DOWNRIGGER BASICS: LEARN HOW DOWNRIGGERS WORK
TROLLING 101
AN IN-DEPTH LOOK AT CONTROLLED DEPTH FISHING
So why do so many successful anglers use downriggers? There are times when success requires putting your bait at a specific depth and keeping it there to match fish movements and feeding patterns. Cannon downriggers make doing that incredibly easy, so you spend more time fishing, and putting more fish on the deck.
LEARN WHAT’S WHAT
DOWNRIGGER ANATOMY
Downriggers can be amazingly simple, like our Lake-Troll™, or extremely sophisticated pieces of fishing equipment, like the Optimum™. Yet all of them have a few key elements in common:
- Rod Holder
- Spool
- Crank or Motor
- Cable
- Boom
- Trolling (or Flash) Weight
- Line Release
To rig, attach the trolling weight (or flash weight) to your line with a “line release.” Place the rod in the rod holder and lower the weight to your desired depth.
While trolling, the flash weight keeps your lure at your desired depth, allowing the lure to “swim” behind the weight.
Once a fish takes the lure, the line release lets go of the line and the fish is on.
When you see a fish is on, grab the rod from the holder and let the fight begin.
LET’S TALK FISH
POPULAR FISH SPECIES IN DOWNRIGGER FISHING
Downriggers are designed for trolling, and they can be used to catch a huge variety of freshwater and saltwater fish. Some of the most popular species to catch include lake trout, steelhead, brown trout, kingfish, chinook, coho, walleye, and striped bass.
DOWNRIGGER STYLES
ELECTRIC VS. MANUAL
ELECTRIC DOWNRIGGERS
Electric downriggers use an electric motor to deploy and retrieve your downrigger weight, keeping your hands free for fishing. They also feature several advanced fishing and connectivity features.
MANUAL DOWNRIGGERS
Manual downriggers use a manual crank to lower and retrieve your downrigger weight. They don’t require a battery so are a great fit for smaller boats or to use as a spare.
DOWNRIGGER ACCESSORIES
WHAT YOU NEED TO GET RIGGED
Cannon versatile rod holders are easy to use and position to let you maximize your trolling spread.
Once you’ve got the right rod holders and other accessories, mount it all on your boat with our wide variety of tracks and mounts.
Cannon flash weights are vinyl coated to prevent boat scratching and feature reflective prism for extra fish attraction.
Count on Cannon’s line releases for peak performance, with options for both freshwater and saltwater.
WHAT'S NEXT?
START RUNNING DEEP WITH CANNON
WHY USE DOWNRIGGERS?
Got the basics? Get a better feel for the application. Learn why, when, and how to use downriggers to catch a variety of fish.
DOWNRIGGER BUYING GUIDE
Ready to rig? Figure out which downrigger is right for you with our downrigger buying guide for all boats.