Attach a downrigger --FINISHED go to page 2

[bionic_one]

The length of the boat doesn't matter.

[Toni]

The length of the boat doesn't matter.

The longer the boat is -- usually it is wider...can put more stuff in it and still get around easy.

[bionic_one]

Where there is a will, there is a way.



Passed the 'Lab' test - picked the kayak up with it (about 100lbs after mods)

[BentRod]

Lee, I like it! Now that is fabrication improvization!

The mounts that Big D and rseas posted are very nice, and rseas, that is a sweet setup. However, I'd guess that that DR mount cost more than I paid for my 12' aluminum boat.

I based my suggestion on what I'd do if I had the gear that Toni has. I'm what you'd call a frugal fisherman (more out of necessity than desire). I agree with flingingpooh that a clamp style would work if put together properly (see illustration), but you'd probably want a pretty good size backer plate (i.e. 1x6, 2x6, or possibly larger depending on what your boat will allow) to disppearse the stress from the DR through as much of the side of the boat as possible.

If you want to go with a more stable and probably more permanent mount (it wouldn't have to be permanent depending on your ingenuity), you could mount it to the seat like the guys have shown in the pictures. I don't know about the boat seat riser that salty mentioned, but it might be a cheap alternative worth looking at. I've included some illustrations of what my original basic idea was, but I'm sure it'd need to be adjusted to fit your setup. It's all about physics, fabrication, what your skills/abilities are, and how much $ you want to spend. As I indicated, I'm cheap....and I also like to build stuff.

If you're boat is on a trailer, then a permanent mount may be what you want. I carry my 12' in the back of my truck upside down, so everything I put in the boat has to be easily detachable. My seats are clamp, my DR is clamp, and I've rigged my fishfinder transducer to a section of wood that also clamps on. It's a PIA when launching and loading, but I have to do it this way, like I said before,more out of necessity than out of desire. I don't have room at my house for a trailer and I don't have $/room for a bigger boat.

Good luck with your project. Post some pictures when you finally get the thing hooked up, so we can see how it turned out.

[Toni]

I think we are going to make a box for it to go over my fish finder. It will be on the same seat that I sit on. It already has a mounting plate that allows me to take off the down rigger so I might be able to make the box part permanent if it isn't to high for the oars if I need them.

[Toni]

My son came through and put it on for me.

[BentRod]

That looks like it'll work! Nice. If you don't mind my asking, how'd he attach the box to the seat?

[Toni]

That looks like it'll work! Nice. If you don't mind my asking, how'd he attach the box to the seat?

Thank you for asking...2 inch screws (6)

[Toni]

That looks like it'll work! Nice. If you don't mind my asking, how'd he attach the box to the seat?

Thank you for asking...2 inch screws (6)

[Mike Carey]

Toni, fish have another reason to fear you! You're going to have a blast with that set up!

[Toni]

Toni, fish have another reason to fear you! You're going to have a blast with that set up!

I certainly hope so!
I think I should have had my son put it straight out instead of at an angle. May have to redrill some holes. I will take it out to try it and see what it feels like.

[G-Man]

When I'm only fishing one rod, I rarely have my downrigger straight out from the boat. Your setup looks great. Now just remember to create a weight retrieval rig and you should be set. For a cheap rig use some small diameter rope and attach it to a small quick link or snap link that you hook around the downrigger line. I've got a pic of what I use in the following thread. http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... ggers.aspx

[Toni]

When I'm only fishing one rod, I rarely have my downrigger straight out from the boat. Your setup looks great. Now just remember to create a weight retrieval rig and you should be set. For a cheap rig use some small diameter rope and attach it to a small quick link or snap link that you hook around the downrigger line. I've got a pic of what I use in the following thread. http://www.washingtonlakes.com/forum/ya ... ggers.aspx

Pretty cool idea.

[Rich McVey]

That looks good Toni, were about to add one (or two) to our boat.

What do you do when you get a fish on though? There is still a weight in the water on a steel line and the boat was moving. I assume that the motor need to be cut and or the downrigger line reeled up.

What order do the experienced downrigger users suggest these steps be performed?

Set hook
Kill Motor
Retrieve Fish
Retrieve Weight

[BentRod]

What do you do when you get a fish on though? There is still a weight in the water on a steel line and the boat was moving. I assume that the motor need to be cut and or the downrigger line reeled up.

What order do the experienced downrigger users suggest these steps be performed?

