Down Rigger weights

[catfishbait]

Im curious how heavy are alot of you experianced Down Rigger fisherman going on your weights. Im guessing some what variable depending on speed , depth, etc.
Appreciate any thoughts on this ....
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[OCF]

I have 4 electric DR's on my boat. I use 10 lbs on the back two (I want them to hang as vertical as possible) DR's and 8 lbs on the two on the sides (a little blow back is fine).

I have 12 lbs that I only use at FG when I fish 100 plus feet in depth. The heavier weights seem to draw down on the battery faster.

I you have manual DR's you may want to use 6 or 8 lbs max. The heavier weights wear on your arms if the bite is fast.
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[Kent]

You can also get by with lighter down rigger weights if you use the pancake style, as opposed to the cannon ball style.
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[SBennett]

I love fishing extremely lightweight gear, such as a simple spinner and especially a single Hothead spoon by KCT with a single maggot.
I have a pair of 4lb pancakes that offer extreme low resistance and let your battery or arm be almost strain free.
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[liketrolling]

[quote catfishbait]Im curious how heavy are alot of you experianced Down Rigger fisherman going on your weights. Im guessing some what variable depending on speed , depth, etc.
Appreciate any thoughts on this ....[/quote]


Like you said it depends on where you fish, and if you have manual
If I had manuals (which I don't) I would leave them down all the time and use a
Shasta Shuttle Hawk Downrigger release but would change the release that come with it, and put something good on

I use 10 lb pancakes.

next you can talk about Downrigger releases, I have tried a lot of them.
what works for me may not work for someone else
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[Bduck]

4 electrics here. The back 2 I use 8# stick weights and those are deepest, great for not snagging bottom. The other 2 I use 8# fish weights in much shallower conditions covering the water column. With stick weights the blowback is not as great as fish weight but I'm satisfied with the outcome
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[muirco]

10 lbs pancakes on all 4 downriggers. We also have 2 10lbs ball weights, but we hardly use them.
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[dubob]

[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]Same here; 10 lb pancakes on all 4 riggers. Running the kicker full time while trolling keeps the batteries fully charged. Never had a problem.
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[reelfast]

You guys gave me an idea. Im filling pipe with lead shot and putting an eyelet on them. weights are expensive and if I lose a pipe with some lead shot I say good thing it wasn't a $40.00 ball.

Thanks
I might make a 4, a 6 and a 8 pound set up.
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[dubob]

[quote reelfast]You guys gave me an idea. Im filling pipe with lead shot and putting an eyelet on them. weights are expensive and if I lose a pipe with some lead shot I say good thing it wasn't a $40.00 ball.

Thanks
I might make a 4, a 6 and a 8 pound set up.[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]LOL. Using I" X 24" galvanized pipe (2 ea) and galvanized caps (4 ea) per set you'll be into the 4 lbs at about $61, the 6 lbs at about $68, and the 8 lbs at about $75. Those cost estimates don't include the eyelet or any stabilization. But hey, go for it and let us know how it turns out. You may be onto something. [/size][/#800000][/font][]
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[reelfast]

I was hopeful for a cheaper short cut. Those weights are getting spendy
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[dubob]

[quote reelfast]I was hopeful for a cheaper short cut. Those weights are getting spendy[/quote][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]I hear ya Dan. I got my [/size][/#800000][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]MarineNow Coated Pancake Downrigger Canon Ball Weight with Fin 10 lb at this[/size][/#800000][/font] [url "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0754L9C6B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"]link[/url] [font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]last year for $29.99 (still the current price) with free shipping. It's great to be a 'Prime' member. []
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]If you don't need/want the reflector tape on the fins, you can get [/size][/#800000][/font][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3] pancakes in [/size][/#800000][/font][/size][/#800000][/font][url "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0754L9C6B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1"][/url][font "Comic Sans MS"][#800000][size 3]8 lb ($20.80), 10 lb ($28.70), 12 lb ($30.50), or 15 lb ($38.10) from the place I linked. [/size][/#800000][/font]
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[mtncat1]

i like 8 to 10 lbs fish shaped weights , i had a 4lber i found and ran it for a few years with no negative effect . i bought a mold last year and have made up quit a few spare weights . i will sell them for 25 bucks a piece to anyone who wants one .
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