag free. I caught 2 large, 36+ lings and one 25lb halibut but generally came up blank.

The problem with greater depth is the drift/drag ratio on the wire puts a lot of flex in the wire even on a no wind day just in current. So you've got the possiblity of more line tangles and a double wrap around wire can be horrific, kind of a bullet proof sweater knit..don't ask me how I know this

fishonjon · 04-13-2008, 09:52 PM

Works great for shallow hali

Maverick Maxcat · 04-14-2008, 06:14 AM

I've been using 'riggers for halibut for years, both trolling and drifting. There is a steep learning curve involved, and I've developed some special gear as well. I hope to have it commercially available in time for next years' sportsman shows. Once you get it figured out it works great! I've tested the system to 700', makes life much easier........

flapbreaker · 04-14-2008, 06:31 AM

Last I check downrigger weights are running around $50 each. I'd sure hate to lose to many of them. If I were you I would look into electric reels instead. However, like others have said, shallow water would be much easier.

PIR8 Hook · 04-14-2008, 06:34 AM

For years on the near shore season I've done it out of PC. Works great as well as the fact, I believe that the skipping #25 cannon ball stirs up the bait fish to put them on the bite. Only problem is reeling it back up from the depth UGH!

5-Cents · 04-14-2008, 06:35 AM

It sounds good for bait checks but what difference does a 3lb weight make when you are hooked up with a 30lb fish - the fish is whats hard to reel up!

Mypursuit · 04-14-2008, 06:36 AM

Maverick,

Are you tapping the bottom or are you touching and then coming up a foot or so and then drifting? I've done both from 65 - 200 feet. I guess I failed on the learning curve because my halibut rig would frequently end up wrapped around the terminal gear or weight. I was going to try to rig a spreader combination to move the release further away from the cable.

Guess I should sign on to go on one of your trips when you 're doing it to see if I could steal some ideas.

smalldog · 04-14-2008, 08:18 AM

Use it to get it down with a light weight then pop it off.
Works for getting to the bottom in strong current.

ron m · 04-14-2008, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 5-Cents

It sounds good for bait checks but what difference does a 3lb weight make when you are hooked up with a 30lb fish - the fish is whats hard to reel up!

That 3 lb. weight makes a great deal of difference in fighting the fish. Without the 3 lb weight, you can feel the fish much more. All the set-up and waiting for the other guys to put theirs out first is a pain, but it's worth it when you're fighting the fish.

I've used my downrigger at the ranch and when it worked, it was great. I usually fish 4 of us from my 23 ft boat and the downrigger didn't work so well with 4 lines out.

I got a 6 lb weight from the scrap yard and it worked fine for getting my bait down. I used a spreader bar (with a clip attached to the long arm to hold my line/bait) on the downrigger. It shows on my ff so I can keep it off the bottom to keep from getting it hung on the bottom, though ya gotta watch carefully since the bottom changes as you drift. Works best for the guys using weights to put theirs out first since the downrigger has a heavier weight and is more straight down. Problem is that when anyone gets a fish, ya gotta bring it up to keep from knitting a sweater. A larger spreader bar would work better, but I haven't been able yet to successfully make one that is reasonable to carry on the boat. Also, lowering it slowly helps to keep the bait from tangling around the cable.
ron m

packer · 04-14-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maverick Maxcat

I've been using 'riggers for halibut for years, both trolling and drifting. There is a steep learning curve involved, and I've developed some special gear as well. I hope to have it commercially available in time for next years' sportsman shows. Once you get it figured out it works great! I've tested the system to 700', makes life much easier........

A charter skipper put on a seminar at the puyallup show but i was busy in my booth and didn't get to attend . It has gotten me thinking and that is why i posted this thread . Anyone who has caught a salmon off a deep downrigger knows how much more fun it is to fight a fish wuthout a big flasher on the line . I was thinking of rigging my scottys up with 130 lb spectra braid and and a 4lb ball and putting the release clip on the ball . Possibly using a 12oz weight near the bait with a 2ft leader. if anybody has tried it this way let me know thanks for the input

ron m · 04-14-2008, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by packer

I was thinking of rigging my scottys up with 130 lb spectra braid and and a 4lb ball and putting the release clip on the ball . Possibly using a 12oz weight near the bait with a 2ft leader. if anybody has tried it this way let me know thanks for the input

4 lbs may not be enough, more weight would hlep it be more straight down and separate it from the line your crew has out. Also, if you put the clip on the weight, there is a good chance your bait will wrap around the downrigger line/cable. you might be able to put the clip on the weight if you're drifting fairly fast with the wind and put our enough line past the clip and let it down very slowly. If it spirals as you lower it, it'll wrap around the cable.

I have either 200 or 250 braid on my down-rigger. 130 will probably work, but remember it'll be going up and down and will get some wear. I put about a 50 ft topshot of ss cable on mine, connected it to the braid with a swivel.
ron m

SilverFly · 04-14-2008, 08:15 PM

I've posted this before but I can't figure why it wouldn't work. Why not use sacrificial weights made by pouring concrete into molds like plastic water bottles with the tops cut off?

You can buy 2-3 sacks of premix for the cost of a single 1# cannonball. Another plus would be less weight on the run back in (it all adds up). Being less dense than lead, I'm sure they wouldn't sink as quite fast. They should still get down though since most of the hydraulic drag is from the line anyway. IF I ever finish my boat, I'm gonna give em a shot cause I'm a cheap SOB and I like to fight fish on a free line.

Just a thought.

Dave B · 04-15-2008, 07:41 AM

I've often thought of doing this when fishing for sturgeon in heavy current. I haven't tried it yet because I was afraid the other fishermen would see it and call the guys in the white coats to carry me away. Don't know why it wouldn't work, though.

O Tshawytcha · 04-15-2008, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverFly

I've posted this before but I can't figure why it wouldn't work. Why not use sacrificial weights made by pouring concrete into molds like plastic water bottles with the tops cut off?

You can buy 2-3 sacks of premix for the cost of a single 1# cannonball. Another plus would be less weight on the run back in (it all adds up). Being less dense than lead, I'm sure they wouldn't sink as quite fast. They should still get down though since most of the hydraulic drag is from the line anyway. IF I ever finish my boat, I'm gonna give em a shot cause I'm a cheap SOB and I like to fight fish on a free line.

Just a thought.

I think that it has been tried with limited success. Concrete doesn't weigh much in water.

GRIFF

packer · 04-16-2008, 12:48 PM

I have about 3 or 4 thousand hex bar weights up to 24 oz all powder coated in different colors that would make great sacrifice weights . i was thinking thinking i could hook the big ones together with split rings and they wouldn't have much drag . some of the flo pink and chartruse might even help attract the fish .

Duckwheat · 04-16-2008, 03:59 PM

Why not use a cinderblock? Have about a half dozen on the boat. You could get a top shot attached to your cinder block. Then just break your top shot and cinder block off if you hang up. Bounce the bottom and stir things up.

Sounds like a whole new thread, Top Shot to Cinder Block Thread.

DW