BY Daryl Carson
In recent years, there seems to be a trend among saltwater anglers to fish deep. This can be running lures deep to target grouper that might be holding on reefs or natural rock bottom, or it could mean getting baits down so they entice a hit from a tuna or kingfish that refuses to eat anything offered at the surface. Really growing in popularity is drifting or trolling deep for swordfish, now a regular thing for many South Florida anglers and also some along the Gulf Coast. Of course, fishing baits deep—at least trolling them effectively at depth—requires special gear. Sometimes a planer or similar device will work for modest depths, but these can also tangle and interfere with retrieving a fish once it’s hooked. For dedicated deep water efforts, a downrigger is needed and there are a variety of options. From rugged, manual machines to high-tech, programmable electric rigs, there’s something for every boat and budget. We’ve chosen a range of models from three of the most respected downrigger brands in the industry.
Dowriggers are growing in popularity among saltwater anglers, who are using them to target tuna, grouper, swordfish and more.
Penn manual downriggers have long been a staple for saltwater pros, and today, that product has been reintroduced to the market by Troll-Master. Their Seahorse downrigger was inspired by the legendary PENN Fathom-Master (and the company still services the original Penn Downriggers that are still being used by thousands of anglers today). The Seahorse is built with the strongest corrosion-resistant components for a lifetime of salt water trolling. The drag system allows for one-hand operation when lowering or stopping the downrigger weight and allows cable to pay out if the weight snags on the bottom. For added safety, the crank handle does not turn while the weight descends. Precise depth meter allows for accurate bait presentations, and the optional swivel base rotates a complete 360°, locking in 36 different positions, allowing you to pick virtually any angle for your downrigger.
$359.99
www.troll-master.com
For simplicity and reliability, Cannon offers the manual Uni-Troll™ STX in their Tournament Series. Built to take a beating and survive the saltiest of conditions, it allows anglers to deploy a line with just one hand. A 2:1 retrieval speed and ergonomic handle also make it easier to clear lines fast when the action starts. The stainless steel spool comes loaded with 200 ft. of 150-lb. test, stainless steel cable and includes a line release. It can also be spooled up with mono line, which many experienced tournament anglers prefer. The heavy-duty telescoping boom has a range of 24–53” to allow optimal line positioning for your boat or trolling spread. An enclosed boom end pulley keeps the line from jumping off, and a dual axis rod holder offers adjustments both front to back and side to side. The unit’s three-digit depth counter allows for deadly accurate drops.
$449.99
www.cannondownriggers.com
If you want to go high tech, Cannon’s Digi-Troll offers enough features to impress even the savviest tech geek. The unit’s backlit LCD screen displays readings from IntelliTroll, which allows you to raise and lower the weight or program the amount of line you’re using. You can even cycle the weight up and down at preset intervals and depths, or use the Bottom Track function to automatically keep your bait at a preset distance from the bottom even as terrain changes. And get this, space cadets…you can also adjust Positive Ion Control, which uses the stainless cable to emit a fish-attracting electronic buzz (not the technical term). A stainless steel spool works with both cable and mono lines and the Digi-Troll has a retrieval rate of 250 ft. per minute. Includes mounting base, low-profile swivel base, fully adjustable rod holder and a telescopic boom that extends from 24–53 inches. Includes two line releases, 400 ft. of 150-lb. test stainless steel cable and 20-lb. weight capacity.
$1,499.99
www.cannondownriggers.com
With four decades in the business, Scotty knows how to build a downrigger. Their manual 1085 model has a 30-in. boom and sucks up two feet of cable for every turn of the spool, while an extended handle provides leverage to reduce your workload. The spool comes charged with 200 ft. of 150-lb. stainless cable that can be deployed to just the right depth by keeping an eye on the positive-drive depth counter. The tilt-up mounting bracket allows the downrigger to be rotated and locked in the upright position, and a fully boom-mounted rod holder makes it easy to position and manage your gear when running. The 1085 also uses a large clutch brake for positive stopping power, but in the event of a bottom hang-up, the system will pay-out line so anglers won’t lose their gear. A Power Grip Plus line release is also included.
$300.99
www.scotty.com
This is Scotty’s bad boy electric downrigger loaded with 300 ft. of 250-lb. test Premium Fiber Braided Downrigger line. A 36–60-in. adjustable boom, 16-position swivel pedestal mount and stainless rocket launcher rod holder allows for flexibility in managing your trolling spread. Getting your bait to depth is easy with an illuminated digital line counter that is also resettable and has a fully adjustable descent speed. Heavy duty pulling power handles 20-lb. weights and retrieval speeds of 260 ft./min. A clutch brake system provides positive stopping power but will pay-out when needed to
avoid losing gear.
$827.99
www.scotty.com
