downrigger drag

[arvor]

hi all i am in need of a electric downgigger but the price even from the states will be close on 1k.so i have thought of useing a electric reel with a drag of up to 12kgs fitted upto a short stiff rod.
now for those of you who have used downriggers in the past what type of pressure with the bomb and weight of say a 1kg livey or large hardbody would be on the rigger?
i know if i get a downrigger i would change the wire for braid anyway.and haveing a electric reel can also do for deepwater stuff as well.the only downside i can see is i cant interface with sounder.ah well a lot cheaper.and retrival rate is still 180m per min.
so if you can see problems can you let me know.thanks in advance .gary.

[finding_time]

Mate if your trying to pull a swim bait of the down rigger at the same time as your running a spread of lures, there is a lot of load on the line more than 12kg thas for sure. I've actually crushed the spool on my cannon due to load so it's more than you think. That's pulling a 10lb bomb at around 6 knots! I have now made a new solid alloy spool for it which wont break!

ps on electric reels , dont go to small!!!! Buggy's got a Miya Epoch 4x and it's simple not up to the job of lifting any sort of weight, a 8x is the minimum!

[arvor]

thanks ian.i thought there would be a fair pressure but never thought it would be that much to crush the spool on the cannon.never mind is yours manual or elec ? and any probs apart from spool.any dramas retriving manual after strike ect?would big jon be any better?thanks again.gary.

[johnverano]

hi there have you tried the downrigger shop , they are Australian owned and supply electric down riggers and manual ones as well.
He sells braid for the down riggers too
here is the link www.downriggershop.com.au
cheers

[arvor]

thanks john .and thats an interesting site.i see the electric was about700 back in 2008 have you any idea now?and being made here might just tip the scales?thanks anyway.gary.

[Smithy]

Maybe an electric Alvey deck winch might be the go and a good compromise. Manual winches certainly work good as downriggers with braid on them. We have done that on Ymer.

[gofishin]

I used to use downriggers a lot in the 80’s (Penn Fathomasters, in fact still have one of them that’s nearly as good as new), & actually can say that the drag on a 10lb ball at ~6kn is somewhere between 8 and 12 kg. Used them to chase dogtooth tuna with 24 and 37 (and they still busted us up) fishing 8 & 12kg of drag (measured). With the 37 outfit the bomb could be wound up with outfit (in an emergency retrieve to avoid a shallowing reef!) but not with the 24 without bumping the drag up from memory, hence bomb drag is between 8 – 12kg.

I am interested in the use of braid though Smithy, and I assume it stops the ‘wire singing’ and has les drag/less belly. What strength braid is generally used, and does it matter what type (dyneema or the other type)? Do you need to replace the ‘used’ section much?
Cheers
Brendon

[Smithy]

Brendon,

the drag and belly are the same. I am using 200lb Platypus braid Wellsys sell for respooling purposes. The green cheap stuff. There is no hum. I haven't had to replace the used section at all. It is two seasons old. The only disadvantage I have found so far was when swinging a spanish in, its teeth nicked the braid and I lost a 10lb bomb. Those things have gone through the roof price wise. I remember buying my first one for about $27 then they were in the $30s for ages, then $42 now they are like $47ea. Ouch and I have lost two in recent times. Not as many as a pro mate of mine though!

[gofishin]

Thanks Smithy, haven't spoken to Paul & Helen since they worked out of their house down figtree pocket way in the 90's. Knew them from my PNG fishing days.

Losing bombs, that's what I would be worried about, but obviously there are benefits.
cheers
Brendon