3 way or bottom bouncer?

Bottom bouncer or three way with a bell sinker…that is the question.

For clarification:

A common way to fish eye’s and saugers on the Croix is to use a 3-way right. The most common variation to this set up is a three way swivel with a “bell” sinker attached with veering lengths of mono. Your floating crank bait is attached to the other swivel. Maintaining the desired depth is achieved by lengthening or shortening the mono between the swivel and the bell sinker. Normally six inches to a foot will do it.

Another common “get that crank” to the bottom method is using a bottom bouncer weight. Normally in the Croix 2 to 3 oz bouncers are used. You would attach your crank bait with a length of mono from 4 to 8 feet long….I’ve seen longer lengths used.

Either one holds that crank close to the bottom. You would have more adjustment with the 3-way rig…

Which of the two have you had the most success with on the Croix?

PS answers a lot of questions for some of us….

You might want to try this – run a 3-Way with fireline to your 3-way swivel and then mono to your crank. Bounce your bell over the bottom as you move along. Fireline has no stretch and will tell you right away if you have a bite. Many times the fish will hold onto the tail of the crank and with straight mono you will never feel them. The sensitiviy of fireline will tell you it’s a fish. Sounds somewhat detailed but that what makes the difference. 45 degrees is the trick.

Dude

I’ve never had much success running a 3 way, never sure where the bait is or if i’m on the bottom. Do you run the trolley while doing this or the main motor? I usually throw on a dt 16 one in black/silver and a different color then switch both over to what is working pulling with my main motor (40hp).
Brian, you been catching anything lately??
You have mail……

YES! I forgot about the braid! Thank you!

Ritt, if you use a 3 oz weight, you will be bumping along the bottom and should be able to feel the bumps. I normally use my trolling motor…but sometimes in the warmer summer months, I have triggered strikes from aggressive fish while using my 90 horse. I tip the motor up to get the speed down. What seems to be working on the Croix is speeds from .7 to 2.0 mph…using an S pattern. Again I have caught fish at speeds up to 3 mph….regularly in the summer.

PS at 3 mph you will be long lining a 3 oz weight.

I’ll have to give it another whirl… I’m stuck using the same techniques, need something new. I’ll have to try to get a trip with James or Dustin on using plastics. I should pm them now…

Sorry about the cheap shot I took at Brian….. Getting crap from someone you haven’t even met yet.. But one day we will run into each other on the secret spot…

Ritt? That was a cheap shot? I’m the frugalist when it comes to CS’s!

Downriggers… Better Depth controll

Hey Throbbing!

Welcome to our little site!

Question: I’ve never used Downriggers…how do they work when the depth changes from 8 to 25 feet and back again in a very short distance? I always thought they were more for a body of water that you set them at a certain depth and can remain at that depth for a good while.

Fill me in

My little boat would tip over if I put down riggers on. Espically with the dog in the boat.

Briank – It is a little hard to go over a hump, about the only thing you could do is crank them up really fast. Gotta keep one eye on the depth finder, I do seem to use them more in areas that have a more consistant depth, or set them up a little off the bottom to be safe.

Ritt – your boat is no smaller then mine. (14′ Alumacraft w/ big cannon downriggers)

I recently abandoned bell sinkers for pencil weights on my three-way setups. I now get a lot less snagging. I agree with the Fireline. It makes the game much simpler.
I also always use floating raps with a three-way setup. Countdowns are too hard to stay off bottom. My two cents.

Lenny Jamison

How about husky jerks? Aren’t they suspending?

Suspending is a whole lot different than a countdown. I countdown is made to fall at a predetermined speed and a suspending is made to….well, suspend. It seems countdowns continue to drop until they come in contact with bottom. Floaters are the best. The old fashioned straight raps are my ticket. I do like Smithwick rogues too.

Lenny Jamison

I’m with gator hunter on the pencil weights, they are a little tough to find but work a lot better. I got turned onto them chuck & duck fishing steelhead in the Muskegon River a few years ago and bought a lifetime supply in MI last time I was there.

Regarding the riggers on the croix, I’ve used my Big Jon’s a few times out in the basin trolling either suspended eyes or looking for big offshore muskies. with the irregular shoreline breaks and changing bottom features, they were a pain in the arse. But I did like them for keeping big floating muskie cranks at 25′, it paid off last fall with a 48″ as well…