choosing a downrigger

[crobar]

Hello - I am trying to decide between a canon mag 5 or mag 10 for my boat and would appreciate some help. My boat is a 19' Crestliner Superhawk. I won't ask about Canon vs Scotty because everyone says the same thing - "personal preference, no real technical difference." I see more Canons than Scottys in use in my area but no one can tell my why. At any rate, the only difference I see between a mag 5 and mag 10 is the telescoping boom. Will there be times that I will need the longer boom and if so what would be the circumstances? Most of my fishing will be on big lakes and large slow running rivers. Chinook, Steelhead, Salmon, Rainbows and Walleye.
Thanks, Jay

 

[brdhntr]

Re: choosing a downrigger

The longer booms are for giving yourself a wider spread, especially if you are running 4 riggers. Normally, 2 shorts off the back and two longer ones forward and off the sides. Also, if your transom is wide (I have a splashwell so I have 2' between where I can stand and the back of the boat), the longer arm will allow you to run straight back. Personally, I run 2 riggers one off each side, then use planers and dipseys to get the rest of my spread. 2 riggers (stacked), 4 dipseys, and 4 planer boards, and I'm running 12 rods which is the max I can run in MI with 4 people which is the most I want to have on my boat at any 1 time. That's a pretty good spread.

 

[crobar]

Re: choosing a downrigger

The longer booms are for giving yourself a wider spread, especially if you are running 4 riggers. Normally, 2 shorts off the back and two longer ones forward and off the sides. Also, if your transom is wide (I have a splashwell so I have 2' between where I can stand and the back of the boat), the longer arm will allow you to run straight back. Personally, I run 2 riggers one off each side, then use planers and dipseys to get the rest of my spread. 2 riggers (stacked), 4 dipseys, and 4 planer boards, and I'm running 12 rods which is the max I can run in MI with 4 people which is the most I want to have on my boat at any 1 time. That's a pretty good spread.

Thanks brd - Sounds like everyone on your ship has to be heads up to get things right especially if you get more than one hook-up at a time. I read your response to my wife and she said for the difference in price it's worth getting the longer boom in the event we become proficient enough to handle more than two lines per side. We are currently using planers and just starting to get onto the skill.