I only have two downriggers on my boat. Is an SWR set-up worthy of being part of the starting rotation? I go back and forth on this. On my boat the SWR is still a "specialty rod", ready to go later in the morning or if of the fish have been skiddish - but I always start with "standard" set ups off the ball.
Any advice?
The administrator has disabled public write access.
Pat,I would always have 1 in the water.Last year there was not a rod that was as productive as the swr.it didnt matter when or where if I was running riggers I had it in, that includes brown fishing.If it is not producing take it out but I would always have 1 in.Most of the time it was on both corners.Today it was the hot rod again.Had the pleasure of fishing aboard the Red Rider boat.4 man limit by 9:30 am with several throwbacks.At least 1/2 came off of SWR rods.
The administrator has disabled public write access.
I have not experienced the rate of success as others with the rig. It only goes out when the other, 'not as fun', type rigs are resorted too.. Like a full color of core.!! It also makes a differnece how tight you want your total presentation. If fishing realativly tight and/or bumpy water, it also has a tendancy to find other rigs when boat cotrol is less than ideal.
my $.02
charlie k (skipjack)
The administrator has disabled public write access.
I have found the rig so effective, I usually run two SWR's. I have four downriggers, two on the corners of my gunwhales, and two outdowns. I run the two SWR's off the corner riggers as my deepest sets, keeping ten feet of vertical separation between the cannonballs. I have learned a few things though. As previously stated, the rigs may have a tendency to catch other lines, that's why I always run them deeper than what I think my dipsies are running. I also learned, you cannot run a J-Plug or Lyman Plug on the deepest SWR, because during turns, the dumb things seem to float up and catch the SWR above it. Having learned dodgers/flashers seem to produce better, when less than 25 feet from the ball, I almost run nothing but spoons on the SWR's. But now, having also learned dodgers/flashers produce best when run deep, I will be pulling the top SWR with a spoon, and putting down a regular rigger with a flasher, when there's a serious flasher bite. If it's lookin' like a spoon bite, that second SWR is going back down in place of the regular rigger rod with a flasher. All in all, I find it a very effective rig, and usually it is my most productive rigger, that's why I would seriously recommend two of them. Oh, one other thing, when you're inside of say, fifty feet, forget about running two of them. Because you have to account for the ten feet of drop below the ball, it does not leave enough room to effectively cover the water column with more lines, without increasing the risk for tangles. Running two of them is best when you're out over deep water. So that's just a couple of my thoughts on the rig.
BLOODNGUTS
The administrator has disabled public write access.
Pat: This has been my most productive rig ever. It doesn't matter the time of day, weather conditions, etc...it flat out works! I have one down at all times and I only run two riggers as well. Just my $.02
Bill Brock
Bill Brock Semper FIsh Sportfishing Team Boat.. Just Right
The administrator has disabled public write access.
Pat, I also have a 2 rigger spread. I seldomly use the SWR as I like to use my Ridgeback Rattlers as attractors and the SWR is back a ways. I use a ton of core, just not on the riggers too often. If all else fails and the rigger bite is crappy, then it comes out. But I have to be taking most fish on the core and none on riggers to switch out like that.
www.salmonheadcharters.com
The administrator has disabled public write access.
I must admit I have had the SWR in the water on a limited basis this year and have not taken a fish off it yet. Everything just seems to be clicking this year. I'm going with an aggressive approach instead of passive.
Curt
The administrator has disabled public write access.
This is the first year that I've really used the SWR, and it has been VERY impressive. I rarely fish with more that 2 on board, so my customary spread has been 2 SWR with spoons, 2 wire divers with flasher/fly, and 2 fireline high divers with spoons. The SWR and wire divers account for at least 80% of the fish, about equally divided. I'm using Fishlander ultraglow mags in yellowtail-watermelon-blueberry muffin on the SWR, and I run the front of the lead 30-40ft off the ball, putting the lure about 150ft off the ball.
Dave
The administrator has disabled public write access.
The SWR is a great tool. I like them very much, also they can be used off boards in the spring. I have several 2 color rigs and just switch rods between my rigger rods and my longer and stiffer board rods. A 2 color reel is a versatile setup.
Mission Statement : Educated Angler will continue to be the premiere Great Lakes Fishing Resource, including fishing message boards, fishing reports covering Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Ontario, Lake St. Clair, Lake Superior and tributaries, fishing chat, Great Lakes fisheries news, fishing links, and Great Lakes webcams. Membership will remain free and offer photo galleries, homepages, and a passionate community of salmon, steelhead, lake trout, walleye, bass, perch, pike, and muskie anglers.