Set hook
Kill Motor
Retrieve Fish
Retrieve Weight

Well, do what works for you. I think depending on your setup and how many people are on your boat, procedures will vary, but what we've always done (ideally):

1. Set Hook,
2. Retrieve the weight - if the boat is still in motion, then the drag will help you keep tension on the line while you use your other hand to bring up the DR weight. Or your partner might be able to bring up the weight (in this case the motor can be killed first).
3. Kill motor
4. Retrieve fish.

Of course circumstances can change this. I've thought of this myself now that I have a small manual DR for my boat and I haven't hooked anything while using it yet. I fish by myself quite often and figure it's important to get that DR line up out of the water, so I'll try the order I've listed above, but it's easy to drift off course quickly when you're not paying attention to the motor, so I think there will be a little trial and error. I'm sure it'll be comical to watch the first few times....and I might get a chance to practice my colorful language skills.

[G-Man]

I've got an electric so there is no manual retrieve to worry about.

1. Fish on! WoHooo!
1A. Grab rod and break fish off of downrigger clip if necessary.
2. Grab rod and take up slack line immediately.
3. Flip the switch to the up position on the downrigger. (If manual, crank it up to the boom)
4. Fight and land fish on the opposite side of the boat from the downrigger.

I will normally leave my motor in gear unless the fish is really running hard, then I'll put in in neutral. (safety tip)
My downrigger is set to stop with the weight just below the surface of the water, that prevents it from swinging around excessively if you have wave action. If I've got a large fish on that is running all around the boat, I'll bring the weight all the way up to the boom to get it out of the way.

Keep in mind that this is for when I'm fishing alone. If I have a partner on board, one person fights the fish and the other takes care of the downrigger and then steers the boat.

If you have a manual rigger and your by yourself you don't always need to retrieve it before you bring in your fish. If the fish isn't large and you can control it, just get it to the opposite side of the boat and net it.

[hewesfisher]

I've got an electric so there is no manual retrieve to worry about.

1. Fish on! WoHooo!
1A. Grab rod and break fish off of downrigger clip if necessary.
2. Grab rod and take up slack line immediately.
3. Flip the switch to the up position on the downrigger. (If manual, crank it up to the boom)
4. Fight and land fish on the opposite side of the boat from the downrigger.

I will normally leave my motor in gear unless the fish is really running hard, then I'll put in in neutral. (safety tip)
My downrigger is set to stop with the weight just below the surface of the water, that prevents it from swinging around excessively if you have wave action.

Sounds just like what we do. Auto retrieve and shut off on the Scotty's so they require no attention once I hit the retrieve button.

I don't fish alone, so no matter who is fighting the fish, I always disconnect the tie bar and manage boat control from the stern when out with my wife. Otherwise, whoever isn't fighting the fish is managing boat control. I, too, never take the kicker out of gear, just hit the idle button on the Trollmaster remote and forget about it while the battle is on.

[bionic_one]

This is more for your entertainment and another point of view on the subject than an actual recommendation.

1. Give two hard paddle strokes to set the hook and provide continued forward motion.
2. Force the clip to release if the fish didn't do it, and real in any slack line.
3. Loosen up my drag.
4. Turn to my side and dangle my legs in the water
5. Hold pole in left hand, retrieve DR with right hand.
6. Let go of DR and take slack out of line if need be - It has an auto-brake (go Scotty go) built in.
7. Land fish.

[VooDuuChild]

This is more for your entertainment and another point of view on the subject than an actual recommendation.

1. Give two hard paddle strokes to set the hook and provide continued forward motion.
2. Force the clip to release if the fish didn't do it, and real in any slack line.
3. Loosen up my drag.
4. Turn to my side and dangle my legs in the water
5. Hold pole in left hand, retrieve DR with right hand.
6. Let go of DR and take slack out of line if need be - It has an auto-brake (go Scotty go) built in.
7. Land fish.

I hear ya; I do a lot of canoe fishing and it's a whole new ball game! I don't have a downrigger (yet) but where I fish it's normally not super deep. I still have yet to put on my new rigger for my 12 foot aluminum, but this thread's got me itchen to do it.

[Gringo Pescador]

OK Toni, I have to ask...

That top board - what was it before being a DR mount? The reason I ask is it looks exactly like the wood I salvaged from an old waterbed frame I had, that I have been hacking up and using for different little projects like that for years - and in fact used to mount my DR on my canoe just like Bentrod's 1st configuration above.:joker: