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Downriggers for stripers #12683414 03/21/18 11:12 PM
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Dad2rlkm Offline OP
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I am considering buying a couple of downriggers for striper fishing. Do you guys have any suggestions that aren't super expensive? I am thinking trolling is the better solution instead of dodging spoons and jigs when I take my teenage daughters and their friends out. I almost needed medication after the last trip.

On a funny note though, I took 5 of them out on Lake Whitney this last weekend while the high school tournament (100 boats) was going on. It was pretty funny watching those young fellas forget they were there fishing. LOL.

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12683462 03/22/18 12:08 AM
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Capt Craig Offline
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I like to downrig. Whats your budget?


Capt. Craig Copeland
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2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat
Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N
Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com)
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Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Capt Craig] #12683989 03/22/18 01:06 PM
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Dad2rlkm Offline OP
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Could I get a decent pair for $300 - $400...or less?

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12684122 03/22/18 02:09 PM
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Capt Craig Offline
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You are going to want an electric unit so that you can send it down and retrieve it quickly. I use the Cannon Digi-Ttroll 5 and it runs $700 new. Buy all the parts and pieces and the electric to wire it and you are a $900 or so for one complete setup. It will allow you to run two rods at the same time.

If you were to consider a manual rig, you could certainly only run one with a single rod. But it is more time consuming to crank it down and crank it up all the while controlling the boat and the rod or fisherman. If you would like to discuss it, PM me a phone number and I will give you a call. I do like running one and it has been very successful at putting fish in the boat.


Capt. Craig Copeland
Licensed by the US Coast Guard

2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat
Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N
Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com)
Redneck Fish'n Jigs Pro Staff (redneckfishn.com)
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Capt Craig] #12684208 03/22/18 02:58 PM
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JLight Offline
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What do you think about the "bottom tracking" feature? Worth it. BTW - I just purchased a Nautic Star 215 XTS. Please feel free to pass along any boat tips.:)

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12684293 03/22/18 03:37 PM
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Capt Craig Offline
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You are gonna love the 215 XTS! I am updating into a 2019 215 XTS Shallow Bay in November. I love the way Nautic Stars perform.

I don't use the bottom tracking feature. I prefer to control it myself based on what is on sonar. Modern technology is excellent, but some of it requires a lot of attention to operate. You spend more time programming than fishing. I want technology to assist me, but I don't want to it require more than a few seconds of attention and then back to fishing.


Capt. Craig Copeland
Licensed by the US Coast Guard

2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat
Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N
Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com)
Redneck Fish'n Jigs Pro Staff (redneckfishn.com)
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12685200 03/23/18 12:36 AM
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sprigsss Online Content
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Went fish the Chesapeake last year with a buddy. He had 30 and 40 planers. Any reason planers wouldnt work. Much cheaper and it seems like they would accomplish the same thing with less hassle.

What advantages would a downrigger provide?

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12685219 03/23/18 12:51 AM
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Monggo Offline
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I run 2 manual down riggers and 1 dipsy diver off of a tracker bass boat. I get to the depth I want without issues and we catch tons of striper. The manual down riggers are a whole lot cheaper and easy to work once you get use to them. If my boat was big enough I would run 4 of them but it's to small.

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12685455 03/23/18 02:50 AM
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Capt Craig Offline
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I fish alone or with a guest every now and then. Since I run the boat, run the downrigger,and handoff the rod, it is nice to have a single button retrieve. Depending on where I am fishing, the running depth of the bait is 16 to 65 feet. I dont enjoy extra work, so electric is the only way to go for me. Im on the water 4-6 days a week up to 8 hours a day. Thats a lot of cranking to get the ball up.


Capt. Craig Copeland
Licensed by the US Coast Guard

2019 Nautic Star 215 XTS Shallow Bay Boat
Humminbird HELIX 12 CHIRP MEGA SI GPS G3N
Nautic Star Boats Pro Staff (nauticstarboats.com)
Redneck Fish'n Jigs Pro Staff (redneckfishn.com)
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: JLight] #12686528 03/23/18 10:33 PM
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Originally Posted By: JLight
What do you think about the "bottom tracking" feature? Worth it. BTW - I just purchased a Nautic Star 215 XTS. Please feel free to pass along any boat tips.:)


While I agree with Craig on the need to control the cannonball depth based on what you're seeing on your screen, bottom tracking is a very useful feature when you are fishing shallower lakes or when crossing humps from deeper water. Especially if you don't have a helper aboard


Lund Tyee Magnum 1950, Optimax200, Honda 10 kicker, Lowrance HDS7, Cannon DigiTroll IV, Cannon Mag20, Big Jon side planers. Chasin' wipers & stripers.
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: sprigsss] #12686553 03/23/18 10:53 PM
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Originally Posted By: sprigsss
Went fish the Chesapeake last year with a buddy. He had 30 and 40 planers. Any reason planers wouldnt work. Much cheaper and it seems like they would accomplish the same thing with less hassle?


I have both the small Offshore planer boards that connect to your fishing line, and also a pair of big boards that I run off my Big Jon tower. Planers position the lure out away from the boat but they don't have anything to do with precision depth control. The depth is going to be set by the lure you run, line size, speed, etc. I mostly use the boards to "bird dog" out to the sides to cover more water and they are also useful if you want to send a shallow running bait close to a shoreline or up in a cove where you don't want your boat to be.

But side planers can be a real issue with other boats, especially weekends on a lake like Texoma. . A lot of people have seen me coming from a long ways off and still want to pass close to my boat, especially if they see a fish being landed. And I won't run the planers near a shoreline where there are bank anglers; obviously that's their water while they're fishing. Planer boards were built for big water fishing and will work on stripers and sandies, but sometimes aren't worth the hassle.


Lund Tyee Magnum 1950, Optimax200, Honda 10 kicker, Lowrance HDS7, Cannon DigiTroll IV, Cannon Mag20, Big Jon side planers. Chasin' wipers & stripers.
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12686798 03/24/18 01:51 AM
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I made a short YouTube video of everything a guy would need to get started that would meet your budget. I absolutely love my downriggers and setup! Especially for the price.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCeIxxMR2bk

Last edited by RespectTheFish; 03/24/18 01:51 AM.

Clay
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: RespectTheFish] #12687111 03/24/18 12:44 PM
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Springcrik Offline
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Originally Posted By: RespectTheFish
I made a short YouTube video of everything a guy would need to get started that would meet your budget. I absolutely love my downriggers and setup! Especially for the price.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=pCeIxxMR2bk

Excellent video, I enjoyed watching it again. Have you been out on FPH this year?


Lund Tyee Magnum 1950, Optimax200, Honda 10 kicker, Lowrance HDS7, Cannon DigiTroll IV, Cannon Mag20, Big Jon side planers. Chasin' wipers & stripers.
Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Dad2rlkm] #12687271 03/24/18 03:09 PM
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Great video. Thanks

Re: Downriggers for stripers [Re: Springcrik] #12687544 03/24/18 08:21 PM
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I have been out about three or four times this year but just can't seem to figure out where those white bass and hybrids hide in winter and where they "run" at in spring. The night bite is about to get good till June then summer mornings get predictable. I still have so much to learn about that lake. Have you been out lately or have any luck? I've heard northeast corner of dam gets good about this year.


Clay
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