Down rigger help

[albinotrout]

Ok I've got one but don't know how to use it. It has been sitting around for a while so not sure what works and what doesn't. Where do I start? Pics attached.
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[SkunkedAgain]

Start by mounting it so its close to where you will sit in the boat. Make sure you drop to the side or rear of the boat. Clamp it in place first and then sit where you will when you fish and make sure you can reach your pole okay and also operate the rigger okay. Also make sure when you turn the boat it won't get line in your motor. Next you'll need a weight to go on the end of the cable. Usually 5 lbs will work okay unless you go really deep then more weight will help drop more vertical with less bow back when trolling. Then you will need a line release and I really like the Blacks release. Wyoguy put me onto them and they are very nice. Depending which one you get it will hook up different to your cable so hook per mfg directions. Now your ready to go.

When you graph fish populations at 40 FOW let out your trolling lure about 20 - 30' then hook line into release per mfg directions. Then make sure your pole will let out line and start dropping your rigger ball down to 40 FOW. Set you lock on the reel and tighten the line until you pull tension against the ball. This takes some playing to adjust the release so it holds but is not so tight fish can't pull it out of the release. Then wait for a bite. It's pretty simple but takes patients to get adjusted correctly. Also watch out for the bottom coming up to DR level they can snag and cause big problems fast. Good luck. J
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[SkunkedAgain]

Hey I'm not sure where your fishing range goes, but I'm kicking around a Porcupine Koke trip tomorrow morning. If I can pull that off you're welcome to come with and I'll show you how I use my down rigger. If the fish will bite we'll be wishing for electric riggers instead of manuals but its good to have goals. Later J
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[albinotrout]

Thanks for the invite but alas I work weekends. There is already a mount on the boat for this downrigger, it was the last pic I posted. Thanks for the info.
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[SkunkedAgain]

You're welcome and good luck. J
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[wiperhunter2]

Do you have a down rigger ball? The clasp that holds the ball in your pic looks strange or maybe it is the angle you took the pic but have you tried closing that clasp? I'm not sure if you are aware of this but the clasp need to hold a 8 to 10 lb ball.
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[albinotrout]

Yes I have a ball. I got it from TD about a month ago. I am thinking the clasp might need to be replaced.
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[Kent]

Yep that clasp appears to be broken.
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[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]The best way to learn how to use DR's is to go fishing with somebody who has them and uses them a lot. There's no question that electrics are the best way to go, but manual cranks can be just as effective but require a lot more work. If you have a sonar and want to see the ball on it, trust me when I tell you a 5 lb ball won't work for any depth at all. The angle of decent will be to great and carry the ball out of the sonar cone way to early (shallow). Eight lbs is good and 10 lbs is better. A pancake weight or fish shaped weight is even better because they both have less drag in the water.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Mine are mounted on the very rear corners of my 16' Tracker and I can get to either one in 3 seconds or less so as far as I'm concerned, position in relation to the fisherman isn't that critical. And I run both of mine when fishing alone a lot.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Your pictures indicate that your ball clasp is indeed in need of replacement. As far as releases are concerned, I use the Off Shore brand and normally use the white ones which have the lightest release pressure. Their black ones are medium and the yellow ones are heavy. I carry both white and black in my boat and use the whites 90% of the time.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Again, save your self a lot of frustration by going with somebody else the first couple of times to find out what and how.[/#800000][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000]Here's another tip for you on releases. Make the leads on them about 4' long instead of the 4 - 6 inches that comes from the factory. It does a couple of things for you. One, it makes it easy to attach the release to your line without take the ball out of the water. Two, it makes the strikes easier to see at the rod tip because the release will have a very large arc to move through when a fish strikes and it is much easier to see that on your rod tip especially if the bite is very light such as with Porcupine kokanee.[/#800000][/font]
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[SkunkedAgain]

I agree with Bob on the 10 lb weight I miss spoke before, I checked mine and it is 10 lbs. later J
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[albinotrout]

Thanks for the help!
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[albinotrout]

Ok just picked up a new terminator. Now to inspect the cable and figure out how this thing works and tie it on.
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