Homemade Downriggers?

[marty_scher]

After getting the nod to buy a new boat, my wife is rolling her eyes when I tell her I need $400 for a pair of mediocre downriggers, for freshwater use.<br /><br />I could probably prove their value if I were able to actually catch some deep fish using this method.<br /><br />Anyone ever sucessfully made and used any homemade downriggers, or used other equipment to drop a cannonball?<br /><br />Thanks for any input.

 

[trollhole]

Re: Homemade Downriggers?

Now I know of a guy that goes by brickman out on one of our lakes. He got this name because he used to use a brick tied to a rope for downriggers the attached them to the cleats of his boat. I would say thats about as cheap as you can get. Though I would stay away from that. I use Scotty downriggers and for the money you cannot go wrong. Did some post earlier this year to find out about them but no one could tell me a whole lot about them. From my experience they are worth their weight in gold. Difference between them and other DWNRGGRS is that you have the ability to raise them up to clip and unclip your lines instead of having to swing them in. Saves a bunch of time and the last thing you want to be doing is screwing around getting you lines down that's wasted beer time.

 

[martyscher]

Re: Homemade Downriggers?

Good idea (not the brick)!<br /><br />I have heard elswhere that Scotty make some decent downriggers. I have never noticed that feature, but is sound like something to consider.<br /><br />The wife is warming up to the idea (especially since I have been getting skunked in this hot weather ) so it is getting about time to buy.