How much weight

[Captsmate]

Im coming up in september to do some trolling for kings.

Im currently still putting together my boat as far as downrigging goes. 

So there in lies my question.

I need to purchase downrigger balls, how much weight should i choose..i havent been up there since the late 80s i use to troll j plugs and stingers but i just bought a dodger so any thoughts on water resistances 

Downriggers are cannon easi trolls on 16ft aluminum utility  bo at

[bottom-feeder]

likely not over 10 lbs with those riggers

[Captsmate]

Ok thanks i was thinking maybe 6 to 8

 

[mr 580]

Check for Cannon’s rating- think that model was rated at 8lb max.  Those have a pretty small diameter boom.

[HB2]

I have the same riggers as those,for my 16 ft aluminum . I love to troll for staggers off the creekmouths . 

I use 10# herbies . Fish shapped   . 

 

8# would probably be ok down to say 50 ft . 

 

Fishing starts mid Sept for them . First light bite is best . 

 

I use #3 & #4 j plugs almost exclusively . 

White with black dots, glow green ,or silver red head  are my go to. Look circulars and,fish under them   

 

35 to 75 back .1  Ball set 10 ft off bottom 

1 set half way down . 

 

I sometimes,in shallow set my rigger just under the surface maybe 2 ft down . 

 

Check the drags,on those as  they dry up .

Edited August 6, 2019 by HB2

[Captsmate]

Thanks ..great info

 

[Sk8man]

Not sure of your exact boat setup and limitations etc. but you may be able to have better luck with 10 lb balls if you can get rid of the stand pipes on the mounts and mount the downriggers closer to the surface of the transom or gunwale with support underneathas the higher you go the more the torque is exerted and not distributed putting pressure on those surfaces.

Edited August 6, 2019 by Sk8man

[Captsmate]

Ok thanks i will look at that