Ted Koppel asked:


Downrigging tips and techniques for the savvy fisherman.

Downrigging is undoubtedly the most accurate way to control fishing lure depth next to being at anchor with a heavy weight on the bottom. With a little experimentation and some patience, along with record keeping you can easily become very proficient at reaching the depth you want; that being were you think the fish are. Or, of coarse, were your fish finder is showing you they are.

My personal preference is the Cannon electric downriggers for several reasons. I have owned a few other brands I won’t mention by name that simply either fell apart or rusted apart long before I felt I had gotten my moneys worth.

Now Cannon makes some really sophisticated downrigging system but we are going to talk about the simpler electric rigger called the Mag 10TS. Magnum is the downrigger that serious boat captains trust for its dependability and durability. They rely on its unparalleled toughness, the fastest retrieval rate on the market (250 feet per minute) and a Short-Stop feature that protects the boat from swinging weights beating holes in the side of the boat. The Mag 10TS features a stylish metallic white finish and a stainless steel spool that’s tough enough to handle monofilament or today’s popular “super lines.” It also has the Positive Ion Control to create a fish-attracting electrical field around your boat.

First thing you need to know is how deep and how fast you will be trolling. The faster and or deeper you troll; the heavier weight you need to compensate for the drag of the water. Most Great Lakes fishermen who downrig for salmon use a 5lb ball because they are trolling only 1.5 to 3 mph and 15 to 30 feet deep, so the drag isn’t that great. On the contrary, a deep sea fishermen downrigging for grouper may be down to 60′ or more and trolling at 5 knots; that’s a lot of drag and would be better served with a 20lb weight.

After determining the size weight you need it’s time to do some experimenting before heading out for the fish. Get to a depth around the same as that you will be fishing. Set the boat speed to the speed you think you will need for the species you are targeting. Drop the the ball all the way down until you notice the cable slacking. Quickly stop the descent and start to retrieve cable until it becomes tight again. Check the depth gauge on the rigger and note the ball weight, speed, depth of the water and depth of the reading on the downrigger.

From here, experiment with different speeds and cable depth to record enough information to know how much cable to let out at any given speed and depth. You should be able to calculate the amount of cable needed to run 5 10 or 20 feet above the bottom by using a percentage of the cable needed to reach the bottom.

I usually stay about 10 feet above the bottom-for a couple of reasons. One; I don’t want to get hung up on something I can’t get loose from and have to cut the cable. And two; I know the bottom fish will come up that far and farther to take the right bait.

We always keep our lead line from the ball to the bait or lure at 10′ or less to take advantage of the negative Ion field surrounding the ball. Any further back you loose that advantage.

All that said; now all you need is a good line release hooked to your ball, a good stout 7′ rod and conventional reel with the proper size line, the right bait and boat to haul it all in. Start downrigging today; you’ll be glad you did.

You will find the complete line of Cannon Downriggers, accessories and all other fishing electronics you need at eFishBox.com.

For more helpful articles and fishing ideas visit our social site at MyTackleSpace and check out the the blogs and forums.

ian nicol asked:


Leaders are necessary parts of sea fishing tackle. They protect the line from getting cut.

Anglers are rather divided when it comes to the question of whether a leader should form part of what is considered to be good sea fishing tackle or not. Many fishermen would rather not use leaders when they go out to fish, whilst just as many prefer not to leave out their leaders from their sea fishing tackle.

The thing is, a lot of fishermen, even the veteran ones, underestimate the importance of having a good leader in one’s sea fishing tackle. Its main function is to protect the line from being cut, frayed or tangled by fish with sharp teeth or gills. Out at sea, most fish to be caught have either sharp teeth or sharp gills, if not both. A secondary function of a leader is to make it easier for the fisherman to change hooks and lures whenever it is necessary to do so.

Before we go into a detailed discussion on leaders as part of good sea fishing tackle, we should define first what a leader is. A fishing leader is a thin piece of metal that has an eye on one end and a pin catch on the other. The fishing line is attached to the eye by threading the line through it and then knotting it securely, whilst the hooks and the lures are held in the pin catch.

There are three major types of leaders available in the market, you can either make your own or buy them from a sea fishing tackle shop. The three major types of leaders are:

1. Monofilament. Monofilament leaders are basic leaders. They are metal threads that that perform the base function of leaders – to protect the line from being cut.

2. Fluorocarbon. Fluorocarbon leaders are transparent, and this quality makes it ideal for them to be used in waters that are clear and full of wary fish. Fluorocarbon leaders are practically invisible in clear water.

3. Steel. Steel leaders are very strong. They are great for use when fishing in waters infested with fish with really sharp teeth such as barracuda, bluefish and mackerel.

There are also hybrid leaders, created from a combination of monofilament and fluorocarbon or any other material, such as plastic.

Leaders should be made part of any sea fishing tackle set because it can spell the difference between going home from a fishing trip with an empty icebox and a full one. Really, the game fish at sea can be wily and they can cut a naked line that is not protected by a leader. It would be a shame to lose a catch that way, especially when you have almost succeeded in landing it in the boat.

To make your leader more effective, you should keep the whole assembly as simple as possible. Just attach your hook and your lure to the leader and tie the whole thing to your line. If you hang any more stuff on it, you will only end up scaring the fish away.

A good leader is an essential part of your sea fishing tackle. Always have your leaders ready in your sea fishing tackle box before you sail out to sea.