Downrigger dummy.

[chad 1]

We'll I bought a new boat this summer! Well new to me. It is a fourwinns 19.5 cuddy. It came with all the stuff for downrigging such as down riggers, cannon balls and stuff like that. The only problem I have Is I never done this type of fishing before And how to use The equipment right. As far as I knew You fired cannon ball out of cannons.
Any help would be really appreciated.


chad1

[roger23]

Best bet ,get some one that does it a lot to go with you a few times there's nothing to it if you have done it for 20 years, and there are allways new ideas, and of coarse everyone has their own way good luck;)

[Michigan Hunter]

Rather than wollow through trial and error, I suggest you book a Charter into the Great Lakes for, maybe Salmon and enjoy the day. After you will have everything you need and know to rig and use downriggers. I never used them but sure know how to now since I went out last week. Now all I need is a nifty boat like you just got.

[Wannafish]

;) Piece of cake! I would be more than happy to go fishing with you, if we can arrange our schedules. Have a couple of questions first though.

When you say you bought the boat with the downriggers, cannon balls, etc, did it have rods and reels also?

Spoons, j-plugs, dodgers and squids, fishcatchers, etc.

Along with the rods and reels, these things make up the tackle you would need.
While it is a good one, to drop another $350 on a charter after purchasing a used boat, you would be better spending that money on tackle, with some guidance as to what works and what doesn't , from someone that fishes alot.
And then what do you do if/when you catch fish, need somewhere to put them, got a biGG Cooler?

If you would care to pm me, I would be happy to go over a few things with you. alot of those things I have picked up here, and tried them on the water, mostlyu with other people.
Everytime I have fished with someone new, on their boat, I have learned something that can help later on. Be more than happy to pass it on to you.

[Jason Adam]

I would say that booking a charter isn't a bad idea, but getting someone to go out on the water with you is a much better idea. What you learn on a charter may be the fundimentals of how the equipment works, but it is not specific to the equipment on your boat. True, most riggers work basically the same, and most fish finders pefrorm the same function, etc... but you would benifit more from hands on experiance with you equipment. Plus, someone in the know can point out little things on your rig that would make a big difference out on the water. I'm certain there is no shortage of people that would go spend a day on the water with you. If your having a hard time finding someone, I guess I could probably help out if I had to:) , anyways, keep reading these sites and magazines and whatnot throughout the winter, you'd be surprised what you can learn from them...

[Michigan Hunter]

OK, Chad1, I didn't realize there were so many great teachers around. This is what it's all about. Thanks and I stand corrected. (but if you do garner the bucks, I highly recommend a Charter) I have went on charters in the Atlantic and Gulf and never realized we had such great sport in the Great Lakes. Plus the professionals I have seen and been with. It's a trip I will repeat a lot.......

[Worm Dunker]

Chad I wrote an article here awhile ago that pretty much cover basic downrigger fishing try that. Downrigger fishing is like learning to ride a bike just jump in there and take you knocks. One good thing about trying to learn this time of the year is with all the fish coming in to the rivers it will shorten your learning curve. Good luck