When you are out fishing, do you find that you sometimes need to drop your bait down deep? Fish are not particularly cooperative creatures, and dont always hang out near the surface, where it is easy to catch them. If your depth sounder is telling you that you should be fishing down deeper, a downrigger can really be a great helper.

What actually is a downrigger?

It is really simple. It is just a spool that holds between 200 " 600 feet of steel cable. Connected to this is a weight of between 6 " 12 pounds. Connected to these, there is a quick-release line gripper, as is used with a clothespin.

How does it function?

The fishing lines from your rods are attached to the quick-release mechanisms. After this, the entire assembly is dropped down to the depth you need. This way, the bait is distant from the weight and line gripper so that it will not spook the fish. If you get a bite, the line is released from the gripper, so it is just you and the fish!

Some downriggers also have fish-attractant properties (either electrical, or a particular kind of paint), but not the majority of them.

There are a number of companies that specialize in the making of downriggers. These include basic models for the recreational fishermen up to highly sophisticated models for commercial fishing [concerns|operators. Cannon are one such company and they offer a extensive range of downriggers, from a manual feed to an electronic motor quick release operation. Also available is a combination fish finder and downrigger " perfect for catching the fish you find in the depths!

Downriggers [work|operate at their best when used for deep trolling and some models even include an electronic crank that will bring everything up. If you really wanting to get at deeper schools of fish, these are highly recommended.