Downriggers for springers? In the Willamette.

Zodiac-Fisherman · 03-15-2004, 01:50 PM

I came across an idea this morning; Would it be effective to use a downrigger for springers? I was thinking this because i have noticed alot of fish that my sonar is picking up. The fish were all around 12-17ft deep. What if i were to use a downriger to lower my line down to 15ft deep, and troll with cut plug herring. How does this sound??

trap50 · 03-15-2004, 02:07 PM

Sounds great till you hit a shelf that's less then 15' and you hang it up. I would think it would be a scramble to retrieve everything.

Zodiac-Fisherman · 03-15-2004, 02:24 PM

Im gonna give this a shot, since i know the willamette pretty good, and know where the shelves are located. i am new to the downrigger expierence. How far out should my cut/plug herring be from the downrigger cannon ball? 10-30ft?

Gr8waves · 03-15-2004, 02:31 PM

When trolling the Willy at the top of the MC channel most people are trolling about 15-20 feet down and 15-20 feet back. Keeping the lines tight to the boat is important as it gets very crowded. If you were to go 30 feet back from the cannonball I think you would get fouled up with others quite often and become unpopular. But, on the good side, these salmon aren't the brightest and don't seem to be too concerned about hittin something within 20 feet of a boat.

onebadfish · 03-15-2004, 02:43 PM

it's not that important to be a long ways behind your downrigger release. 5 - 8 feet should be adequate, if your only pulling herring.

Chrome Bumper · 03-15-2004, 02:49 PM

Should work good for suspended fish in the harbor

Zodiac-Fisherman · 03-15-2004, 04:04 PM

Alright, im gonna go ahead and try this idea out. I do not have a downrigger, although i thought i would use a heavy cannon ball, but still trying to figure out how i am going to attach my fishing line to the cannon ball and still be able to have a quick release machanism. I was thinking of using a black paper clip.. or tie a knot that will release with tension.Do you guys know of any good knots? Any ideas?

B-run · 03-15-2004, 04:26 PM

8 oz lead 12 pulls. All you need right there.

UN REEL · 03-15-2004, 04:31 PM

I have fish there many year,i have tried down rigger,not worth it,,lead and herring,,easy to adjust height,about the only place i use downriggers is in the ocean,Don

Zodiac-Fisherman · 03-15-2004, 05:15 PM

Thank you everyone for your imput, Looks like i will stick with lead and 15 pulls.. Leave the downrigging idea for lake fishing or in the ocean..
Tight Lines,
Dylan

Half fast Toyn · 03-16-2004, 06:32 AM

Try this for oversize sturgeon: Whole shad held on the bottom 10 feet behind a 10 lb downrigger ball with a quick release of course... and you can watch all the action on your fish finder..
Mike

BigWaterBigFish · 03-16-2004, 08:07 AM

Curious about your post, do you have a set up for your downriggers on your Zodiac?
Every now and then you see someone in the rivers with downriggers but not too often. Sometimes it's not so much if it will work or not but what will interfere with other fishermen's set up's. We were at Sellwood the other day, drop line fishing like usual and here comes a guy on "hyper-drive" troll speed, long lining through the group of us. He did that a couple of times (amazed he didn't catch up any of us)and then later attempted to anchor up at the head of the "pack" and back bounce underneath the trollers. Didn't take too long before a few words were exchanged and he unanchored and head upriver.
We'll see you out there this weekend.

Old Salty · 03-16-2004, 09:39 AM

:smile: Hi,
If your looking to attatch a cheap release
you can use a snap swivel, with a rubber band.
As you let your cannonball or main line down make sure your snap swivel is attatched to your cable or line. With the rubber band looped through the swivel and tied to your Rod Line.Throw bait out first, then let your cannonball drop down into water. The snap swivel will slide down your line/cable while trolling. A better method of doing this is with a Planer. They will not wander
up while trolling, and troll a true flat line.
The method you are trying to run is called a cleat-tied hand line. This method is used for high speed trolling for tuna in the ocean with Planers. We are the manufacturer of Old Salty Planers, and advertise on Jennies main page. If any of you guys are interested in some fact magazine articles on trolling planers, whether it Rod Trolling,Hand-Line Trolling,or Downrigger
trolling. e-mail us I'll gladly send some fact articles to you.
Good Fishin'
Old Salty
http://www.oldsaltytackle.com

KROY · 03-16-2004, 12:34 PM

toyn2much,
Have you done this a lot? I've always wanted to try it. How does the swing of the boat in the current effect the downrigger? I watch kokanee on my graph swim up to look at the ball and it's real cool.
Thanks,
Ken

onebadfish · 03-16-2004, 03:08 PM

zodiac guy,

the problem with just using a "cannon ball" for a down rigger weight is that it will spin tremendously, that's why downrigger balls have a definite shape.
i guess if you use a bead chain and a good barrel swivel, maybe that'll work. as far as clips go; downrigger clips are cheap.

just as info, way down in Mexico the panga captains tie a 32 oz lead ball to a heavy braid and fish for marlin. they just clip the mono and lure on and lower the ball by hand. they tie it to a nail on the back of the boat when they reach the desired depth.

let us all know how your experiment goes.

yee haw, fish on baby...

[ 03-16-2004, 04:12 PM: Message edited by: onebadfish ]