Maybe a stupid question?

[ClockRocket]

Can not afford the downrigger that I want, but I do have a really heavy fishing pole. Could I use a downrigger weight on the heavy pole and clip my fishing pole line to the heavy pole line and use it as sort of a poor persons downrigger?

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

Can not afford the downrigger that I want, but I do have a really heavy fishing pole. Could I use a downrigger weight on the heavy pole and clip my fishing pole line to the heavy pole line and use it as sort of a poor persons downrigger?

I don't see why not. As long as the rod, line and rod holder are strong enough. I wouldn't try it with anything more than a 6lb weight with 65lbs test. There is a lot of pressure when you drag a cannonball weight behind your boat down 100'. Also this pressure increases when you have a line clipped to it and with currents.

Also make sure the drag on your reel isn't locked tight. If you hook that ball on the bottom it will rip the rod holder right off the back of your boat.

P.S. What are you fishing for and how deep?

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

How deep are you needing to fish? We use dipsy divers and other brands of diving rigs to get to the 60 footish range. We also use copper line, steel line, and lead core to fish down to 100' or more. This in Lake Michigan

 

[LongLine]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

The first "downriggers" were window weights tied to an anchor rope.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[CaptainKickback]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

I don't fish, but I do think. If you believe your strong fishing pole would work, how about picking up a used boat whip for next to nothing. Much stronger.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

Are there any actual downriggers that you CAN afford?

IMO, you'd be better off getting a cheap downrigger(new or used) to fish with....rather than go thru the hassle of dealing with a "ghetto rigged" setup like you are proposing.

 

[R Socey]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

I always wondered what a ghetto rig was. You can find a cheap one I'm sure. I would try the diver boards first.

 

[PKomrowski]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

Most of the time dipsys will out preform downriggers, so start there. Even when your real good with the downriggers, I dont know of any experienced guys that dont put dipsys out. So after you have one on each side of the boat then fool with a downrigger, like some one elce said you could drop a mushroom anchor down on a rope and it would work, but to what degree are you trying for?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

It really depends on how deep you need to get. Down 30-40' use a Sea Striker in-line planer @ $6.
Deeper than that or high speed trolling, rig up a big in-line planer to #300 monofilment and tie it off on a back cleat. They run at a 45-degree angle so getting it to run at depth is easy. Just clip your releases on the anchor line and down it goes.

At the end of the day just trip the planer ands it runs to the surface. Beats the heck out of winding in a chunk of lead on the end of a rope

 

[idonthaveaname]

Re: Maybe a stupid question?

You can fabricate one of these or buy this one...

http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/2972567371.html


This might help..homemade rigger.

Or this