Conference wahoo::fishing

Bruce,
	I've also got two Penn 620's on the Joanie - B. I have used them on
occasion for Mackerel and Blues. I use them when I am searching for the fish 
and want to try different depths. Once I locate the fish I usually put the
downriggers away and set out either wire or whatever to get the lures down
to the right depth. The riggers are just another thing to get fouled up
and unless I need them for super accurate depth control I don't use them.
	They came in handy one time though when I was fishing for Blues in 
the Kennebec River. It was crowded and the fish were about 15' - 18' down. 
The downriggers allowed me to get to the right depth without streaming long
lengths of line out the back. I was out catching most of the other boats
that day.
	I've been told that the downriggers can be used for Shark and Tuna.
If you are drift fishing for Shark there is a good chance everything will
get fouled up unless the wind and tide are working the right way. The same
goes for handlining Tuna. Using a float and a weight on the bait gives
excellent depth control in these situations anyway, so there isn't much
of an advantage to the downriggers. Also having those poles on the transom
when all hell breaks loose is not a good idea.
	One thing I heard was a good use for downriggers is bottom fishing
for light line records. You use the ball to get light line on the bottom
and hope to set a new world record with kind of average sized fish. Again,
if you are drifting there is a good chance that the ball will get fouled
up on the bottom as the depth varies.
	You can tell by my comments that I don't feel that my rather large
investment in the downriggers has paid for itself yet. They stay at home a
lot.

Paul

    Paul I had thought of replying to this note a while back but was
    hoping someone would add something positive.
    
    My experience is very similar to Paul's I have had the down riggers
    now for many years and only frustration to show for there
    use in salt water.
    
    I Cape cod bay they got so entangled in ell grass I thought why
    bother.
    
    I have thought of purhaps trying to find some level area
    out in Nornern Jeffries and try to put some kind Herring
    near the bottom and try and see if one of those Giant
    Hallibut could be gotten that way or a big 50 pd. Cod
    but never got around to it.
    
    I now have second thought on that idea because of the 
    rolling sea and all nets that laid and laid and loss.
    
    I pretty much resolved myself to just keep it simple.
    
    They are great though for large lakes like Ontario.
    
    If anyone has a positive side to down riggers in the ocean
    I would like to hear about it.
    
    
    Purhaps we could ask Capt Sabo. He specializes in light tackle
    salt water fishing.

    Well like I said, they came with the boat so I have no $$ invested.
    I am sure that the will be useful for blues, I like to used light
    tackle for them but find the rapala magnums are the best plugs.
    But hanging a $8 plug on 6 lb line does not thrill me. Now I can
    use less expensive plugs and use the down riggers to get them down
    around 20ft where the blue hang out alot.
    
    Another idea I had was to troll for cod and pollock using umbrulla
    rigs. Stellewagon is reasonably flat. If I am looking for a pile
    of fish I figured I could set out two line with the umbrella rigs
    (look like a school of sand eels) and see what hits as I am looking.
    Another idea was for tuna. Maybe troll squid or mackeral daisy chains
    deep will trolling squid or mackeral bars on the outriggers. Maybe
    one of these ideas might work or they may be a waste of time. Gives
    me something to think about over the winter.
    
    Bruce

    Although I don't have downriggers, there was 1 time I wish I did.
    Last year Egan and I were in a tournament, and the second day the
    wind picked up.  That day the fish all stayed at about 60ft, and
    all we could do was troll surface lures.  If we had a downrigger,
    I think we might of popped a few yellowfin that day.  I think there
    are somedays when they'll help, and other days when they'll be in
    the way and a pain in the butt.  But like you said Bruce, they came
    with the boat :-)
    
    joe

    I have two of the Penn's and couldn't live without them.
    
    When trolling for salmon, you can pick them up on the depth finder
    at varying depths.  The downriggers allow you to:  1) get down deep
    enough and 2) the gauge allows you an accurate measurement of where
    you are.  
    
    Sometimes the big chinook will be as far down as 120 ft.  I've gone
    as far as to bounce the balls on the ocean floor.  Of course you
    have to know the construction of the bottom.  Another factor is
    that if you have silvers and chinooks running you can set two people
    up with divers and two on the downriggers and they can stay clear
    of each other. 
    
    I guess it depends on what you fish for and how you fish.
    
    
    Ken

    Kenny beat me to it.
    
    In Puget Sound, they work great.  You can really pick salmon
    up trolling when mooching doesn't work, although I prefer to mooch,
    myself.
    
    Bear, I'll say it again.  Those things won't help you in the East
    so put them in a box and send them to me.  I think I sent you my
    address before.  They will look just fine on gunwales of my boat.
    I'll even show you how they work the next time you come out here.
    
    :-)
    
    Brett.