Cats on a downrigger

[briansnat]

The bass have not been cooperating on West Fayson Lake all year, so after finally making a mount for my downrigger, I took it out this evening to try it for the first time and see if I could troll up some of those trout I've seen hanging around at about 20 feet down on my fishfinder.

What did I get? Two channel cats on a Kastmaster spoon. One was near the bottom, but the other was apparently hugging the thermocline in 40 feet of water.

[Ratso]

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.

[jimmythegreek]

Ive got quite a few big cats on DR's this year, and especially on planer boards trolling tight to structure w live herring. I fished last week w Dale (getanet) and the biggest was close to 10#. We actually worked a school of them against a dam in 60fow and pulled a half dozen out all 5-10#. Dont beleive the night only thing, they eat 24/7

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by Ratso

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.

Yeah, my first few tries were not pretty. I almost lost a rod overboard. Broke three of the rubber band releases and had one mass tangle. I eventually got it down (literally and figuratively) after the first half hour.

[GetANet]

It's pretty basic but it does take some time getting used to setting up. The biggest thing is taking your time when lowering the ball. Making sure the line is not wrapped around the release and that the tension is set properly. All comes with time and repetition. I troll almost 80 percent of the time and even though people think its boring it is a very productive way to fish. You cover alot of water searching instead of sitting in one spot. And you should adjust you bait or lure when you mark fish on the finder to a foot or two above them rather than just leaving it at one depth all the time. I use a Black's Release and it is excellent with about a foot long steel leader to the ball. This helps with light bites or smaller fish. It gives it rod a little flex and you will see the rod tip bounce. Grab the rod give it a twitch to pop the line free from the release and bury it!! Not all bites are the same but you usually either get the slam and the release pops and its fish on or the other kind I just mentioned. Keep at it and you will reap the rewards. It's great cause you will catch all kinds of fish doing it. Hope the tips help you out..........

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by GetANet

It's pretty basic but it does take some time getting used to setting up. The biggest thing is taking your time when lowering the ball. Making sure the line is not wrapped around the release and that the tension is set properly. All comes with time and repetition. I troll almost 80 percent of the time and even though people think its boring it is a very productive way to fish. You cover alot of water searching instead of sitting in one spot. And you should adjust you bait or lure when you mark fish on the finder to a foot or two above them rather than just leaving it at one depth all the time. I use a Black's Release and it is excellent with about a foot long steel leader to the ball. This helps with light bites or smaller fish. It gives it rod a little flex and you will see the rod tip bounce. Grab the rod give it a twitch to pop the line free from the release and bury it!! Not all bites are the same but you usually either get the slam and the release pops and its fish on or the other kind I just mentioned. Keep at it and you will reap the rewards. It's great cause you will catch all kinds of fish doing it. Hope the tips help you out..........

The first cat I caught I didn't even know it was on. The line was wrapped around the ball. I pulled it up then I noticed a fin on the surface about 15 feet away and still didn't realize that I had a fish on. The I undid the tangle and went to reel in the slack and the thing started taking out drag. That was quite a surprise.

I'll have to check out the Black's Release. mine came with rubber bands which I find to be sort of strange. I saw a Cannon on Amazon but it didn't have the greatest reviews.

[jimmythegreek]

Ive tried all the releases and the BEST by far is the chamberlain. google it, the guy made his own after dealing with our problems. U can set it for a sunny, or a salmon, it works amazing, no draggers ever. If you do any amount of trolling get yourself a terrova with ipilot, its worth every penny and then some. I set mine on autopilot even when using the kicker or main and it keeps you dead straight or an a path you plan out. U can run the riggers and do whatever u need to and it steers/drives, like having a guy runnin the boat for you. I have no problems setting 6-8 trolling lines solo, I have one on each boat I cant fish without it

[Fishon1982]

I am with the geek hands down best release out there with the outward tension to the fish and the tension that u can load the rod with. They also have a stacking release that u can put at different depths and u can fish 4 rods of 2 downriggers and if ur trolling, the terrova is the best tool to have

[GetANet]

The GEEK WTF ?????? LOVE Jimmy like a brother amd we agree on almost everythiing.
I never had the need because they work so great for me to ever try any others.
Hoping it was a typo!

[Fishon1982]

Haha typo was performed on the one didn't even notice sry man