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Downrigger Weights
WingNut 
 		    01/16/2005 15:56
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Posts: 910
 

My first weights were homemade round balls with no fin. I lowered these on a rope and tied off to a cleat at the desired depth. Frozen fingers and rope burn demanded something better.

For the majority of my years spent trolling for salmon I've used finned balls. I started out with 8#ers then switched to 10#ers when I upgraded to sturdier downriggers. I'm not convinced that any color is better than any other but I've used yellow, green and black.

Last year I contacted a retailer in Canada to make a donation for a friend's Kids Fishing Derby and the owner of the store rewarded me with a great price on some new weights. The jack salmon painted Shark Weights. I bought a pair of 10#ers and a 12#er for my probe rigger. I'm very impressed with these weights! They track true in tight turns, have greatly reduced blowback and in my mind are like decoys to attract fish.


What kind of weights do you use? What do you like/dislike about them?

Post edited by: WingNut, at: 2005/01/16 15:58
Jim...I Fish Therefore I Am
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Re:Downrigger Weights
Josh 
 		  Port: Milwaukee, WI   01/16/2005 18:06
King
Posts: 302
 

I generally use the cheapest weights I can find. For the outdowns I use finned Tru-tracs with the fins bent so they track outwards. This worked very well, as I never had any problems with tangling, even on my 18' where I only have 3' separation between the riggers.

I hear those shark weights make a really interesting "Tink" sound when you drag them up a boat ramp.

Post edited by: Josh, at: 2005/01/16 18:08
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Re:Downrigger Weights
Richard 
 		  Home: Ma   01/17/2005 07:58
Coho
Posts: 184
 

Over here on Lake Ontario a torpedo style weight is the norm. They are 13 pounds each and help in aquiring the depths required in the summer time. I personaly have fished down 140 feet on the bottom for kings. I have heard of other fishermen fishing deeper at times.

Richard
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Re:Downrigger Weights
t3pt6k 
 		  Port: Grand Haven, MI   01/18/2005 14:35
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Posts: 2447
 

I use pancakes for outdowns with a slight bend on the fins as well. Typically use 10 or 12# TruTracs for our other downriggers. I will be adding some Ridgeback Rattlers into the mix this year and also testing some prototype Redgebacks as well.

I've only run balck and red tru-tracs with no discernable difference in productivity from different colors.
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Re:Downrigger Weights
Yoda 
 		    01/18/2005 15:32
Brookie
Posts: 19
 

I Make my own 12lb finned ones with a Hilt Mold,, I like them
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Re:Downrigger Weights
Coz 
 		  Port: Port Washinton,Wi mostly   01/19/2005 01:35
King
Posts: 553
 

going to try some stainless steel pancakes if if a buddy comes thru with the material.After the fins are welded on one of my occasional fishing buds will polish to chrome like!
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Re:Downrigger Weights
Darrell 
 		    01/19/2005 15:40
Brookie
Posts: 22
 

this may be a simple question, but what are outdowns?
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Re:Downrigger Weights
t3pt6k 
 		  Port: Grand Haven, MI   01/19/2005 15:44
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Posts: 2447
 

outdowns are downriggers that are usually set up to go out the side of the boat instead of directly behind. That's why a bunch of use used madified fins on are downrigger weights to help the weight move even farther away from the side of the boat.
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Re:Downrigger Weights
chip77 
 		  Port: Brest Bay, Lake Erie   01/21/2005 10:39
Coho
Posts: 214
 

Hey, for my money you can't find a better weight than the Ridgeback Rattler. I happen to know the guy who makes 'em and they are everything you would ever want in a downrigger weight and more. And I hear they come in some "pretty" colors too....eh Greg!!
Best,
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Re:Downrigger Weights
t3pt6k 
 		  Port: Grand Haven, MI   01/21/2005 11:11
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Posts: 2447
 

oh they defintely come in some interesting colors - stand by for spring testing ... pictures then.
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