Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

[ozenine]

Hi Guys,
Hate to beat on the dead horse, but I just need the second (third, forth etc ) opinion.
I have Sylvan Sea Snapper and would like to mount couple of downriggers on it.

This is a tiller model, so I am thinking of more central mounting location with booms going to the sides.

I am thinking of building 2 storage boxes on the sides before seat #2 (counting from back) - see picture attached.
Then on top of those boxes I would attach the downrigger mounts. My biggest goal is to make them (downriggers) removable, so people can sit there, when not in use. What do you guys think?

 

[ozenine]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Just was thinking. Maybe have a piece of 2x6 that i can lay on top of middle seat (usually there is only 2 of us in the boat and my wife likes to sit on the front). That way I can remove it easily when not in use. Of course I will have to make a something nice to temporary attach it to the seat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Ayuh,.... Have you fished with downriggers,..??

I can't feature doin' it in such a tiny boat,...
Riggin' yer gear, 'n workin' the downriggers will be a nightmare....

Dipsy's or leadcore, or a host of over ways to fish controlled depths seems easier to Me...

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Bondo is right.

BUUT

Rig up 2 down riggers. REMEMBER !!






No BIG or small turns. EVER.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

You are going to do it anyway.

NEVER EVER turn the slightest bit !!

I would put 1 rigger & cannon ball on the boat. Do figure 8s all day if you like.

 

[ozenine]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Thanks guys.
Let me ask then, what is the point of those clamp-on downriggers designed for the aluminum hulls? I am pretty certain there is a lot of threads even here about mounting donriggers on small boats.
Speaking of small. This is the largest 14 feet aluminum hull I could find in this configuration. It is really wide and deep (check out the dimensions).

Now, would be a better setup to direct it backwards?

So am I allowed to make turns or not? Is 2 better then 1?

Just to add - I am fishing small lake, where only up to 20 hp motors are allowed and the depth is around 60-70ft.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

I've fished for lakers for years with a small, clamp on downrigger. NO PROBLEM. I usually have mine over the side.

 

[O-fishal]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Check out the Scotty products .... they make downriggers for small boats, manual and electric, and you can make tight turns with downriggers If I can do it with four downriggers and 8 rods you can do it in a tinny with 2

 

[Bondo]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

and you can make tight turns with downriggers If I can do it with four downriggers and 8 rods you can do it in a tinny with 2

Ayuh,... Yer's are mounted Aft,...
At 3/4s mid-ship, a tight turn will put lines into the motor....

Oz,... If ya want a downrigger, get 1, 'n mount it on an aft corner...

 

[O-fishal]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

NO I have 2 at the stern and 2 mid ship and have never put one in the prop.... if you have the RIGHT weight on to maintain the RIGHT angle on the rigger line and have them mounted far enough forward or aft then they should never get in the prop:facepalm: and if you are not sure then put on a prop guard

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Check out the Scotty products .... they make downriggers for small boats, manual and electric, and you can make tight turns with downriggersView attachment 128078 If I can do it with four downriggers and 8 rods you can do it in a tinny with 2

I'm liking the boat name.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

NO I have 2 at the stern and 2 mid ship and have never put one in the prop.... if you have the RIGHT weight on to maintain the RIGHT angle on the rigger line and have them mounted far enough forward or aft then they should never get in the prop:facepalm: and if you are not sure then put on a prop guard

Ayuh,... LOOK at Oz's drawing.....

Yer's are 3/4er's Aft,... His are 3/4er's Forward... Beyond mid-ship...
You've also got 6' booms on 'em...

 

[LongLine]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

I used to have a similar small boat and easily mounted a rigg'r on it. I figured the driver was the only one to ever sit on the rear seat so I built an "upsidedown L" shaped bracket out of aluminum and mounted it to the seat and the port bulkhead. The rigg'r base went on top of it and the rigg'r based thumbscrewed into that. No problem running two stacked rods and a slider. I only lost about 6" of seat.

In todays fishing world I'd recomend you only install 1 rigg'r and learn how to run dipsies off the other side.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[O-fishal]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

I would put one where the red is for the passenger and one at the stern for the driver, and use these for mounting Scottys
http://www.scotty.com/fishing-gear-equipment/laketrollers/1071-clamp-mount.htm

BUT HEY wadda I know about fishing???????

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Oz
Use 1 down rigger. What happens when 2 fish hit ?

You could easily lose both. Unless you can crank 2 reels at once & fight 2 fish at the same time.

But wadda I know about downrigging ?

Small boats NEED a BIG livebait well with weeds in it & baitfish in it. A airator pump would help. When you see the fish . Then put a live bait on the downrigger clip / release. Just the live bait on about 6' of free line . Lower the weight slowly while circling. Stop lowering about 15' above the fishes. The gamefish WILL dart up grab the bait fish & dive down again. Hopefully with the hook being set by the fish as he pulls almost straight down.
A Scuba diver was filling us in on some attacks.

 

[O-fishal]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Never mind a double header try a triple header and landing all three in the same net LOL now that was fun all by myself you just fight one fish at a time land it in the net drop the net fight the next one land it in the net with the other fish and so on. Now thats fun fishing.

 

[M9.9]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Hi all,
Whatever you decide to do, alums are noisy so isolating your d-riggers from the boat using rubber will increase your catch rate. Dunno, but think if it were me with a sea snapper as illustrated, I'd mount a pedestal on the bench seat to my left where I wouldn’t have to look behind to monitor the rod in-case it releases. You can also consider one d-rigger with a stacker so two lines can be sent down using one d-rigger. I can't over-emphasize enough vibration and noise isolation will have a dramatic effect on catch rate, in particular an Aluminum boat. Good luck !

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

M9.9

In some quiet waters, noise CAN move them away as you approach.
In heavy traffic where boats are constant. They do NOT scatter. Marina approaches are a classic place where THEY COLLECT. As a boat goes in some poor fish darts out & is eaten.

 

[M9.9]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

Hear yah cyclops. I'm refering to noise down where the fish are. The source being the line, rod line or cable, either being used as a conduit from boat vibrations and noise.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Small Aluminum Mounting Downriggers

I run two and three downriggers off my small boat all the time, plus run stackers. Can I screw it up and create a tangled mess ...yes...does it happen often...no, it's rare, but there is a learning curve. You can zig zag and make fairly tight turns, that isn't a problem, neither are multiple hook-ups. I typically run a combination of down riggers and other rods with either lead weight or divers, in lakes I may have leaded line rods out too.

The smaller clamp-on models are normally limited to 4 lb balls, we run 10 to 15 lb balls depending on depth and conditions, but my DRs are full sized.

if you plan to use larger DRs The best mounts for small boats attach on the inside and are only about 3/4 of an inch wide and 6" long, its just a slot. There is a base plate that mounts to the DR, it is bent at 90*, or whatever angle lines up with the side of your hull, and just slips into the slot. These mounts take up no room in the boat and allow you to install and remove the DR in less than a minute, they can work with the small DR too, and on some boats are needed because the sides of the boat don?t allow the clamp to fit correctly.