FISHING HELP HELP HELp?

Question

I want to go trolling with those fish rigs that have a line of plastic fish in a row that you troll with. Downriggers cost like $300-$400 and i dont have the money to spend on something just to go fishing. can i troll without a downrigger?

Answer 1

2 option that i see:

1) Cleat off a dowlrigger weight (cannonball) and drop in over. Hook a release clip onto the downrigger and put you rod into the rear rod holder. Doesn't work quite as well as a downrigger, but it will do in a pinch. We use this method to troll for grouper in 40-60 foot of water with big Manns plugs.

2) Get a planer ( they make them in different sizes) and use it. You'll want to look up how to use them on-line. Google fishing planers.  The ones I use for kingfish/wahoo are metal with a "wing on the front that digs into the water and dives. When a fish strikes it, the planer "trips" and return to the surface of the water.  You can get them a small as 3" long ( dives about 10") to as big as 7" long (dived 40').  You

'll need a pretty beefy rod to handle the larger planers ( think grouper digging stick)

Answer 2

Use a lead line with a release clip or a planer.

1..A line attached to a 5 pound weigth (or less depending on many things) or a line attached to a trolling planer.

2.Tie a release clip to the planner or weigth.

3. Tie it to a boat cleat on the stern.

4.Put the fishing line in the release clip.

5.Let go of lead/planner line evenly with fishing line to desired depth while the boat is trolling at 1 or 2 knot speed.

Good fishing  !!!!!

Answer 3

The rif you describe sounds like the off shore attractor spreaders they use off shore, but none the less I will answer as if you mean down rigger.  You can by diving planes that will get your bait or lures deeper for a lot less than 300 or 400 dollars.  An example of a diving plane would be a dipsey diver.  They come in a variety of colors but I prefer silver.  

Answer 4

You could use a Dipsy Diver to get your bait down to the desired depth. They aren't expensive and work very well.

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/pod/00117...

Or try using a Jet Diver, also made by Luhr-Jensen.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templa...

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Answer 5

.you can go on line and get instructions on how to build your own down rigger.

Answer 6

Yes, just add weights to go deeper

Answer 7

Yes, it depends on what you are after, kingfish and sailfish will hit on top or shallow runs. You can also control depth somewhat by the weight of the lure and how fast you troll. Goodluck.