TOPIC:

Hello, I'm wondering what you guys think would be more productive- Running 4 downriggers and 4 dipsy rods or running two downriggers,  4 dipsys then running two TX-44's with some pump handles.  
 Just dreaming of salmon fishing on a subzero day and trying to figure out a productive spread.
I know downriggers have lost some of their effectiveness after the lake has cleared up. 
Does anyone still run 4 of them anymore?

just my 2 cents on this one. I fish 4 down riggers and have my boat set up to fish a few different ways. There are those days that longlines seem dead and riggers are working. Some time fishing by myself I find it easier to fish just riggers for boat control when fighting a fish and netting. In close when combat fishing I'll try to fish riggers over longlines. Out deep I'll lay out a big spread of longlines dipseys and riggers.

I still favor downriggers and have 4 on my small boat. I find them easier to manage when alone and like the fight so much better than weighted lines. I also like running 4 dodger and fly combos on them during Coho time. I  always run sliders and it increases my spread. If you have the means just get it all. 

I posed a similar question in 2020 when i was really getting back into lake michigan trolling. At the time I was running 4 downriggers on my old Grady White, bit it seemed like most people i spoke to had moved away and were on to copper/lead/dipseys. When I changed boats and rigged my current boat, I sold two of the downriggers and rigged this boat with two. There are plenty of times I wish I still had 4 back there, as you don't always have to use them.

go4bigfish wrote:

I still favor downriggers and have 4 on my small boat. I find them easier to manage when alone and like the fight so much better than weighted lines. I also like running 4 dodger and fly combos on them during Coho time. I  always run sliders and it increases my spread. If you have the means just get it all. 

thanks for the reply........very nice looking setup too

Joez wrote:

I posed a similar question in 2020 when i was really getting back into lake michigan trolling. At the time I was running 4 downriggers on my old Grady White, bit it seemed like most people i spoke to had moved away and were on to copper/lead/dipseys. When I changed boats and rigged my current boat, I sold two of the downriggers and rigged this boat with two. There are plenty of times I wish I still had 4 back there, as you don't always have to use them.

If i choose to run 4 is it ok to put 2 on eack gunnel.  I do not have the board going across the width in the back.   I'm just wondering about the torque on that 2 foot section of track. I'd have all 4 on removeable track mounts

If you put some backing underneath you should be ok

I would think with backing plate you would be fine. Especially since one would be extending straight back, and the other out to the side.

I ran 4 off my 196, two long arms out the back and two long arms off the side. No backing plate that I recall, though it's been a few years ago now. Aren't you getting the fishmaster 196?  Mounted traxtech tracks and swivel bases and never had a issue. 

reel wrote:

I ran 4 off my 196, two long arms out the back and two long arms off the side. No backing plate that I recall, though it's been a few years ago now. Aren't you getting the fishmaster 196?  Mounted traxtech tracks and swivel bases and never had a issue. 
 

Yes,  I'm getting the 196 this time around. 
Thanks for the pic,  I think I'll do the same.