Downriggers-User opinions

[backhoe]

Am looking for some opinions before I buy a downrigger. Basically it will be used for bay and light/medium offshore stuff (up to 15kg tackle) . Am looking at the Cannon EasiTroll HS and Scotty Depthmaster 1050. Are there any other options I should look at?
For those that use them are there any problems/advantages with the horizontal vs vertical winding setups of the two models?
ANy preference of one over the other any why?
Thanks

[Horse]

I have a Cannon East TrollHS. Its easy to use. I have also heard good things about the Scotty 1050. I don't think you can go wrong with either. I like the idea of the vertical spool for winding but have never tried the vhorozontal ones.
Penn and Walker would be worth looking at.
I would suggest making the purchase OS as local prices are a genuine ripoff

[backhoe]

Thanks Horse
Will definitely be buying OS especially with the current exchange rate. Hard to see why the prices are so much dearer over here i.e 2-3x. I suppose there are probably more downriggers used per fisherman over there with the types of fishing they do but why it equates to such a price differential who knows. Hard to support the "local bloke" on this one when you can pay less than half by importing
it.
Backhoe

[FNQCairns]

I have a 1050, it winds easily enough so far to 30m. I think the vertical ones are easier, i bought solely on price once I ascertained which ones where of high enough quality.

Again on the winder the horizontal ones do make it slightly easier to work around on a small boat whenever the unit is fitted, dependent also on where fitted.

cheers fnq

[charleville]

Ditto re buying a downrigger from overseas. The Aussie prices for the exact same product are obscene.

I bought my 1050 about four years ago from Cabelas and the whole transaction, including the quality of packaging and included info about returns etc, was excellent.

I am happy enough with my horizontal 1050 but as I fish the shallows a lot, I don't use it all that often. Nonetheless, it is handy to have in the deeper water especially when there is a strong tidal run. I sometimes use it just to hold a berley dispenser near the bottom even in shallow water.

The manual ones are OK and I find the horizontal winding action OK as the handle is substantial enough but on my next "ship", I reckon that I would somehow find the $ for an electric one. ::) Winding the horizontal reel up and down several times on a fishing trip can get to be a bit tedious.



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