Down Rigger Advice

My Uncle borrowed me his Salmon/Lake Trout tackle with flashers plugs and about everything I will need to try it out except a downrigger. I have done a little bit of research and from what I have read and looked at I am leaning towards the Scotty 1050. I am new to this and the youtube videos look like it is simple to use. I will be mounting it on a Alumacraft Tournament Pro 185. I will be fishing mostly on Lake superior and I also might try to make one trip out to Michigan depending on what my work schedule and the weather brings.
My questions:
Is the Scotty a good choice for a starting point and will I be happy with it based on others experiences?

What type of down rigger ball do you recommend. My Uncle said he liked the pancake so you can get it to pull slightly out from the boat.

Is there anything else I should check out or does anyone have any other recommendations?

Thank you in advance for any help.

Lot of great lakes people prefer cannon brand down riggers myself included. If anything ever goes wrong with one every single sport shop up and down the shores will carry cannon and cannon parts.

Thank you Kroger. What model would you recommend for a beginner that will last as well? I don’t need anything fancy I would like a counter and something that is easy to use. Chances are it will only be used about 5 times per year.

Cannon Uni-troll series is a great entry level product that will also last the tide of your needs. I run 10# balls on them with ease.
Also, for fots of the early season fishing you do not need to dig deep to get to the fish. They follow water temps and that will be in the top 30′.

For the first month or so (maybe longer of you move slowly N up the shore) You can get away with running cranks on walleye rods and also leadcore or snap weights.

There is a ton info we could spew and keep you busy for days reading it. But for early season think crank baits and spoons in the top 10-30′ with walleye trolling gear on planer boards of flat lines. Talk to guys at the landings, ask them about their set ups and what worked for them, look at the rods and sets in their rod holders. I have had some great conversations and Superior landings just by simply talking with guys as they take down their boats. Superior guys seem more friendly to chat than inshore guys.

Pretty much what Mark said…. I am not up to date on the current models of Cannon but I run Cannons on my boat. I am surprised Mark didn’t vent about owning a different brand down riggers and after several repairs then finally getting fed up with them and installing Cannons in a parking lot of a sporting goods store in the middle of a fishing trip.

Yeah, I don’t like Walker…
It was Menards. I bought a drill, bolts, washers, Drill bits and an extension cord and plugged into a light pole in the parking lot.
When creativity counts…

mark-bruzek wrote:

Yeah, I don’t like Walker…
It was Menards. I bought a drill, bolts, washers, Drill bits and an extension cord and plugged into a light pole in the parking lot.
When creativity counts…

Gotta love a “solutions” guy. Improvise, adapt and overcome. Well done sir.

Thank you for the information. I have plenty of rapalas, reef runners and storm lures that should hit that water column and while trolling early I should be able to play around with a down rigger too.

I’m a Cannon guy myself as well, but a few guys I know run Big Johns and have been plenty happy with them. I happened across these and figured I’d pass it along. Pretty good deal here……..

http://www.lake-link.com/tradingpost/ad.cfm/74336/BIG-JON-MANUAL-DOWN-RIGGERS/

first set up a base for your downrigger so you don’t mutilate your gunnel. I’d suggest a 2″ pine plank. Cheap enuf to start and when you want to upgrade, you’ve got the place ready to go.

i’m a cannon guy, but i’ve owned every brand at one time or another. Start with manual. if you get into it you can upgrade to electric. But, it’s easy to get too fancy. i’m not a big fan of programmables. K.I.S.S.

As far as baits, you’ve pretty much got it covered. Check locally always as a shift in the development of the local forage base can make all of your lures worthless. you may have to drive a bit to get what the fish are taking, but remember THE FISH ARE TAKING THAT BAIT NOW.

Also, do not ignore cut bait. it’s practiced by very few on michigan or superior, but it’s a phenomenal technique once you learn how it’s done and acquire a meat supply.

I’m running cannon manual with 8lb ball. They are 5yr old havent had a bunch of use yet but they have not let me down yet.

Marine general is a great place also to talk to about riggers they sell a bunch.

See you on the water this years is to fish superior alot this summer and we are taking a trip to Algoma in August.

Thank you again for all of the help! Nathan I sent a message on the used down riggers and haven’t heard back yet. STUWEST, I will have to check into the cut bait. I don’t have too much experience with it other then sturgeon fishing.(So not trolling.) I am looking forward to this year and checking everything out. 396Ranger I will also have to check out Marine General to see what extra advice and information I can get.

We run Cannons on our charter boat. I would suggest the Mag 5s if you want electric. The manuals are very easy to use and I know and have fished with guys that use them and love them. 10 to 12lb balls are perfect. I would not suggest pancakes if only running 2 riggers. Keep em behind the boat so you can run 1 or 2 dipsey rods on each side of the boat.

Than you! What size of line do you run on your dipsey rods?

gunsmith89 wrote:

Than you! What size of line do you run on your dipsey rods?

I prefer 30# braid but I know many are running 50#.

Thank you! I also found an app for my phone called the dipsy troller. That will hopefully be of some help.

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30#-40# braid for me on superior. I know guys on Michigan sometimes shy away from braid due to the spiny water fleas but we do not see that issue on Superior. You may also want to consider a snubber behind the dipsey, some like them, some don’t.