Trying to get a little advice here…I have an older (very capable) 16’ FiberForm boat, nicely set up for trolling, using 1 manual downrigger on each side…I know how to stack, I do stack once in awhile…I hate stacking…so I’ve been using a planer board mostly for my second rod…I have purchased a third manual Cannon DR, and would like to install it on the side that I usually use (starboard)…This new one is the UNI-troll 10 STX, with the extendable boom and swivel base…this extendable boom would get my second line further away from my first line by about 4’, and my intent is to have less line tangles, and be able to put that second line at the depth I want…or maybe that’s troller’s utopia?..Any of you guys have any experience with two down riggers on the same side, on a boat that’s not 18’ or bigger? Cuz I know they’re pretty nice on your bigger boats, and often they’re all electric…for where I go, manual does fine…tks for any thoughts…
Tks all…I’ll git er done…Tiger P, pretty sure I’ll be setting mine up like yours; shorter boom furthest back, and extendable more forward…I just have to get the spacing right…Any other thoughts more than welcome…and I have tried the Shuttle Hawk, but to me it’s too much like stacking, and I like the idea of a dedicated rigger to 1 rod…
To avoid tangles Joe, never run your setback more than 15 feet. I try to set my lures at the same distance behind the boat. Which means the setback on my outside DR (the forward one) is about 4 feet longer than the back corner DR. The old myth about 100 feet total (depth + setback) is just that - a myth. And like Robert said, with more than one fish at a time being played, tangles can happen.
Depth separation is a matter of personal preference. Most folks seem to use 10 feet, which is probably good if stacking. But if you’re running one line on each DR, then any separation depth can and does work. There is nothing magic about 10 feet. Kokanee schools tend to run in a narrow band of water that is close to a specific temperature spread of about 2 or 3 degrees. In most of the summer, that band is 10 feet or less in depth. So why would I need to cover 20 to 30 feet of water depth? I don’t. I just cover the 10 foot band that most of the fish are in with 4 DRs. YMMV!
If the fish are working the surface 10 feet, then DRs aren’t needed at all. Run two lines off the back of the boat and two lines on boards 30 to 50 feet off both sides. Use 50 foot or more setback when working the surface (I generally use 75). The length of your boat is irrelevant to the number of DRs used. You can run 4 DRs off a 12 foot boat just as easily as you can off a 30 foot boat.
I normally don’t stack lines. But on those rare occasions I do, I use Shuttle Hawks and keep the high line shorter than the bottom line and at least 10 feet apart. You don’t really need stops on the DR cable for the Hawks, just set their depth using the return on your sonar.
I’ll leave you with one last recommendation Joe. Put swivel bases on ALL you DRs. Constantly removing and installing DRs while on the water to avoid hitting the dock or another boat while launching or retrieving your boat is going to get old real fast.
I have a 17 foot aluminum and run two electrics and almost always stack, using 4 lines and rods total it is very easy for me. I use offshore stacker releases. Now I’m going to Jinx myself! I rarely get tangles. It does happen though. Occasionally when we get a triple or the rare quad hookup, it can be crazy.
I stack as close as 5 feet and fish 2 lines as shallow as 5FT and then 10FT at times. I run the top line (shallow one) shorter than bottom, so when bottom hooks up it usually clears the top line. My standard set back is 30 feet on top line and 45 on bottom. I catch plenty of fish and have very few tangles. I catch lots of fish (kokanee) shallow and that 30 foot set back from the boat/ball does not seem to bother the fish. I find it easier to stack than run side planers, which I do on occasion. I have two and used to run right and left planers and four lines on downriggers when there are 3 angler in the boat. It seemed to me the catch rate was not that much better to bother with the planers. They sit in the box most of the time. Sometimes I use the for Wipers at Willard.
Just my two cents worth. Good luck, tight lines, few tangles and have fun !!
Mildog
Wow, looks like your live well was pretty full Alan. Congrats on a great day on the Bay and congrats to Shawn for that big eye, it sure dwarfs those other eyes. How big was the perch and wipers?
Very nice! Great day for sure.
Thanks for a great day Allen.
Bugger, what a good trip! Nice work. Ps, what was down the tube inside the biggun?
Holy cow what a trip, nice job you guys… Sounds like a good one, congrats… Jeff
Hit the pond again with Fast Randy and Obi (Shawn) to get in on the bite turning on, launched about 6:45 at the north marina and headed south. Got to the area we wanted to try and got the gear set, it didn’t take long and Shawn’s rod went off then Randy’s and mine with a triple, Shawn’s fish was an eye and Randy and I both got wipers. Kept working the area for a pretty steady pick and farming a few in the process. Bite finally slowed down and searched out to the west and found another area with fish willing to play, basically worked the 2 areas and between until we got our limits of eyes plus some wipers, cats and a perch, had a couple of slow periods in between some good flurries of action. Shawn got big fish honors with a 26” eye that was 4.75lbs. Flicker shad and bottom bouncers both did well at 1.9-2.0 on the gps. Thanks guys another great trip.
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