Just got a set of downriggers and have never used them before. Looking for some advice as too what size weights to use and what lures seem to work the best. Any help is much appreciated!!
I use 10 lb, but you can go lighter. I have used lighter when not trolling real deep. I like pancake weights as opposed to the typical cannon balls as they have less resistance in the water and run closer to the depth you have the counter set at. Even with them though you will need to keep in mind that they are rising up and are not right at the depth you have your counter set. I run mine off the sides of the boat up in the front, so I can see them on my FF the whole time. You may also want to consider switching the cable over to braid if the squealing noise from the cable bothers you. The braid has less water resistance and will also make the ball track at a depth closer to your counter reading than with cable.
People troll here with everything from bucktails/roadrunners to all size plugs. I don’t care for using umbrella rigs, but some people do even use them to get an umbrella rig down deep.
Typically people use bucktails/roadrunners or smaller plugs (6" or so) during daylight hours and troll larger plugs (8" - 11") after dark. Personally, I haven’t had any luck at all with large plugs during daylight hours.
I would guess trolling spoons would work during the day also, but I do most all my trolling at night and really haven’t tried it myself.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Striperskiff,
Thanks for all the advice. I have a 198 DLV Skiff myself. I am going to mount the downriggers a little behind the center console. I have 2 8 pound finned balls. I also bought some of the Chamberlain releases. How long do the Stripers usually stay down around the Towers? I have just started fishing Murray this year. I am actually driving down from Charlotte to fish there.
I wouldnt pull the downriggers around the “big” tower unless u know how the cables run around that tower. You might want to think about striperskiffs advice on mounting them up front. Easier to see the rods release as well as watching the ball on the depth finder. I just pulled out the planer boards tonight to brush the dust off…it wont be long
quote:
Originally posted by 32RacerStriperskiff,
… How long do the Stripers usually stay down around the Towers? …
</font id=“quote”></blockquote id=“quote”>I don’t really keep records, but it seems like some years they just seem to vanish pretty quick from the big water and other years they linger around a while and just move up closer to the surface.
Some of the best days I have had trolling have been fishing the big water from 0-25/30’ in the late evening/night once the water starts to cool. I’ll probably be giving that a try late next week after seeing the forecast for next week.
Lots of times I’ll fish the DR’s down about 15-20’, but you can easily catch them with a stetch 25/30 or just flatlining any diving or floating plug by itself or with an ounce or 2 about 6’-8’ ft up the line ahead of it.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I had my downriggers mounted on the rear gunwales on my McKee. Used to pull u rigs and the above mentioned. Before I got tired of trolling I messed around with stackers and had a lot of success with bombers and swimbaits above them. Ugly Stik Tiger(BWC2200)Rods are the best DR rods I ever used.
I fished them up the river as well and could turn better as opposed to flatlines.
Caught three of my fish over 20#s on the Hill fishing supersized U-Rigs and 9" swimbaits…silver/black and gold/black bombers were my go to night plugs to troll.