Trial Run Of My Scotty Downrigger Off Dana - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

daperrin · 01-02-2025, 02:15 PM

Bought a small downrigger for my Hobie looking forward to using it for big Colorado lake trout this summer. Figured I might as well try it out locally. Worked rather well as I got a few calicos and a big sheephead.
https://youtu.be/jQfU0ibXoHg

Saba Slayer · 01-03-2025, 01:29 PM

You’ll be happy with the downrigger in fresh water. It’s a great tool and a fun way to fish with lighter line and still get in the bite zone I usually use lead core line on the other side when trolling but even with 12# leadcore it’s still like fishing with rope
Soooo
this season I’m going to try snap weights. Roby and Scott have been using em and they’ve been pretty successful.
I’ll still use the downrigger on one side but I’ll troll the snap weight on the other side of the yak.
Here’s a video on how they work.
https://youtu.be/qNQk-T0aVpg

daperrin · 01-05-2025, 07:44 AM

I'll definitely give those a try.

I'm guessing you can't really 'set the hook' very hard or they would come off. Probably you just let the speed of the troll set the hook for the most part. Is that right?

Saba Slayer · 01-05-2025, 11:23 AM

The clips are similar to downrigger clips but where the pads meet there is a small pin/bump that keeps the weight on until you squeeze it to release it.
You can see it in the photo.
So, you can set the hook and not be afraid of the weight prematurely releasing.

JohnMckroidJr · 02-09-2025, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daperrin

I'll definitely give those a try.

I'm guessing you can't really 'set the hook' very hard or they would come off. Probably you just let the speed of the troll set the hook for the most part. Is that right?

Off Florida, many use a rubber band to attach the sinker to the line as a poor man's down rigger. When you feel a bite, the hook is already set by the weight of the sinker and the trolling speed.

I have been using a kayak downrigger for about 10 years. I started with the basic scotty like you have, but I don't like it because it is hard to wind up with one hand. Eventually I upgraded to a modified Uni-Troll. The Uni-Troll is easy to wind up and lower with one hand operation. The DR boom was shortened for kayak stability purposes. I switched out the wire for 100lb braid.

MITCHELL · 02-21-2025, 08:15 PM

Less angle and shows up great on the graph bitchen so you don't get stuck.... mowing the lawn..../''''mound'')...

(@. .@)
(-------------)

MITCHELL · 02-22-2025, 07:53 AM

Warrior and does anybody know where to get a steel Canon ball i would prefer to use that instead of lead pictures 📸 download has become impossible
On my Samsung galaxy s20 Fe 5g

JohnMckroidJr · 02-22-2025, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHELL

Warrior and does anybody know where to get a steel Canon ball i would prefer to use that instead of lead pictures 📸 download has become impossible
On my Samsung galaxy s20 Fe 5g

I usually find balls for less on Offerup or Ebay, but here is what you describe on Amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/Extreme-Max-3...01MUWSIJ9?th=1

I prefer lead because of the smaller displacement has less drag. I will spray it with Plasti Dip spray to avoid directly handling the lead.

My newer Google phone is a royal PITAs to download photos off, so I switched back to my old S20 FE. Just have to make sure the phone is unlocked and open when you plug the USB into your computer to access the photos.

MITCHELL · 02-24-2025, 09:52 AM

I'm assuming it's lead.
I was going to take a piece of 2x2x1/4in square tubing I have and make one because it's steel I was going to fill it with peegravel concert and put a keel on it but it was to easy just to buy one and go fishing and besides with carpal tunnel in both wrist and surgery a possible option who needs the fun hassle that I do enjoy the fun part is seeing it work..
And being served a 30 day eviction notice my hobbies are done and cleaned out. Hoping to stay.
My only issue with lead is being hung up in a rock pile in a prestine lake.

JohnMckroidJr · 02-27-2025, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MITCHELL

I'm assuming it's lead.
I was going to take a piece of 2x2x1/4in square tubing I have and make one because it's steel I was going to fill it with peegravel concert and put a keel on it but it was to easy just to buy one and go fishing and besides with carpal tunnel in both wrist and surgery a possible option who needs the fun hassle that I do enjoy the fun part is seeing it work..
And being served a 30 day eviction notice my hobbies are done and cleaned out. Hoping to stay.
My only issue with lead is being hung up in a rock pile in a prestine lake.

