Originally Posted by Azshooter
Glad you got the downriggers to function properly.

Down riggers are a fantastic addition for any western fisherman. I machined my own manual ones over 30 yrs ago can go down to 120 ft. I have downrigger trolled for western fish: lake trout, kokanee, rainbows, browns and even bass and stripers. Some of the lakes I fished: Powell, Flaming Gorge, Half Moon, Fremont, Teton, Yellowstone, Hebken, Hauser, Canyon Ferry, Coeur d'Alene, Pend Oreille, Priest and Flathead . There are probably more that I can't recall right now.

I have also downrigger trolled Lake Ontario, Seneca, Cayuga and Canandagua near Rochester N.Y.

I miss catching and eating Kokanee my favorite fresh water fish. Largest ones were found in Flaming Gorge and Hauser lake (near Helena) But that was long ago. Have no idea what is going on in those lakes now. I used a #2 needlefish in bright orange/white to catch most of them. Nothing like catching a 18-21" kokanee down 50-70 ft and having it run to surface and jump like the devil on light line!

I learned quite a bit from a friend who ran four elec. Rivera downriggers in Lake Ontario and the Finger lakes where I grew up. I copied many of his methods. Thin lightweight spoons are amazing in what they can catch and some of these are 3-4" long. I also used many floating rapalas. Much to my amazment Browns like plugs trolled very quickly. Another lure that few know much about is the J plug by Lure Jensen or the Lyman plug. Both have a wiggle while going side to side, really triggers strikes from lake trout and browns. Heck I even caught some lake trout at 110 ft with a rattle trap at Flathead lake!

If your state allows it a slider lure is something to add to the mix. A 8-10 ft mono leader with a clip at one end and a lure at other is clipped onto the line after downrigger is setup. It will slide down the bow of the line and pretty much center itself between the release and the surface of the water. If a fish hits the slider it will go down to release and rod will spring up just like a fish caught off the release. Allows you to troll two depths.

I have used may releases and like the Black's the best:

https://www.fishusa.com/Blacks-Down...a8diV6wIVwxx9Ch0sEg1mEAAYAiAAEgJPF_D_BwE

I use a 10 lb downrigger weight I cast myself which the locals around Rochester named the Herbie. Here is what it looks like.

https://www.amazon.com/Tackle-Room-...hy=9030230&hvtargid=pla-896665162729

pic of mold:
https://www.amazon.com/Hilts-Molds-...mp;psc=1&refRID=1AG02SMW4Z97G0CCP24T

I sincerely hope you catch many fish with your system. Often it is the only way to catch them when they go deep.


Suttons used to work pretty good. Spent countless hours fishing Cayuga, mostly off shore at Taughannock but once I got a boat I was always out trolling. NK28's were run deep and suttons up higher. My old boat had electric Rivieras on it.