Downriggers for Walleye

[Walleye Daddy]

Do many of you fisher people out there use downriggers for walleye fishing. I am seriously considering purchasing a set of Big Jon Captains pak manuals, but I am not sure how much use they would get. Any helpful hints will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Walleye Daddy

[Sparky]

I have four Big Jon captains pack riggers on my boat. I use all four for salmon and usually pull the forward two riggers off for walleye. I run scorpion spoons, crawler harnesses, and body baits off of them. I've caught a lot of walleye with the riggers and it allows me to get two more baits in the water without tangling with everything else. Just make sure that you have a light enough release. I use the white release from offshore. There are six in my family so I tend to initially set a lot of lines and let the fish tell me what they want. The downriggers help me accomplish that.

Sparky

[bill]

hey walleye daddy
They work great, The problems that I have had is the release.
The rubber band release that comes with them will work for walleye's, if you go to walmart and purchase kids hair rubberband. I had fish on from 5 to 7 pounds and they will not brake, you just had to watch the rod tips, they would bounce and shake then you would have to brake the band by pulling up reel hard on the rod. you will loose a lot of that way!! I myself have 2 bigjon captain pak manual's. They are a very well build product. I use them in canada alot. The only other thing is the fish most of the time will die coming out of the deep of water. lots of luck!!
thanks bill

[Sluggo / NY]

I almost always run downriggers along with everything else, but I mainly fish the deeper eastern basin of Erie. I found that I do much better running very long leads..150' or more. As for releases..if you can find Roemmer releases, they're perfect for walleye. They have a separate adjustment for the trigger release so you can still ##### the rod tight even in rough water and set the release light enough so a Goby will release it! Good Fishing, Sluggo

[Airwave(OH)]

I would have to say that if your fishing the western basin mostly I would spend my money on other gear. I have riggers and do not run them much unless I go way east... not that they won't catch fish but just not necessary and they tend to be in the way alittle..Just my opinion...

[JudgeDean]

I think you'll appreciate the benefits of putting baits where the fish are.
I've got 2 Big Jon manuals and 2 walker kingfisher manuals, and I like the kinfishers a little better. They pick up more cable on each crank, and actually cost a little less.You might want to take a look at them. Cabelas has them.

[vetspet(ind)]

i have 4 manual captains pack big jons...they are quite functional...sometimes wish i had electrics when i'm in deep water...they have held up well...two are really old...no automatic handle releases and clutches and i like them better than my newer ones with the handle releases (no pins)...my clutches on my newer riggers have given me headaches when the clutches have begun to stick and won't release cable...i disassemble the outfit at home and oil/clean the roller bearings and they are good for another 1-2 yrs..other than that no problems...have had no problems whatsoever with my older....strictly manual riggers...same problem as the others list on lake erie...dragging fish and not knowing they were hooked because a four pound walleye often will not break the same rubber band that a 1-2 lb coho will...frustrating for a salmon fisherman...never really figured out how to combat this except check the downriggers all the time or not use rubber bands and instead use noodle rods and just pass the line thru the clip on the cannonball and then it is easy to detect a fish on but we have to reel up the cannonball...undo the clip ...and then catch the walleye...steve

[Sparky]

I use the white release from off shore for walleye. I also attache the release to an 8" leader. With the rod snugged down the rod tip will signal you when a fish is on and it doesn't trip the release.

Sparky

[cisco]

Some 98 percent of my downrigger fishing has been on L Mich (and some on Erie), but riggers do work for walleyes on big water. I have taken nice eyes on Big Traverse Bay of Lake of the Woods and also on Leech. But, in both instances there are vast areas of water with relatively constant depth. I have had my best luck on walleyes when I can fish just off bottom.

Wally Divers and Shad Raps are two crank baits that will run well behind a downrigger bomb. I use and alligator type release and have no problem with trout, salmon, walleye or perch -- they all pull free of the release, even the 10 to 12 inch walleyes.

I have not yet tried it, but I intend to run my downriggers on Mille Lacs. I would think the "flats" would be ideal for riggers in the summer.

Riggers give you another presentation option.

[FreeByrd]

Answer depends on WHERE in Erie you do most of your fishing. If you are strictly Western Basin, your money is probably better spent on other gear as Airwave suggests. (Couple more line counter reels, rods, dipseys, planar boards, mast, Stingers, Reef Runners,etc, etc, etc...)Having said that - I have caught lots of walleye on Erie on downriggers over the years, including in the Western Basin. I rarely use riggers in the Western basin anymore - instead use more dipsy or board rods, but will usually use one or two riggers when fishing the Central Basin.
Good Luck
Steve

[WWF]

Hits by any small fish are easily detected by increasing the length of the leader on any type of release from the normal 6" to 18" or even 24".
Even shakers will then cause the rod tip to twitch, and you just manually release it and bring-em in.

[Gilligan]

I also fish the east basin of Erie. I like being able to run downriggers with short leads which helps avoid tangles with the long lines on planer boards. With 2 lines spread wide with boards and short leads on riggers manuvering is alot quicker and easier. The disadvantage I find is that walleye have to be deep before it is productive. Dont expect to pick up many eyes above 50-60'without going to the long leads Sluggo mentioned. My most productive depth in this clear water is 70' and down.

[Walleye Daddy]

I went today and ordered 2 Big Jon Captains Pak Manuals with the cannon balls and realeases. I also got the swivel bases for the downriggers. I appreciate the response and hopefully I will learn how to use them effectively this spring. Thanks to all that replied. Hopefully I will see you all on the water.
Thanks again,
Walleye Daddy of Colorado

[ETT]

As an after thought : they are great for steelhead and salmon. Good luck with em. Use a snubber between the ball and the release. When you tighten up the line to pull the rod down, the snubber will stretch, and when a light biteing fish such as walleye hits, you'll be able to see the rod tip react (even though they seldom trip the release. Again, good luck.