recommendations for downrigger set-up

[tds2180]

I recently purchased a ranger 617vs with the rails on the back. I got a cannon sport-troll downrigger with the boat. The downrigger is mounted to the rail and i will be doing great lakes trolling for salmon. My questions are What size weight is max for a set-up like that? What weight design would be best to get me deeper with less resistence? What are the best releases for my set-up? I have bever used downriggers so any advice is appreciated. I did a search and found different answers for different set-ups but not exactly like mine. I also want to get one more downrigger for the other side. any recommendations for the best bang for the buck for another manual downrigger. Here are some pics of what i have.

[Phil T]

"Pancake" weights instead of round ones will drag less at any depth.
You should be able to use even 10# weights.

[Shellback]

Black's releases, minimum 10# weight or you'll get alot of blowback. Never used pancake weights, I like the standard ball weight. I'd be concerned with a rail mount, there's alot of pressure on the mounts. Find out if the rails are thru bolted, and have a backing. If the are just screwed to the gunnel, you mind see if you can reinforce the mount. Make sure the clutch will slip some if the ball snags on something.

[K Gonefishin]

First thing I would do is get rid of that wimpy rail mount, you will eventually pull your screws right through the glass then be in a world of hurting when you need to repair that...I had 2 friends rip rails right off their boat just from rod holders let alone a downrigger one on a 620 (lost a set of triples) and another on a triton, left a gapping hole in the triton it wasn't pretty. I have rod holders on my rails of my Ranger but mine are still solid tight but I would never consider mounting my riggers on my rails. I mounted mine on my back corners using tracks with a a piece of aluminum backer and through bolted them. Then added a the new 6 inch swivel Cannon bases that came out last year, I borrowed a set of 4 inches but needed a littl more hight to clear the gunnel I also have an additional riser my buddy built for me with a quick dissconnect so I take off 4 thumb screws leave the entire mount and lay my riggers on my rear storage bins and put my cover right on works awesome and is rock solid. I run 15 pound balls for salmon, less blow back the better and the heavier they are the better chance you have of marking your rigger balls on your fishfinder and they better they release when you want to change baits since you need to crank them down for solid hook up on kings. You can use 12 but I wouldn't go any lighter, torpedo or pancake or shark weights have less blowback....I know the mounting situation I'm proposing isn't cheap but you can't afford to to rip holes in your Ranger and loose a rigger and or a complete rail with a rigger, bouncing around in 3-4 footers with a 12 pound weight while trolling WILL do it eventually I see what kind of pressure is applied to mine and I'm glad I mounted mine up this way it's the only way to do it IMO, do it right..pay now or pay later...I've thought of every concievable option and this is the best I have found...you can also mount a rigger board across the back but that's even more costly unless you go wood but it's ugly and I like have full access to the back of my boat. I also use black's releases, I like them and have found no issues with them. I have a few more pics of the rigger set up in my photo gallery some on page 1 and page 2.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=72

[tds2180]

thanks everyone for the info. I would hate to loose those rails. Gonefishin i really like your set-up. It gives me a better idea of what to do. Do the rails work good enough do dipsy divers off?

[K Gonefishin]

thanks everyone for the info. I would hate to loose those rails. Gonefishin i really like your set-up. It gives me a better idea of what to do. Do the rails work good enough do dipsy divers off?

Yes they do, I would also say get a quality rod holder made of aluminum that can take a smashing from a large salmon. The plastic ones like a Ram just can't hold the pressure from trolling at 3.0 + mph. I run Cisco cradles but alot of manufactures make rail mount's now days, problem with them is you really have to reach over to pull a rod and as you may know with a screaming king on the end it's not easy to pull a rod out with one on the end trolling at salmon speeds while leaning over expecially if it's rough.

Here is how my cradles are set up. I actually move them around depending on if I'm salmon or walleye fishing, if I'm salmon fishing I move them to the front rail so the diver clears my rigger and it's out of the way while setting releases, when I'm walleye fishing and not using my riggers and I'm pulling bouncers or just diver fishing on erie and not ontario for walleye. I leave them on the back corners on the rear rails. They are quick dissconnect so my cover fits nice and snug with no mounting hardware in the way I pull the rod holder and just the mount is left on the rail. I'm going to pick up two more cradles over winter.

[Walrus2]

K Gonefishing,
I really like those cradles. Looks like they are from Cisco? I have 2 sets of the Cisco tube rod holders on my boat and would like to get the cradles. I did not see them on their web site. Where did you buy them from?
Thanks,
John

[K Gonefishin]

K Gonefishing,
I really like those cradles. Looks like they are from Cisco? I have 2 sets of the Cisco tube rod holders on my boat and would like to get the cradles. I did not see them on their web site. Where did you buy them from?
Thanks,
John

I got them from Cisco you just might have skipped over them somehow?

Short and Long Style Cradle Holder- Left hand navigation under products.

http://www.ciscofishingsystemsltd.com/694/736.html

Nothing beats Cisco's products...When I run 4 boards I just tilt the cradle up and they work awesome for pulling inline boards as well. I have triples tube styles as well mounted on rails.

[Walrus2]

Thanks K ... Which quick disconect did you order? Was it MTTSS..
Thanks for the help,
John

[K Gonefishin]

Thanks K ... Which quick disconect did you order? Was it MTTSS..
Thanks for the help,
John

The rail mount I have isn't on the Cisco website. If you want the one I have and call Cisco and ask to talk to Dennis and tell him you want them one I have. Save my picture and email it to him for reference just in case he forgets. Or you can tell him the quick dissconnect bracket using thumbscrews that attaches to the Ranger rail.

[eyeboom]

I used Kevin's idea and used Bert's Custom mounts for my downriggers. Bolted through 2.5" composite, they are ROCK solid.

http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/album.php?albumid=294