Downrigger question

[PhilK999]

Cut the plastic on the boat today and I am finished waxing it. Hope it is splashed tomorrow and I am fishing Saturday if the weather cooperates. Hoping to find some gannets everybody is talking about with some striped fish under them.

My question comes that I won a Penn Downrigger on ebay and not quite sure where the best place to mount it. I am leaning towards the port side of the boat juist behind the support for my hard top. My thinking is it will keep that deep rods clear of anything up in the water column rods.

But Skip said something about they can get caught in your prop if they are to far forward and you make to sharp of a turn. Any other opinions or options before I go drilling holes in my gunnel

Also can it be at a 90 degree angle to the boat or should it be placed on an angle?

[Spot77]

Originally Posted by PhilK999

Cut the plastic on the boat today and I am finished waxing it. Hope it is splashed tomorrow and I am fishing Saturday if the weather cooperates. Hoping to find some gannets everybody is talking about with some striped fish under them.

My question comes that I won a Penn Downrigger on ebay and not quite sure where the best place to mount it. I am leaning towards the port side of the boat juist behind the support for my hard top. My thinking is it will keep that deep rods clear of anything up in the water column rods.

But Skip said something about they can get caught in your prop if they are to far forward and you make to sharp of a turn. Any other opinions or options before I go drilling holes in my gunnel

Also can it be at a 90 degree angle to the boat or should it be placed on an angle?

I would also take into consideration which side of the boat you are most comfortable looking at.

Maybe you could have someone hold the downrigger in the different places that you're considering, then pretend you get a hit. How accesible is it? Can you see the rod easily from where it will be mounted?

Can't even guess about the angle.

When all else fails, listen to Skip. Hell listen to him before anything fails.

[PhilK999]

I was thinking about visability issue and that was the reason for going on the port side.

I wanted one of these things for a while to troll with hoping I can get some lures down deep and pretty much know what depth is and once a fish hits its just you and the fish, but never really thought about where to put it until now.

Spoke to Skip before I won the auction for his advise, but haven't had the chance to speak to him since and was just looking for some input.

On the angle part, I know Skip's are on swivel mounts, mine is not. Once I pick an angle that is where is gonna stay, so I need to make the right choice.

Was hoping to get some input from others who may have one on how far forward from the stern you can go and not worry about tangling in the motor on turns and what angle works. Won't really need it for a while so I have some time before I mount it.

[5th Tuition]

Phil; I don't have a downrigger. Don (Hunter) runs a poor mans downrigger with a stick off a double "outrigger" off the gunnel closest to the motor. The "stick" is only about two ft long (maybe like the arm on your downrigger). I wouldn't want it any further forward.

I run outriggers off the side gunnel but have a six ft rod extending horizintal to the water. This puts my lines out far enough to not have to worry about making turns and the line near the motor. If your arm is not very long; I wouldn't put it forward.

I agree port side for visability.

But before I drill any holes, wait for a response from either Don or Skip.

5th (Marty)

[Capt. Charlie]

Phil; I have run downriggers for years. Skip is right ,don't put it too far forward as the cable can get caught. With only one, do yourself a BIG favor and get the Rodholder mount that fits into the gunnel rodholders. Also get a swivel base. You will have all the options covered and NO HOLES. Mine are located in the two rear, corner mounts. When I don't want them. I just pull em' out and stow em' away! Also, if you haven't allready done so, get a HEAVY ball. I use the "pancake" style, salt water weights. They are shaped like a "Frisbee" and track deep and straight. There is a lot of drag when you pull umbrellas and you want your cable to be as verticle as possible.
Hope this helps you out.

[PhilK999]

Thanks for the input Marty and Charlie.

Charlie, I had considered the rod holder mount earlier so I did not have to drill holes, so on your advise I bought a used Penn rod holder mount on Amazon.com for 48 bucks, a real deal considering new it is 80.

I am going to hold off on the swivel mount a little to see if I like just using just the rod holder mount since the arm on my downrigger is only 2 foot. I will keep my eye on ebay for some one selling the swivel mount cheap just in case.

I also had won an auction on ebay that had some release clips I have yet to figure out how to use and 2 Penn 10 pound lead downrigger balls, all for 20 bucks, so I should be good on them.

Thanks again for the input, now if I can get good weather next weekend, maybe I can go fishing. Cancelled this morning because of the thundershowers, not quick enough to dodge lightning anymore :-)