Looking for advice on electric downrigger

[tubber]

The plastic at the bottom of the stainless tube has a reputation to break so if it does you can lose your rod.
If you are fishing for bait for your pots, you can run rods, but you could also clip on additional 5-7m leaders to the cable like a BC commercial troller. You bring these in by hand once the clip reaches the pulley.

 

[Mastiff]

@tubber Ah, thanks! I don't want to loose my Ugly Stiks with Shimano Tekota reels for sure! So it sounds like the 2106 wire version would probably be the best choice. Is the plastic on the plastic tube that the 2106 has more durable? Sorry, I see that it has a totally different type of rod holder. But can I put an extra holder on that one?

And that idea about leaders without a rod sounds cool, but how do you know if there is something on them? The mackerels in Norway aren't that big, so I can't imagine I can see movement in the downrigger. Or do you bring them up every now and then to check them?

 

[Rain City]

@Rain City Is there a particular reason I would want to switch holders? I think it could be nice with a dual holder so I could do stacking and fish as deep as I manage with my 15 lbs fish shaped weight and then maybe 15 meters above that.

The fixed tubes are way more durable. They're harder to adjust once you mount them though. The stainless ones have been known to snap off under heavy load but are more readily adjusted. The flush bases that mount to the dual roof holder base can also be used for cup holders and gear trays, so it leaves more options available. So it's up to you.

 

[Mastiff]

@Rain City Understood, thanks! I'd prefer durable to easy to adjust. You are talking about the 247, right? So with that bolted to the base and the 2106 I will actually have three holders?

 

[Rain City]

@Rain City Understood, thanks! I'd prefer durable to easy to adjust. You are talking about the 247, right? So with that bolted to the base and the 2106 I will actually have three holders?

Correct. But I personally don't like the durability or the positioning of the boom mounted holder, so I remove it.

 

[Mastiff]

@Rain City Thanks! Sounds like good advice. I have another Scotty Powerlock rod holder mounted close to where I will mount the downrigger, so that will give me three if I ever need it.

 

[tubber]

I can't imagine I can see movement in the downrigger. Or do you bring them up every now and then to check them?

If you have a rod attached above the other leaders, you can check when you bring the rod up. The rod tip might signal a hit on the other lines. Otherwise just check through the gear every 15-30 minutes.

 

[Mastiff]

@tubber Thanks, got it!

So what I have arrived at now, from the advice in this thread and reading around the forum, is a 2106 with the 247 rod holder, a 375 shure stop/snubber and a set of spare parts. And I want to buy a brand new downrigger in my own name, so the lifetime warranty is valid for me, as it is not (I was told in a mail from Scotty) if I buy anything used. So all I need now is a shop willing to ship it to me. I am going to mail Pacific net and twine. If I bought one from a web shop in the US I could use my Delaware shipping address, but these things are noticeably more expensive there, probably because of Mr. Tariff.

 

[chille51]

You can get Scotty stuff at any marine store, I like P n' T but no reason you have to wait for Pacific Net and Twine if they aren't getting back to you. Not sure who does international shipping, but here are some other ones you can try:

https://www.harbourchandler.ca/
https://trotac.ca/
https://www.pocomarine.com/
https://www.stevestonmarine.com/
https://defender.ca/en_ca/downriggers

 

[Rain City]

You can get Scotty stuff at any marine store, I like P n' T but no reason you have to wait for Pacific Net and Twine if they aren't getting back to you. Not sure who does international shipping, but here are some other ones you can try:

https://www.harbourchandler.ca/
https://trotac.ca/
https://www.pocomarine.com/
https://www.stevestonmarine.com/
https://defender.ca/en_ca/downriggers

Has anyone ordered from defender.ca? They always seem to have good prices but looked scammy.

 

[chille51]

Has anyone ordered from defender.ca? They always seem to have good prices but looked scammy.

Not personally, but doesn't take much to find people on the Hull Truth or wherever saying they have had no issues. Like any online business, I imagine its a mixed bag.

 

[Mastiff]

Thanks for the tips for shops! I'll mail around and see what they can offer.

