4 downrigger spacing
- Thread starter mitch184
- Start date
Cookie's Cutter
Well-Known Member
Where do you plan on fishing that the fishing is so slow you think you need 4?
I have 3 on my boat and very rarely use 3 unless fishing is really slow, the water is flat calm with no current, the fish are shallow and I have an experienced crew of at least 3 people on board. And it is rarely more productive due to tangles vs the number of fish caught.
kaelc
Crew Member
Schooled is being on a boat with a good west coaster who can run two lines a downrigger covering 4 different depths and have four guys limited out in an hour or two with 16 fish. Amazing to see other people fishing solo, running 2x manuals and hammering but we are getting off topic.
Nothing against the guys with 4 plus down rigger setups and 4 plus plugs for electric reels, but like onefish said where does it end? It is cool to see members setups but be even cooler to see them run 6 lines, maybe throw a go pro on the radar arch for us? I'd love to learn ways to improve.
I've been temped to add more riggers, even use the "it's another place to put the bbq excuse", but I'm not as skilled as the real masters both guides and rec who can make two downriggers produce a ton of fish. I look at my videos and I'm critical of how I fish with 2-3 lines, I do set up 4 lines when it's slow and I have at least one experience person on board, but I'm rarely fishing with experienced people these days.
Keep the setups coming!
Nothing against the guys with 4 plus down rigger setups and 4 plus plugs for electric reels, but like onefish said where does it end? It is cool to see members setups but be even cooler to see them run 6 lines, maybe throw a go pro on the radar arch for us? I'd love to learn ways to improve.
I've been temped to add more riggers, even use the "it's another place to put the bbq excuse", but I'm not as skilled as the real masters both guides and rec who can make two downriggers produce a ton of fish. I look at my videos and I'm critical of how I fish with 2-3 lines, I do set up 4 lines when it's slow and I have at least one experience person on board, but I'm rarely fishing with experienced people these days.
Keep the setups coming!
Well not necessarily fishing is so slow, but rather there's a group of 4-5 people us that fish a lot together. We all know what we're doing and like running our own gear. Controlled mayhem is kinda fun to me, hence why I'm trying to have the capability to run 4 efficiently if I want.
wildthing
Well-Known Member
it's all each to their own not against a person going out there with one rod and a dipsy diver heck Jiggers are doing better than guys trolling when they get it right and on fish ....
as Mitch says its a kinda controlled may hem........ go look at the video's of the guys on the great lakes running 6-10 rods at times ..
if i am the only boat out there why not .......in the pack not going to run more than 2-3 in crowds go try fish sandheads on openning day .....lol
as Mitch says its a kinda controlled may hem........ go look at the video's of the guys on the great lakes running 6-10 rods at times ..
if i am the only boat out there why not .......in the pack not going to run more than 2-3 in crowds go try fish sandheads on openning day .....lol
To add... granted speeds are way slower, but in my 17' jet sled, I run 4 downriggers and 4 lead rods for sockeye in our lake fisheries. 8 rods for 4 of us. Each person mans a downrigger and 1 lead rod.
I've got the spacing, dropbacks, release lengths and lead weights dialed in to where, believe it or not, I get very few tangles. The only time I ever tangle is when a fish hits and swims straight at the boat. Doubles are more common than singles and triples and quads happen every day. Most of ever landed at once was 6 fish. All hit within a 10 second span and we landed all 6 no tangles.
In a sockeye fishery... keeping gear in the water while fighting fish is the most important part because you have to keep the school with you. Not so much for kings, but something about those big clusters is fun to me.
I've got the spacing, dropbacks, release lengths and lead weights dialed in to where, believe it or not, I get very few tangles. The only time I ever tangle is when a fish hits and swims straight at the boat. Doubles are more common than singles and triples and quads happen every day. Most of ever landed at once was 6 fish. All hit within a 10 second span and we landed all 6 no tangles.
In a sockeye fishery... keeping gear in the water while fighting fish is the most important part because you have to keep the school with you. Not so much for kings, but something about those big clusters is fun to me.
kaelc
Crew Member
For sure, for Sockey we have landed lots of triples running 4 rods. Seems you get one on, while running 4 flashers then the bite comes on. We had three spring doubles this summer, maybe we would have had more if we left the dummy flasher at a similar depth as the side waiting to get hit, but I like to clear one side at least for netting. Are you guys leaving 3 riggers down when you get a nice fish on your 4th rigger?
wildthing
Well-Known Member
if i get a decent fish on then its clear the other lines taking a chance on losing it when solo but done it a few times and landed ok when going for springs and stacking only fish the two outside bottom rods with flashers / hoochies spoons and bait pulled straight and 20' up so again few tangles and do slow wide turns ...
Aquaholic
Crew Member
nice kicker
Usually with sockeye I never pull any lines. Long net handles with very shallow bags help a lot. 2 nets are a must. Telescoping handle kokanee nets work great.
Ancient Mariner
Member
I will turn the other way if i see multiple downriggers and rods.
Alex_c
Well-Known Member
I just run 40lb mono leaders and boat flip the sockeye, but my freeboard ain’t much
fishin_magician
Well-Known Member
I run 4 all the time in Vancouver and when not structure 6 kinda is the norm. If I’m elsewhere on the coast 4 rods out almost all the time-no tangles.
Not to say I don’t get the odd tangle but I usually get a tangle when someone is at the helm who doesn’t execute a turn properly when the gear is spaced tightly together. I almost always fish upsized gear selecting larger quality fish anyways and I’d much rather have a fish in half the time between bites or even faster. Expectant guests in on board appreciate it too when they look over and see others fishing fewer rods.
If I’m not guiding and drinking a pop I’ll do 2 when I’m lazy.
To each their own.
Not to say I don’t get the odd tangle but I usually get a tangle when someone is at the helm who doesn’t execute a turn properly when the gear is spaced tightly together. I almost always fish upsized gear selecting larger quality fish anyways and I’d much rather have a fish in half the time between bites or even faster. Expectant guests in on board appreciate it too when they look over and see others fishing fewer rods.
If I’m not guiding and drinking a pop I’ll do 2 when I’m lazy.
To each their own.
The interesting I found too is for sockeye I like running the FWD port/starboard riggers shallow and the AFT riggers deep. Short 2' release clips and 3' dropbacks.
But for chinook and saltwater, it seems like the opposite works better. Running FWD riggers deep and AFT riggers shallow.
But for chinook and saltwater, it seems like the opposite works better. Running FWD riggers deep and AFT riggers shallow.
Maxpri
Well-Known Member
What is that beast?
Maxpri
Well-Known Member
Wow didn’t know zeta made boats that big. Your rig?
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