I've been running downriggers for Hybrids on Richland Chambers for several years now in the summer, with very little success.I change depths and baits but have never been able to consitently catch fish. What am I doing wrong?

A lot of people think downrigging is as simple as putting on a bait and dragging it around, as you see its not. Learning to target the fish is important. 1- are you on hybrids, and do you know for sure you are looking at hybrids on your electronics. 2- how is the bait being presented. is it over their heads, on their lips or under the strike zone. Are you dragging one bait per rigger or are you stacking. 3- what baits are you running. what colors are you using. what speed to you target?

I do a lot of downrigging on RC. It is a great weapon to keep in your bags of tricks.

Down rigging is an art to learn and master. I am by no means and expert but my experience is most of time we troll to deep. Listen to what Allen says he caught some nice fish this weekend. If Capt John chimes in that guy is the trolling Grand Poobah of all things trolling.

Try putting three baits in line. I troll allot and have found that white bass may pass at one bait whizzing by, but cannot stand a school of something doing that. I guess a bama rig would work as well but I am not into losing an expensive bait like that.

It could also be a school of something else. If you put some shad scent on the lures you might find you start catching drum, catfish or other trash and will know you've been had. I use scent sticks on everything and catch enormous amounts of trash fish.

Thanks for the tips I've got a lot to learn. looks like you guide on RC I wouldn't mind booking a trip to get some pointers.

Pm sent

Find the thermocline and troll just above it. Look for fish in midwater and target them. More often than not CaptJohn can call "fish on" just before it happens so use your electronics. If we were to hit RC or any lake that we don't already have favorite spots on our game plan would be the same.

This time of year.
Deep end of the lake probably near the dam
Chart humps and vallys
Use electronics to find midwater fish
Target the thermocline
Run about 3 to 3 1/2 knots to start with.

Untill we know different I will be setting out a normal summer spread
Spoons 30' deep on the down riggers
Umbrella rigs on the flat lines
Dasy chain way back on a center line

If that spread doesn't put the fish in the boat that the captain finds its going to be a very tough day. Change baits and adapt presentation to try and find what's going to work.