A while back I seen a plan to build a homemade electric down rigger using motors and switches from electric car windows. (Out of wrecked cars). I don't remember if that was on BFT or some random surf spot, but I was wondering if anyone has tried this and if it works or not? With 10 lb weights that is a pretty good load for that motor to lift. Most of my fishing a manual DR is fine, but last year on Bear Lake and Flamming Gorge when you have to go down 80 ft and are getting a lot of hits, it gets old pulling that rigger up and down that far. Just wondering if there is a cheaper way to do this? Thanks J
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I can't help you with the directions to make one, but check out this neat little item. Might be worth a try.
[url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrXoa8fFzpM"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrXoa8fFzpM[/url]
Also, my motor went out in my Canon electric and all it is was a car windshield motor. The motor in my Cannon Mini Mag was a Bosch motor used in Mercedes cars. Anyway, I got a used one from a junk yard for about $30 and installed it myself and it works perfectly. I used 11.5lb pancake weights and have never had a problem with this motor retrieving them even when fish kokanee and the bite is "on". I'm constantly going up/down from 60' of water and no problems.
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Hey that's really slick. Thanks for the ideas. I'll have to see if mine will work that way. Thanks a bunch. Later J
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That's a neat idea but you'd probably want several batteries laying around on a busy day.
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That's the one. Thank you. J
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Welcome! I's serious about learning a variety of fishing skills and reading our posts is sometimes all I get to do when working a lot of overtime and just having some time at night to think and read about fishing. It all helps. I do have a lot of vacation time saved up for some real fishing trips.
Before reading this topic, I was just discussing a downrigger on my pontoon fly fishing boat for catching Salmon in Flaming Gorge. My friend said I could buy a hand crank one inexpensively. I said I was thinking of using a heavy reel and rod for a down rigger and did similarly for an anchor winch with one having 100 pound test braid. He suggested using a reel with a line counter. That should work fine and cost me nothing because I already have it.
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Ron, I have tried your downrigger (DR) idea with an old pole and reel on my pontoon and I'm thinking its going to work pretty well. I also set it up so it will work as my side planer attach point and it works great for that. I look forward to putting it to work this year. In May you can troll a wolly bugger fly for trout and really have a blast, and I think this set up will be great for that. It is pretty light weight compared to my boat DR'ers and I don't expect to be able to go down past 30 feet where the Kokanee run but that's what my boat is for. When you get a heavy weight on your DR to go down deep you need some stout support to hold up to it so match your tools to what you are after. That's why I'm thinking electric because the manual gets to be a workout, especially if the fishing is good. Good luck. J
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Excellent!
The reel in the picture of me to the left smiling with pride having caught that 13-1/2" goldfish is the cheap heavy one with hundred pound test braid that I've used as an anchor winch. It's modified with a filed down foot to fit in a light rod and still fit in a heavy rod. I might use it with half of a two piece rod for short and stout in a sturdy rod holder as a downrigger.
Though I might use an expensive digital line counter reel, I could use the above since I'll probably use my Marcum LX-9 and see the depth of the weight and I might want to use the camera.
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Keep a close eye on Ksl...I picked up two cannon electrics this month, one was brand new the other was used but in great shape, $250 for both. I toyed with the homemade electric for quite a while, honestly I felt like the drill idea was easiest, but these new downriggers I've got are the bees knees, theyve got the ion control and just flip a switch and it brings itself to the top.
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Try your cheap one before you spend money on something that may not work for you. One very important part of down rigging is the release. Fellow BFT'ers put me onto the Black's release last year and I have to agree I really like them once you get them set right. Which isn't too hard. (WyoGuy I really appreciate you hooking me up with a great setup I've loved them. ) I had bought 4 other kinds of release and the Blacks is the best for me. I haven't tried the Chamberlain yet, it looks good as well, but I am happy enough with these I may not try any others. Hope your system works well for you. Later J
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Wow you scored getting two for the price of one. I watch KSL often, but seems like my timing for great deals isn't too good. At that price I could almost trade the manuals straight across, well not quite but it wouldn't cost much more to upgrade. Now watch nothing will show up for the next two years. Thanks for the hopes anyway. Enjoy your new treasures. Later J
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Another release you could try that's pretty cheap is a rubberband. I've been playing with them for a while now and really like them. On big fish at bear lake they break instantly, and on little fish like kokes and planter bows they don't always break but you can clearly see the fish on because the rubberband stretches and gets your rod tip bouncing. I just googled it and there is lots of info on how to rig them. You're only out 67cents for a bag of bands to try it out too!
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I tried them a little last year, but wasn't real happy with the release with smaller fish. They do work okay, but I like the Black's a lot better. Just a personal preference. Thanks for the tip though. If someone wants to try a cheap way to see if they like DR that's a great way to start. If I caught bigger fish they would probably be fine. Thanks again. J
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