downrigger ball Weight and size: I am in needing to buy a few downriggers for just "lake" trolling so what size ball and weight would be best I will be trolling down to 35 feet at most.

GlennMc928 Loc: Tualatin OR

I am in needing to buy a few downriggers for just "lake" trolling so what size ball and weight would be best I will be trolling down to 35 feet at most.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Glenn, at an average of 35' you should do just fine with 8#.

Usually the deeper you go, the more weight you need as the blowback from cable drag is increased.

troutmaster93010 Loc: SOCAL

I have 8# on my 2 DRs

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

troutmaster93010 wrote:

I have 8# on my 2 DRs

When I'm running 80+ Depth, I'll put either 12# or 15#

troutmaster93010 Loc: SOCAL

Doug, my DRs are manual. I tried looking for big browns in upper twin at about 80 feet. That night, I could barely raise a beer to my lips. My arms rebelled cranking those boys up from that depth. Normally I fish 35-40 feet max.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

troutmaster93010 wrote:

Doug, my DRs are manual. I tried looking for big browns in upper twin at about 80 feet. That night, I could barely raise a beer to my lips. My arms rebelled cranking those boys up from that depth. Normally I fish 35-40 feet max.

Just carry a pair of side cutters and explain to the Wifey that there was a terrible snag and it was either snip them off or sink!!!!!

(I run a pair of Walker long pole electrics)

GlennMc928 Loc: Tualatin OR

I have been looking at the Stotty 1050 DepthMaster and the Scotty 1160 Depthking and even the Scotty Strongarm 180 and even the cannon riggers but they list nothing in the specs about how much ball weight they can take. I will be is the 35-foot depth and the 50-foot depth out of Hagg Lake in Oregon are there any other downriggers that you know of that might be better for fishing 35 to 50 foot of water and can fish an 8lb ball or bigger.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

GlennMc928 wrote:

I have been looking at the Stotty 1050 DepthMaster and the Scotty 1160 Depthking and even the Scotty Strongarm 180 and even the cannon riggers but they list nothing in the specs about how much ball weight they can take. I will be is the 35-foot depth and the 50-foot depth out of Hagg Lake in Oregon are there any other downriggers that you know of that might be better for fishing 35 to 50 foot of water and can fish an 8lb ball or bigger.

Look at the Cannon Mag 10, or Big Jon

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

This was in a post a few months ago. Hop it helps.

https://www.bottomlinetackle.com/downriggerweight.html

Hey all,
After losing a few Downrigger weights over the years and paying upwards of $50 for a 10 lb chunk of lead shaped like a fish. I bought a 10 lb ball mold and decided to melt lead myself. After doing this once, I realized it wasn't for me! I've allready had cancer once and that's plenty! So I came up with a different solution.
Have used these now for 3 seasons Kokanee fishing. They work great and because of the cylindrical shape they move through the water nicely (no blow back). I buy cpvc pipe, caps, glue and eye screws at Lowe's. Than head to sportsman warehouse and buy a 25 lb bag of lead birdshot. This will make three 8 lbers or two tens and a five or whatever combo you want. Total cost around $45 for 25 lbs of weight. Your thoughts?

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Gordon wrote:

This was in a post a few months ago. Hop it helps.... (show quote)

Seems like if you were makin your own like that, you could use old tire weights and it would be even cheaper. Just sayin.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

saw1 wrote:

Seems like if you were makin your own like that, you could use old tire weights and it would be even cheaper. Just sayin.

Most tire places will give you those weights. I use them to make sinkers with. Thats not my post on the down rigger weights. Seen that a few months ago.

saw1 Loc: nor cal Windsor

Gordon wrote:

Most tire places will give you those weights. I use them to make sinkers with. Thats not my post on the down rigger weights. Seen that a few months ago.

Yeah, free makes them cheaper to make, that's what I was sayin.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

Gordon wrote:

This was in a post a few months ago. Hop it helps.... (show quote)

I've seen this also.. I just wonder what would keep the pipes from spinning..

troutmaster93010 Loc: SOCAL

I don’t understand how a long pipe with more surface area doesn’t have more blow back. I like the idea of the eyebolt up high on the tube which would hit the bottom or any obstacle before the hook hits.

Doug Lemmon Loc: Rochester Mills, PA

May have to try one filled with sand or cement just for testing purposes!