I just got a Cannon Easy Troll downrigger in the mail today. The base is already on the boat. All I need is a weight and I’m good to go. This will be my first time with a downrigger. I understand the concept, just wondering if there’s any tips/hints yall have when using them.
What do you normally pull on your downrigger?
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”
2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
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Bucktails with some smaller spoons trailing 3-4 feet behind. Some of my buds will also pull stretch 25’s to put them on suspended fish
Advice from my father–“Son, if you have to eat a turd, don’t nibble!”
I was thinking of pulling some of my Stretch’s. Sounds like I’ll have to try to bucktails with the spoons also
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”
2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!
See Richard @ lake world for some triple swivells. May also wanna try boaters world, they had a helluva deal a while back on u-rigs.
Advice from my father–“Son, if you have to eat a turd, don’t nibble!”
Just use you FF and have the ball just above the depth you are marking fish.
I normally will run my lure about 25-50’ behind the ball. I like to use roadrunners with big long trailers.
Also try trolling in S patterns and every now and then go to neutral and then back in gear just like with U rigs
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
quote:
Originally posted by SteveKranI just got a Cannon Easy Troll downrigger in the mail today.
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!
By the way, what is the name of your mail carrier? I was wondering if I was being discriminated against-I gave my santa list to her and well just ■■■■! Goes to your house 
Advice from my father–“Son, if you have to eat a turd, don’t nibble!”
quote:
Originally posted by TRITON225CCSee Richard @ lake world for some triple swivells. May also wanna try boaters world, they had a helluva deal a while back on u-rigs.
Advice from my father–“Son, if you have to eat a turd, don’t nibble!”
Triple swivells? Never used them before and I honestly don’t know how I would rig them. Is it just for having 2 baits on the same line?
I was in Boater’s World sunday and they STILL have the u-rigs with the chartruse shad for $11. There were 9 of them on the u-rig. I believe I’ve got 4 of that exact u-rig.
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”
2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!
quote:
Originally posted by TRITON225CCquote:
Originally posted by SteveKranI just got a Cannon Easy Troll downrigger in the mail today.
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!
By the way, what is the name of your mail carrier? I was wondering if I was being discriminated against-I gave my santa list to her and well just ■■■■! Goes to your house
Advice from my father–“Son, if you have to eat a turd, don’t nibble!”
I believe it was the US Postal Service. Actually, I posted about having a Cannon downrigger base but not a downrigger on another forum (thehulltruth.com) and someone e-mailed me saying they’d sell me one for $50+shipping. They sent it to me before and told me to send them the money after I got it. I’m going to send the check tomorrow and let him know that he really needs to be more careful selling things in that manner, especially on the internet.
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”
2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!
If you still haven’t got a weight yet, I’d suggest going with a pancake weight as opposed to the typical cannon ball. There’s a lot less resistance in the water and they track closer to the depth you set on your counter. The difference in the actual depth of the weight and the setting on your counter can be quite substantial when trolling deep in the summer months. I have mine mounted toward the front of the boat. The weight pushes back under my transducer so I can see it on my ff while I am trolling, but mounting them up fron is not feasible on most boats.
I don’t do a whole lot of winter fishing, but I wouldn’t think the downriggers will buy you a whole lot during the winter since the fish are often shallow. They work best when fish are suspended in open water where you don’t have to worry about running up on humps and raising them up before you snag.
To keep from loosing a ball if you do happen to snag…When setting up, drop the ball down to the depth you want to fish. You’ll drop the ball by turning the handle counter-clockwise and stop it by turning it clockwise. Once you have the ball where you want it. turn the handle slightly counter-clockwise, but not enough where it lets the ball drop again. This way if you do happen to snag, it will start pulling off line and give you enough time to stop the boat and come back and try to get it freed from the bottom.
tprice, I just caught your post above. Can you see your downrigger weight on your ff at say 50 or 60 ft? I would loose it on the screen as I went deep and it went further behind the boat until I moved them up front to get them out of the way of my bimini top .
Wondering if maybe I had my transducer pointng too far forward.
Yes I can see my ball tracking pretty well down to that depth.
I use mine during this time of year when freelining as a down rod. I just put a live herring on it just like anything else and have caught some good fish down deep and when I am in the boat alone it is much easier having all the lines toward the rear of the boat.
In fact wife is getting my a second downrigger for Christmas
Sea Pro 210cc
Yamaha 200 4 Stroke
Dodge 1500 4x4 HEMI
I just ran across a couple of spare cannonballs while getting ready to fish in the morning. If either of you, or anyone else, needs a cannonball(s)…I have (2) 10 lbs balls I will sell for $10 ea. Just PM if interested. I’m in Irmo.
quote:
Originally posted by striperskiffI just ran across a couple of spare cannonballs while getting ready to fish in the morning. If either of you, or anyone else, needs a cannonball(s)…I have (2) 10 lbs balls I will sell for $10 ea. Just PM if interested. I’m in Irmo.
I wish you were closer…$10.00 each for 10# balls is a DEAL!!!
But, to drive there would cost me the diff. in time & fuel.
I fish DEEP for Lake Trout, durining the summer up in maine. Usually 70 to 115 feet. Last year I used electric Penn 835’s, which made it sooo much easier, and, they handled 10# balls no problem. They will take up to 14#. I haven’t seen the “pancake” type, where would I look to find those?
Also, with the 10# balls, I can track my balls at ANY depth, as long as the boat speed stays under 2 mph, which, for lake trout, it does, usually 0.5 to 1 mph, have to use the big HAPPY TROLLER plate. I’m one of those guys that really enjoys downrigging, of course, it’s always the most fun when fish are near or on the surface, and I take them trolling streamer flies…ohh yeah!!!
ONLY NATURE DOES GREAT THINGS FOR NOTHING
Salmon, I bought my pancake weights at Sportman’s Wharehouse here in Columbia. Cabella’s also carries them, but I think I remember them being quite a bit cheaper at Sportsman’s
Your profile just says “SC”. If you happen to be anywhere close to Charleston and want the cannon balls I can send them down with my son when he heads back home tonight…or I can send him down with a couple of pancake weights from Sportsman’s and just let you pick them up from him. About $25 each i think.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
quote:
Originally posted by striperskiffSalmon, I bought my pancake weights at Sportman’s Wharehouse here in Columbia. Cabella’s also carries them, but I think I remember them being quite a bit cheaper at Sportsman’s
Your profile just says “SC”. If you happen to be anywhere close to Charleston and want the cannon balls I can send them down with my son when he heads back home tonight…or I can send him down with a couple of pancake weights from Sportsman’s and just let you pick them up from him. About $25 each i think.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Hey Striperskiff…I’m in Myrtle beach, so, wouldn’t really pay, but, thank you for the offer…and, also, thank you for the links, I’ll be checking them out & getting the pancakes to try out next summer! Tight lines to you!!!
ONLY NATURE DOES GREAT THINGS FOR NOTHING
quote:
Originally posted by striperskiffI just ran across a couple of spare cannonballs while getting ready to fish in the morning. If either of you, or anyone else, needs a cannonball(s)…I have (2) 10 lbs balls I will sell for $10 ea. Just PM if interested. I’m in Irmo.
I too am in Irmo and would buy them off you in a hearbeat if my downrigger was rated for a 10lb ball. I’ve got the Cannon Easi-Troll HS and it states on the website it has an 8lb weight capacity.
I’ll ask around and see if I can get them sold for ya
2002 Key West 2300 Bluewater
Yamaha 225 OX66
“Peacemaker”
2003 F250 Crew Cab Fx4 7.3L Turbo Diesel
Take a Fish Boating!