Portable downriggers

[Albertacoyotecaller]

Any one use a portable downrigger on a ski boat? Need some recommendations for using one.

[Mackinaw]

Never seen one I would want to own.mount a cross board on back of boat and mount a good one to that.lots of pics on line

Mack

[binnzer32]

Originally Posted by Mackinaw

Never seen one I would want to own.mount a cross board on back of boat and mount a good one to that.lots of pics on line

Mack

X2

[Albertacoyotecaller]

I am not planning on using it beyond this one trip. Not really wanting to mount one permanently on to the boat.

[Bigdad013]

Maybe try using some dipsy divers or the like

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Bigdad013

Maybe try using some dipsy divers or the like

I think this is excellent advice based on your last statement, in not planning on using it beyond this one trip.

Dispsy Divers will get you line down to where the fish are.

They are most effective when used in conjunction with a line counter reel so you can accurately let out the right amount of line, according to the setting on the diver, which are found on the package of the dipsy.

They can also be set to pull not only down, but away, and to the side, of your boat.

They will, however, require a stiff rod and a sturdy rod holder ...... they pull hard.

The other thing to consider, if you are going on your trip soon, the lakers may still be up pretty shallow in some areas of the lake near dawn and dusk as they push the bait fish up to the surface.

Trolling a flat fish, spoon or crank ( matching the color and size of the quarry ) behind a small mooching sinker and bead chain, off a planner board, is a very effective technique not to spook the activity as flat lining can cause your boat to spook the fish. Planner boards help with this.

[cube]

Originally Posted by Albertacoyotecaller

I am not planning on using it beyond this one trip. Not really wanting to mount one permanently on to the boat.

If thats the case them, like others have said; jet divers, dipsy divers, deeper divers, pink Ladys etc or 3 way swivel rigs are probably very good options.

Good Luck to you.

[Albertacoyotecaller]

I will be in the Yellowknife area first week of July. Hoping they won't be too deep.

[Ken07AOVette]

I have one on my ski boat, but it's not portable it is an electric Scotty. I just took a 1/2" x 8" piece of aluminum and made a bracket I attach to the floor and gunwall. I can put up a pic if it helps you.

[Albertacoyotecaller]

Sure Ken.

I have never fished for Lakers before so I really am at a loss here. Will be in Yellowknife area the second week of July so hopefully they aren't too deep.

[cube]

Originally Posted by Albertacoyotecaller

Sure Ken.

I have never fished for Lakers before so I really am at a loss here. Will be in Yellowknife area the second week of July so hopefully they aren't too deep.

I can't imagine they you would need to fish them that deep there at that time of year. Binnzer32 would probably now for sure though.

Good Luck and have a great trip

[iliketrout]

I know you said you have a ski boat, not sure if it has a track system like the Lund Sport Trak, but if so you may be able to get some sort of mount like this one:

http://www.ciscofishingsystemsltd.co...unt-(42-)-5240

I have something very similar to this on my Lund, and I run Scotty 1085's from it. It takes about a minute to install each downrigger on trips where they are needed, and I just remove them when I don't need them and free up the space on the boat.

There's a lot of force on the downriggers, if you don't have a track system or make some sort of board that clamps on to the boat I'm not sure what else you could do that would actually work...as far as I know there is no "stand alone" type of system that I've seen.

[Albertacoyotecaller]

I have a Bayliner 175. Not tracks or anything on the boat. I was looking at the portable ones with the clamps for the side of your boat.

The fish might not be that deep when I get up there. Will have to ask around. Thought they would,