I wish I was fishing - but since I can't until tomorrow LOL
What action and length rods is everyone using for downriggers?
How do you set your downrigger rods?- some guys like them nearly parallel to the water with and good bend to the release ... others like them somewhat vertical and bent down to the release. Other ways?
Any tricks or tips for setting downrigger rods?
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I like 8'6" medium action rods for riggers. I've used and like shorter, lighter action (7' ML) rods but I make it a point to take first timers and their kids out as often as possible and I feel that the longer rods have a little more tolerance for "rookie" rodsmanship while fighting a fish.
I like my rods to be more vertical than some and I load them up as much as waves allow without false releases. By maximizing the load on the rod and having it at a steeper angle I feel I get that much less slack between the strike and a tight line to the fish, and thus fewer lost fish. Once released, the rod travels farther away from the fish, taking up slack as it does. A release with a longer wire to the ball will help as well. The release has farther to travel in an arch down and back during a strike, taking a little more slack out and loading the rod up that much more. We're only talking small benefit here but it could make all of the difference in the world. In a tournament or with the trophy of a lifetime on the other end, every little bit counts.
There's really not much trickery involved in setting the rigger rods but there is one thing I like to do. If I'm not in a hurry to get back down to a certain depth, after a fish for instance, I'll sometimes let the rigger down slowly and fish my lure down through the water column. Not only can you discover a new "hot" depth this way, sometimes the lure swimming down is a trigger. It is behaving differently than the rest of your school of lures and draws a predatory reaction.
Jim...I Fish Therefore I Am
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I like my rods fairly vertical as well - and I load them up until it is maxed without releasing - ok sometimes just one crank too much and off it pops - reset it and try again I use Med action 8' foot rods - and occasionally a light action 8'6" ugly stick just for fun. Nothing like fighting a good king on a light action rod.
I find that the vertical setup allows for easier identification of a strike and release and I agree wingnut that it takes more slack out of the line on release.
Post edited by: tiara3600, at: 2004/12/20 00:26
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I use older Browning Med. Light silaflex rods that are 8'3" and they load up real nice , not the best for tournament fishing as you have to play the fish a little more but fun to fish with. I also crank my rods right down as tight as I can , I like the tips almost touching the water and I keep my rod holders tilted down just about to horizontial position , I don't want the rods tips being in the way when fighting fish on other rods or when netting fish. I always try to clear the center of the boat to net up the chute , I will move rods right or left to keep things open and keep on fishing but some times I move to the right and then have to move to the left or vice-verse if the fish is real green or we have a double going. I have had these Brownings about 12 years and they have gave me good service and I am thinking about replacing them this year with the Shimano TDR's if I can find a good deal on them and keep the Browning's as back up's
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Hey FR - I'll keep an eye out at Lakeside Fishing in St. Clair Shores - they have had some awesome deals on TDRs now and again - think I got a majority of mine for $30/ea or less. Which I think is a pretty good price? I see Bass Pro has them for $29.99.
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Good , when we get through the Holidays I will start looking seriously at them , that price is reasonable as thats about what I paid for my Brownings several years ago.
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tiara3600 wrote: I wish I was fishing - but since I can't until tomorrow LOL
What action and length rods is everyone using for downriggers?
How do you set your downrigger rods?- some guys like them nearly parallel to the water with and good bend to the release ... others like them somewhat vertical and bent down to the release. Other ways?
Any tricks or tips for setting downrigger rods?
My first post. How the heck does FR already have 100 posts?
I won a set of RP2 downrigger rods. I got 6 of them with Daiwa SG47LCA's. I love them, and have asked for a few of their Muskie rods for x-mas. They are pricy, but they also are sweet. I have about 270 hours on them and you can barely tell I used them. Mine are 8' two peice, medium action.
I think I have mine set at about 60 degrees from horizon. Bend it over pretty good and wait.
We started doing this last spring and it worked well all summer. When a rod pops, do not grab it and pull it out of the holder. Instead, use your left hand a grab the rod, and your right to reel. Reel to get any slack. Not supper fast, but not slow. Then when the drag starts to go or you bend that rod back over, you can take it out. Now, if you are fishing IGFA rules, you can not do this as IGFA rules say you have to removed the rod as soon as you notice a fish on. But I don't think many of us are fishing IGFA rules.
This was discussed in another thread, but I thought I would post it here. I use the Large Scotty clip releases for down riggers. I leave a line between the release and the clip. Maybe 12 inches or so. What this does, is when you bend the rod over in the release, you actually pull the release up instead of it being directly attached to the downrigger line/weight. When smaller fish grab it, they pull it down, their is some play for them to pop the rod, if they cant pull it from the release.
Mike
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Mike , the RP2 rods are sweet , I would like to have a set of thier wire setups. We also leave the rods in the rod holders after a fish strikes and reel down to the fish to take up slack before removing the rods , have a much better landing ratio this way. I run the Off-Shore black release's but I run a Luhr Jensen dipsey snubber off the back of the weight to the release for the same reason that you indicated , it helps show shakers and keeps the lure slightly above the weight and when a fish strikes he stretch's the snubber a little more and then the dacron leader inside bottoms out and the line release's , seems to help on the hook ups as well. I have a good friend that swears by the Scotty release's and I do like the one hand operation of them . Glad to see you here Mike and hope to see more post's from you as you have a lot of good info. to offer. I really like your log sheet and have used it most of the summer.
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I have 8'3" Ugly Stiks and love em. They're pretty limber, and some tourney guys don't like them for that reason (takes too long to get fish in), but one things for sure, if you get a big king on one you're in for a battle. Plus I really like how you can load them til the rod tips touch the water practically. As for angle, I guess I run mine at about a 45.
If you like the TDR1802's you can get combo deals with Shimano TR200 reels for $70 from Marine General. The reels alone retail for $60, so it's like getting the rod for $10. Or you can wait 'til the sport show and get the combos for $60, which is what I did. Personally I think the 1802's are too stiff for riggers, but some guys like them.
Post edited by: Josh, at: 2004/12/20 18:16
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I got 4 brand new RP2 Muskie rods for x-mas. 7 footers one piece.
I don't think I can use them for any salmon applications. Maybe for leadcore off big boards, or rarly do I fish a 1 lb braided line leaddrop. But this is Ok.
I really wanted them for Sturgeon and Muskie fishing later in the year (mid-september into november). Too bad I have to wait now.
Mike
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We fished 2 hours on the second to last day of the season. And 2 more hours on the last day of the season (9/30/04). Both after work and in the evening.
Picked up these two small ones in 4 hours fishing. Both were release and I have no intention of keeping one (I would only think about keeping a state record, but St. Clair River has a slot limit and the huge fish have to go back released anyways).
We just used our braided line diver rods (10 footers), but I know these fish will be MUCH funner to fight with the shorter stiffer rods.
Just something fun to do in late September, when salmon is winding down.
Mike
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Sturgeon is something I defintely want to catch - this may be a dumb question but is the approach fro catching them much like going after catfish? Bottom presentation with something big and smelly
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here on lake ontario i run 10' diamondback glass rod,s with 782 mooching reel,s spooled with 12lb. ande mono and have landed king,s to 38lb,s no problem,s. Load the rod,s up from 45 degree to water,s surface work,s well till the fkea,s turn up then have to switch to 30 lb. big game
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I use Med action 8' foot rods - and occasionally a light action 8'6" ugly stick just for fun. Nothing like fighting a good king on a light action rod.