The linked one on Amazon is cast iron steel with a plastic coat. The lead ones are denser and smaller for the same weight.

MITCHELL · 03-01-2025, 02:20 AM

I can't imagine them using lead, after lead shot has been outlawed. I can't count all the lead split shots I have crimped on a fishing line with my teeth as a kid. Unaware lead is toxic nobody said anything and no warning information on package.
I think all this came from the lead paint issue and kids eating the paint chips I'm guessing

01-02-2025, 02:15 PM	#1
daperrin www.TheKayakLaunch Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County Posts: 240	Trial Run Of My Scotty Downrigger Off Dana Bought a small downrigger for my Hobie looking forward to using it for big Colorado lake trout this summer. Figured I might as well try it out locally. Worked rather well as I got a few calicos and a big sheephead. https://youtu.be/jQfU0ibXoHg __________________ David P YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekayaklaunch https://www.instagram.com/thekayaklaunch

01-03-2025, 01:29 PM	#2
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,868	Downrigger & Snap Weight You’ll be happy with the downrigger in fresh water. It’s a great tool and a fun way to fish with lighter line and still get in the bite zone I usually use lead core line on the other side when trolling but even with 12# leadcore it’s still like fishing with rope Soooo this season I’m going to try snap weights. Roby and Scott have been using em and they’ve been pretty successful. I’ll still use the downrigger on one side but I’ll troll the snap weight on the other side of the yak. Here’s a video on how they work. https://youtu.be/qNQk-T0aVpg Attached Images __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer Last edited by Saba Slayer; 01-03-2025 at 01:45 PM.

01-05-2025, 07:44 AM	#3
daperrin www.TheKayakLaunch Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Orange County Posts: 240	I'll definitely give those a try. I'm guessing you can't really 'set the hook' very hard or they would come off. Probably you just let the speed of the troll set the hook for the most part. Is that right? __________________ David P YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekayaklaunch https://www.instagram.com/thekayaklaunch

01-05-2025, 11:23 AM	#4
Saba Slayer Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Palos Verdes Posts: 1,868	Clips The clips are similar to downrigger clips but where the pads meet there is a small pin/bump that keeps the weight on until you squeeze it to release it. You can see it in the photo. So, you can set the hook and not be afraid of the weight prematurely releasing. Attached Images __________________ Jim / Saba Slayer

02-21-2025, 08:15 PM	#6
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,282	I use the 6lb lead ball Less angle and shows up great on the graph bitchen so you don't get stuck.... mowing the lawn..../''''mound'')... (@. .@) (-------------) __________________ Duke Mitchell Last edited by MITCHELL; 02-22-2025 at 07:36 AM.

02-22-2025, 07:53 AM	#7
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,282	Back to being a key board..... Warrior and does anybody know where to get a steel Canon ball i would prefer to use that instead of lead pictures 📸 download has become impossible On my Samsung galaxy s20 Fe 5g __________________ Duke Mitchell Last edited by MITCHELL; 02-22-2025 at 08:23 AM.

02-24-2025, 09:52 AM	#9
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,282	Ya my 6lb ball is plastic coated...... I'm assuming it's lead. I was going to take a piece of 2x2x1/4in square tubing I have and make one because it's steel I was going to fill it with peegravel concert and put a keel on it but it was to easy just to buy one and go fishing and besides with carpal tunnel in both wrist and surgery a possible option who needs the fun hassle that I do enjoy the fun part is seeing it work.. And being served a 30 day eviction notice my hobbies are done and cleaned out. Hoping to stay. My only issue with lead is being hung up in a rock pile in a prestine lake. __________________ Duke Mitchell

03-01-2025, 02:20 AM	#11
MITCHELL Sea Hunter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Where ever I may roam where I lay my head I call home. Posts: 2,282	I hope so there John..... I can't imagine them using lead, after lead shot has been outlawed. I can't count all the lead split shots I have crimped on a fishing line with my teeth as a kid. Unaware lead is toxic nobody said anything and no warning information on package. I think all this came from the lead paint issue and kids eating the paint chips I'm guessing __________________ Duke Mitchell Last edited by MITCHELL; 03-01-2025 at 02:27 AM.