Rails/Downriggers
jonnysled
Posted 3/11/2010 12:17 PM (#428302)
Subject: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 13688


Location: minocqua, wi.
I'm interested in advice for Rails and Downriggers for a 690 Ranger for use on Lake Michigan for trolling. Simple, Effective, Neat, Clean and Quality ... Couple people max. trolling for meat.

Thanks ...
Slamr
Posted 3/11/2010 12:41 PM (#428304 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 7037


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
Are you looking for advice on rail mounted downriggers, or for rails to put on your boat and downriggers for the same? Sorry, confusion reigns in my current world.
tuffy1
Posted 3/11/2010 12:53 PM (#428307 - in reply to #428304)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 3240


Location: Racine, Wi
Sled, go with a track set up if you can. Either Burt trax or whatever (I have to look it up to remember). Makes life very easy for moving things around, plus you can mount your riggers to it and can mount tracks anywhere. If I would have seen them when I originally set mine up, I would have gone that route.

As for riggers, are you looking for manual or electric? For manuals, check out the Cannon Uni Troll 5s have a 24" non telescoping boom, or the uni troll 10's have a telescoping boom (those are the ones I have). It's nice having the telescoping boom as you can get the wire away from your motor a bit more. Not necessary, but nice. You can search some of the great lake boards for some good deals on used ones (not sure if I can post this, but www.glangler.com is a good sight for this).

As for rigger balls, I wouldn't go less than 10#s. I run 10's and they work just fine for me.

Rods and reels are another ball of wax, but the Okuma Convectors are an awesome reel and lots of guys use these (the Magdas work as well, but there is a notible difference between the two). Rods, you'd want some down rigger rods (usually shorter, say 7', Dipsy rods, and board rods (if you want to run lead core or copper, you'd have devoted set ups for this). Let me know what questions you have about rods, and I can try to answer ya.
Slamr
Posted 3/11/2010 1:04 PM (#428309 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 7037


Location: Northwest Chicago Burbs
Do I hear SalmonFIRST outing?
Jomusky
Posted 3/11/2010 1:04 PM (#428310 - in reply to #428307)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers




Posts: 1185


Location: Wishin I Was Fishin'
For rod holders....go with the best....Traxstech.....www.traxstech.com

They have everything you could ever need to rig your boat and they are top quality!

When your done fishing, all the gear slides off and you can use the boat for other things too. I have my trolling boat set up for Salmon and Muskies....very easy to switch set ups for species and change my set up to accomodate how many people are in the boat each day.
tuffy1
Posted 3/11/2010 1:11 PM (#428311 - in reply to #428310)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 3240


Location: Racine, Wi
Traxtech, that's what I was thinking of. Thanks Jo!
jonnysled
Posted 3/11/2010 1:41 PM (#428317 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 13688


Location: minocqua, wi.
awesome guys ... just what i was looking for and for sure an outing. i will need somebody to show me how to use my boat and all the crap though. spending 3-4 days a week in kenosha ... gotta do something rather than sit in the hotel at night.

checked out the traxstech site ... anybody know a dealer/rigger? they didn't have an "easy" button on the site. i want to do a nose wiggle or a finger snap and be in the game. in other words ... i wanna sign up for the 50" musky right away.

Edited by jonnysled 3/11/2010 2:04 PM
Jomusky
Posted 3/11/2010 4:27 PM (#428349 - in reply to #428317)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers




Posts: 1185


Location: Wishin I Was Fishin'
Call Greg Ellison at (586) 344-4364 he will get you in contact with the right people. He is great to talk to about setting up your boat and fishing too.
Jomusky
Posted 3/11/2010 4:33 PM (#428350 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers




Posts: 1185


Location: Wishin I Was Fishin'
You should hire a charter guy down there. That way you can learn the water. Find someone who will teach you how to run the lines and let you do it on their boat. After that get your boat set up. You will know more about what you need and not waste money on stuf you don't. Make sure you get a pair of vertical bird trees from Traxstech if your boat doesn't have a trolling bar. They are the sh1t for Planner board lines.
h2os2t
Posted 3/11/2010 4:44 PM (#428353 - in reply to #428350)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers




Posts: 941


Location: Freedom, WI
sled - If you get to Duluth Marine General is a dealer for Traxstech. I have a couple of coworkers that use it for Salmon and Trout and love it, I will be rigging up my boat this year with it.

Edited by h2os2t 3/11/2010 4:46 PM
tuffy1
Posted 3/11/2010 5:56 PM (#428366 - in reply to #428353)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 3240


Location: Racine, Wi
Sled, when they get going down here, I'll give ya a call and show ya what I can. Save the money on the charter for celebratory beers afterwords.
davej
Posted 3/11/2010 6:53 PM (#428379 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: RE: Rails/Downriggers




Posts: 216


Sled I live just west of Kenosha and spend A lot of time on the big lake. Get in touch with me I'LL take you out help get you on fish.
jonnysled
Posted 3/12/2010 9:44 AM (#428458 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 13688


Location: minocqua, wi.
thanks guys ... i talked to Greg at Traxstech and already am in touch with a dealer and working on the rigging project. the more i look into this kind of fishing the more excited i am to get the boat rigged and ready to go. learning something new is always fun and i appreciate all of the assistance. the next question i'm going to have is the obvious so when are we getting the salmonfirst.com site going? or can there be a basement that we can hide in so i can continue to pick your brains??
tuffy1
Posted 3/12/2010 9:48 AM (#428459 - in reply to #428458)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 3240


Location: Racine, Wi
Sled, the forum is up and running, just need more traffic there. I always forget it's there.

There are a few great salmon sites out there now that have all kinds of great info for getting into this type of fishing. The first time you get ripped out there and the fish peels off 200' of line you'll be smiling. Looking forward to getting out there with ya.
KARLOUTDOORS
Posted 3/12/2010 7:47 PM (#428572 - in reply to #428302)
Subject: Re: Rails/Downriggers





Posts: 956


Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs
SF Outing?????