Amazing, channel cats on a down rigger. When using a rigger, I try to fish floating / neutral buoyancy plugs if I can. The weight of metal lures, even flutter spoons, will at some point end up on the bottom and get hung up.
It sounds like the new tool will see more action, now that it has produced some action. It's always interesting trying to run the boat, run the rigger and get a line in the water all at once, especially if you are a one man band on the water.
