downrigger weights and accessories

[Morphy Boy]

Am Looking for a place in the uk that sells downrigger equipment any idea's anyone .I have bought 2 riggers from the states and made two but need weights/cannonballs etc

Cheers

[Ian Burrett]

Am Looking for a place in the uk that sells downrigger equipment any idea's anyone .I have bought 2 riggers from the states and made two but need weights/cannonballs etc

Cheers

 

I would sriously consider having a mold made and casting your own as the weights are expensive and do get lost from time to time. The cost of four weights would probably pay for a mold to be made.

[JB]

Whilst fishing in British Columbia I did a lot of trolling with downriggers for both salmon and cod. When trolling for cod on or near the bottom I found that an elongated weight was preferable for getting over the rough ground. I finished up using a piece of steel shaft with a lug welded on the end, so it would fall over obstacles instead of getting fast like a cannon ball. This gave me more time to get it clear of the bottom. If you intend trolling or drifting close to a rough bottom with downriggers this information may be of use to you.

 

JB

Edited March 13, 2006 by John and Michele

[Norm B]

I would sriously consider having a mold made and casting your own as the weights are expensive and do get lost from time to time. The cost of four weights would probably pay for a mold to be made.

Have a look at www.rokmax.com or phone them on 01872 864422 as they do loads of big game stuff. Or contact Mike Concannon through his fishing Dartmouth website because he's just fitted 2 to his new boat and is up to speed on them.

[chris parker]

I made my own from inch and a quarter stainless steel with a vane welded on to stop it spinning. I picked up an old prop shaft for next to nothing and just cut different lengths to vary the weight sizes. Probably cost me a couple of quid per weight. Good way of making them if you have the tools.

[bob@reefcatfishing]

We use about a 6-8 inch length of scaffold bar, filled with lead, front edge cut at about a 60 degree angle. An eyebolt attached on the top front and rear. Its a little bit draggy, but works fine up to about 4-5 knots. You have to play a bit with the eyebolt positions so it tracks right, an awful lot cheaper than the cannon balls etc.

[Toerag]

We use about a 6-8 inch length of scaffold bar, filled with lead, front edge cut at about a 60 degree angle. An eyebolt attached on the top front and rear. Its a little bit draggy, but works fine up to about 4-5 knots. You have to play a bit with the eyebolt positions so it tracks right, an awful lot cheaper than the cannon balls etc.

 

 

 

how deep can you get these to go? I troll plugs (slivers) for bass on a reef that has about 70ft of water over it, however the tide runs at 6-7 knots (Yes, I did say 6-7 knots!!). I suspect bigger bass may lurk deeper than the plugs will dive.

[bob@reefcatfishing]

I think that they will have too much drag for that sort of tide at 70foot. For higher speeds and deep water we use some weights I have only ever seen in Spain. I'll try and describe them: imagine a discus made out of lead with a rectangular aluminium or stainless steel plate extending through the middle of it front and rear. A hole front and rear for attaching the cable and a release clip. They are very low profile, and the plate seems to keep it tracking straight, have used them at 5-6knots in 30 plus metres of water, at slower speed I'm sure they would go much deeper.

 

Only got the downriggers towards the end of last season, and still waiting for our new boat to be finished, but I expect to give them a hammering this year.

[Morphy Boy]

I made my own from inch and a quarter stainless steel with a vane welded on to stop it spinning. I picked up an old prop shaft for next to nothing and just cut different lengths to vary the weight sizes. Probably cost me a couple of quid per weight. Good way of making them if you have the tools.

 

 

Hi Chris

Thanks for the reply would it be possible for you to send me some pic's as i have all the gear to make them but would help to see one that has been made and used

Thanks

Ian

[Morphy Boy]

Thanks to all of you for your information and help

Regards

Ian