The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums : DIY Downriggers

The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums : DIY Downriggers https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ Wed, 24 Jun 2026 09:02:14 +0000 Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:55:59 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.01 360 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=99657 <![CDATA[The Fishing Website : Discussion Forums]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_images/web_wiz_forums.png https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/ <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : I use them for marlin fishing,...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428706&title=diy-downriggers#1428706 Author: Blue Asparagus
Subject: 99657
Posted: 19 Mar 2014 at 5:55pm

I use them for marlin fishing, what a waste in my opinion lots to shift about on hook up but I used it for live jacks set at.....I did make my own using a broken rigger pole with a bent butt, I have now removed the reel and use it with my teaser it makes for a very easy return.

weights are also made from concrete for bait bombing in very deep drops say 100m

I also have a Penn Fathom master, it has 500m of 100lb braid, I have a number of weights for it from pancakes to balls 6lb to over 10, use it for night time swords towing a squid.

If you need to use a down rigger during the day try and get the hang of bait bombing 1st, a couple of 4oz sinkers do the trick nicely, you will find your results increase as will the excitment but dont take my word for it

]]> Wed, 19 Mar 2014 17:55:59 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428706&title=diy-downriggers#1428706 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : Graeme I have a 10 lb weight mold...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428288&title=diy-downriggers#1428288 Author: wanabe
Subject: 99657
Posted: 18 Mar 2014 at 3:51pm

Graeme I have a 10 lb weight mold in a fish shape you can make your own if you want , I have also heard that a 2 " galvanized pipe about 2 foot long could work and when I get the time I will try it
]]> Tue, 18 Mar 2014 15:51:01 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428288&title=diy-downriggers#1428288 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : I really like what Krow has done,...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428121&title=diy-downriggers#1428121 Author: Titahi
Subject: 99657
Posted: 17 Mar 2014 at 9:48pm

I really like what Krow has done, I have an electric canon and attempted to get a hold of some pancake weights here in Oz :( I ended up using 2 dive weights bolted together with a sliver of 2mm aluminum between them to act as a fin, worked fine, albeit with bigger blowback due to increased surface pressure as it is wider than a pancake weight.... F N mackeral have bad eye sight and after biting it and not the beautifully presented stitched gar fish it eventually got snipped off :( :( New one in the pipe line ]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2014 21:48:19 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428121&title=diy-downriggers#1428121 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : What exactly are you wanting to...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428106&title=diy-downriggers#1428106 Author: kiwiboy_
Subject: 99657
Posted: 17 Mar 2014 at 9:29pm

What exactly are you wanting to use the down rigger for??

Down riggers are nothing short of impedance for any form of marlin fishing.

Use them for night time sword trolling ( if that's your thing) ...

Otherwise flag them.

Most predators have a 60m range whether it's eye sight or sense ( give or take) ... If your baits out of sight ... Half the time its had its tail bitten off and the release clip hasn't tripped out ... Well all you've done is towed a head around for 2 hrs.

Yes you catch marlin using on down-riggers... But your success rate in general won't be any better than the next boat without .

And if Peter B Wright thinks the same thing ... Well it's good enough for me not to bother.

I've watched marlin from a long way whether I marked it or it tailed in from a ridulously long way behind the boat nail my live skippie set leader length off the transom .

Honestly .., I don't think you need one unless you were slow trolling for swords at night.just keep it simple

Good luck ]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2014 21:29:25 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428106&title=diy-downriggers#1428106 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : Here's mine. They do...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428087&title=diy-downriggers#1428087 Author: krow
Subject: 99657
Posted: 17 Mar 2014 at 9:04pm

Here's mine. They do "blow out at trolling speeds for sure. I just use them when slow trolling or drifting. 2x saucers of lead with a aluminum blade. I connect the double (end of windon) to a break away. All hits we've had to date are from fish with teeth instead of bills.

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2014 21:04:30 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1428087&title=diy-downriggers#1428087 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : otdrmn wrote:After some info...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1427981&title=diy-downriggers#1427981 Author: Jaapie
Subject: 99657
Posted: 17 Mar 2014 at 6:11pm

otdrmn wrote:

After some info if guys don't mind sharing about downriggers and in particular DIY downriggers

Some questions

Mate, I think what this refers to is the angle of lift you are getting when using your downrigger. You drop it down and forward momentum causes resistance which causes the downrigger to lift.

Differing thoughts here -
Round has a greater surface area and tends to lift more.
They are however the most common shapes out there and easy to replace.
Some of the other ones are shaped like torpedos with little keels on them.
These also work well, but I think you'll struggle to find them in NZ.

From memory, I think most of the weights are around 10 pounds (4.5 and some change kilo's)

Yep, way too light mate.
You want something like 200lb braid.
Very thin but super strong - also cuts down that resistance in the water.

Again, differing thoughts on this.
Some guys whip a small loop for the tag and use bands like you mention.
Others use the roller troller type release.
IMHO I do like the baits a bit further behind than 2 meters.
It just seems unnatural to me having a funny ball ahead of a swimming bait - give it a few meters before attaching.

Yes - not the skirted lures I think you may be referring to, but rather the hard body lures for dogtooth and deep reef dwellers.
Guys do run skirted lures especially lumo lures for broadies, but I don't have that much experience doing it.

There will no doubt be more questions as answers are forthcoming.
Look forward to any pictures you can share as well
Good luck mate.

Thanks in advance

G

Edit: Just thinking back, we had to make up some new balls we lost whilst in Indonesia.
We used melted lead we got off an island scrap yard and poured it into coconuts.
Odd shaped, but relatively round if you looked quickly, and they worked pretty ok. Wink

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2014 18:11:29 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1427981&title=diy-downriggers#1427981 <![CDATA[DIY Downriggers : After some info if guys don't...]]> https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1427949&title=diy-downriggers#1427949 Author: otdrmn
Subject: 99657
Posted: 17 Mar 2014 at 5:11pm

After some info if guys don't mind sharing about downriggers and in particular DIY downriggers

Some questions

There will no doubt be more questions as answers are forthcoming.
Look forward to any pictures you can share as well

Thanks in advance

G]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2014 17:11:17 +0000 https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=99657&PID=1427949&title=diy-downriggers#1427949