 

[Mastiff]

My Scotty highpower 2106 with the suggested extras from this thread is now on the way with Fedex. I probably won't mount it until the spring, but at least it will be ready when that time comes. Thanks again for all the help, and I will add a picture and my thoughts when I try it out. I have bought a Bottom Seeker 6 kilos fish shaped trolling weight as well, I found one on Norway's version of Craig's List. So now I have one 7 kilos and one 6 kilos ready to go.

 

[PEETZcanada]

Scotty HP are the way to go. Bead stoppers work well. Cannons are likely great, but not worth it unless you have a specific use case.

Come on Vacation to Victoria, buy one from Trotac. Come fishing with me and my 2106b, then you can take me fishing in Norway sometime. I've been wanting to go since reading Roald Dahl as a kid.

I wouldn't buy a used one if you are in Norway. Better to have a new one, and Scotty can ship you a new counter if yours fails, etc. Used ones are often missing the swivel base, need maintenance or new braid. If you find what looks like a new one on Victoria BC Facebook marketplace from a reputable seller who is willing to ship, it might be worth doing that, but downriggers are often stolen, so I'd be careful. I've bought 300-500$ chart plotters off guys throughout the US but I'm pretty careful at making sure they are legit people.

PS Norway is part of the EFTA free trade agreement, so you might not have to pay taxes if you buy from Trotac or Harbour Chandler. Call them, they don't advertise their pricing. Call them on PST and they should sort you out.

The gentleman says he is fishing 45 to 90 ft. For the most part this can be covered with 10, 12 or 15lbs ball quite easily. A standard Scorty electric is more than enough. The downside is that the manual counter is in ft, but do a little arithmetic and bobs your uncle. 15m×3ft=45ft or 45ft÷3ft=15m.

It's just thoughts and ideas, not at all criticism whatsoever. Not every fishery requires hi power downriggers. Even manual downriggers will easily accomplish the task.

 

[kaelc]

The gentleman says he is fishing 45 to 90 ft. For the most part this can be covered with 10, 12 or 15lbs ball quite easily. A standard Scorty electric is more than enough. The downside is that the manual counter is in ft, but do a little arithmetic and bobs your uncle. 15m×3ft=45ft or 45ft÷3ft=15m.

It's just thoughts and ideas, not at all criticism whatsoever. Not every fishery requires hi power downriggers. Even manual downriggers will easily accomplish the task.

He wants meters. If I had my depth sounder at meters and used meters my whole life and bought a dr with feet I would loose dozens of balls not just the half a dozen I’ve lost.

 

[PEETZcanada]

He wants meters. If I had my depth sounder at meters and used meters my whole life and bought a dr with feet I would loose dozens of balls not just the half a dozen I’ve lost.

Lol

Did you know, during high season, for the most part especially in heavy migration zones, most of the time a 4 to 8 oz slip sinker is quite effective?

My math equation is pretty simple, he can also modify his DR to work by counting every 3ft instead of every 1ft therefore becoming a meter at the counter. But that's not for me to teach.

 

[fish brain]

He wants meters. If I had my depth sounder at meters and used meters my whole life and bought a dr with feet I would loose dozens of balls not just the half a dozen I’ve lost.

Did you take fishing lessons from @Stizzla?

 

[fish brain]

Make your own chart
As others have indicated 3.3 feet =1 meter
10 feet = 3 m
30 feet = 10m
50 feet = 15m
65 feet = 20m
80 feet = 25m
100 feet = 30m
These measurements are not exact, but it doesn't sound like you plan to scrape bottom, so a foot or two discrepancy wont matter.

 

[Aquaholic]

You will pick up at least one cannonball (transducer side) on your fish finder, giving you a visual reference until the math part is memory.

 

[kaelc]

Lol

Did you know, during high season, for the most part especially in heavy migration zones, most of the time a 4 to 8 oz slip sinker is quite effective?

My math equation is pretty simple, he can also modify his DR to work by counting every 3ft instead of every 1ft therefore becoming a meter at the counter. But that's not for me to teach.

They were. Let’s just support @Scotty Fishing Products on growing their exports to Europe. Especially the ones that work there not trying convince someone to save 50 euros to get a product that doesn’t work when their buddy comes fishing with them. Peetz as well, lots of lures and reels to be sold there. Let’s go team Canada.