My wife and I have fished just about every kind of fishing in Washington over the years, including jigging for botoomfish and getting an occasional salmon while jigging. But until now we've never owned a boat that was good for trolling and using downriggers.

I've been salmon fishing one time using downriggers and while I have a decent idea of how to set them up and get them down, I have absolutely no idea how to use them "properly".

For example, assuming we have 2 downriggers down with lines out and one gets a strike. Do you simply stop the boat and fight the fish, turning the boat into the fish?

Or should you stop the boat, yank the empty line off it's downrigger, crank up both downriggers, all while the other person if fighting their fish? I'm kind of assuming this is the best method simply because of the chances of the fish tangling up in the downrigger lines, but on the other hand that makes for a lot of cranking on the downriggers and maybe tangles like that don't happen if you position the boat properly.

Sorry to sound ignorant but since we know very few salt water fishermen it's hard to find someone to use as a source of good information.

Thanks!

Braz

I usually keep the boat moving at the slowest speed for about the first 30 seconds, because if you are on some fish you might get another strike, unless king/BM fishing, then I keep moving but the other rod and rigger comes out right away. For Coho and Pinks you can get another strike if you keep motoring for a bit. Once you get the other rod out you should stop the boat so you are not adding force to the fight by continuing to move. I think it is hilarious when I see people silver fishing at 4-5 knots, get a fish, and keep going at the same speed. No need to trun the boat into the fish, unless you have a big king you need to chase because you are getting spooled. Just stop, let the catcher get the fish close, If I turn the boat It's so the we aren't bringing the fish right in on the stern and Downrigging equipment.

Do you already have Downriggers?
If you have electrics, set the automatic stops so that the ball is just under the surface of the water when the retreival stops kick in. That way you can hit the retreive when you get a fish on and not worry about 3 or 4 feet of cable still being in the water to get hung up on.

i could give ya hands on lesson one saturday morning if not i would go with what sky guy said. one more tip is when you decide to bring up the rod off the downrigger. pop it off the release and then set it back in rod holder and let it continue to fish on its way up while you reel up the downrigger. i have caught many a fish this way. Good luck to ya either way FISHON

Brazin

You are right, it makes for a lot of cranking especially if you are fishing for blackmouth. That is the reason to go with electric downriggers or always take a young, strong guy fishing with you. Another tip is to bring up any shakers (very small salmon that don't release the clip) with the downrigger rather than pulling the line off by yanking on the rod.
This will get the fish in much quicker with less stess and get you back fishing sooner. I always take all gear (rods and downriggers) out of the water with a fish I definitely do not want to chance losing. With small fish you can usually control them enough to keep them away from the other gear. I usually turn my boat as the fish is coming in to keep it on the side that I want to net it on.

Deepwater

Check out Salmon University.

Good info... On a slight disagreement with poping the rod off the release, I have seen too many rods snap out there on the pond. It is always best to bring both the line and ball together.. You'll still catch fish!

Tight lines

I noticed if your alone, you can steer the boat depending on where you stand. Up front and you pull the front around. Good to know if your landing a monster by yourself. At least with my Kalamath, that's how it works. It's very light.

I leave the boat running at speed until we are positive the fish is on. then slow the boat down to an idle to keep it going in a straight line. Kings I will kick it in nuetral and pull everything in. Silvers , pinks i have had to many doubles and triples and even two times had four fish on at once. You can man handle the silvers a little easier. get electrics they are so much easier to pull back in and check especially if you getting a lot of shakers. make sure you use the green bungies between the end or you downrigger line and weight. Buy a bunch of extra released and halibut clips for them. I have lost a few and also got to much smelly jelly on them a couple of times so they wouldnt work. Check out scotty downriggers and their website the have some good info on how to use and they talk about speed and depth with different downrigger weights so you know how deep you really are. I actually stack my downriggers running 4 poles off two down riggers. When clipping your line to the release you dont have to be back to far just enough to let the flasher work I like 20 feet on the lower clip and 30 on the upper. I have run them as short as 10 and it still works. Keep a tight line down to the release you will have less slack or loose line when a fish takes the lure meaning quicker hookset. Also helps the release let go easier because of the tension. Good luck I rarley fish any other way.

Brazen,

There is a lot of good advice here, but there is so much more to know.

Jacob's recommendation of checking out Salmon U is a good one. The fastest way to become proficent would be to attend a SU class. Very reasonable cost.

I started like you, and went through the whole "Panic" state of hooking a fish and getting the other pole and 2 downriggers up all at the same time. We had a day on redondo where we hooked fish after fish and in a couple hours my girlfriend and I were beat from all the cranking, and i said that was the last time i am doing that. So i sold my manuals and got scotty electrics. NOW fishing is nice, relaxed and fruitfull.

They are the best investment on my boat. And i couldn't live without them. 2 or 4 poles, doesn't matter, still is a breeze to work and you know you dont' have to worry about that "big" king getting caught in the cables and you blowing your top. $250 a piece.

try reading " the trollers handbook" by Ray Rychnovsky or try "successful downrigger fishing" By Fred Oleson older but still good. for more up to date info try "Trolling top to bottom" by mark Romanack mostly chapter eight. If you want i am willing to lead them out to you for a day on the water and maybe share what I know.

Some downriggers have "How To" instructions with them in the box when you purchase them. Just my .02
Paul

Hey RBF, perhaps we should try this on the Amy Lynn! (32' Grand Banks)

Clear the Gear for the Big Ones.
However it goes for Slimers.

We stack alot. If the top goes, the bottom stays. If the bottom goes, clear the gear!