Offshore Fishing Reports - Making my own Dredge??? - I'm carrying my wife out this week and she wants me to make a dredge. Something she seen watching Jose Wejebe on tv. We bought the bar yesterday and now we're trying to decide what type of lures to put

timscarborough · Mate Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 16

when fishing with a downrigger, how deep do you drop the ball?

imaheelsfan · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 7:49 am Post subject:

I guess you got the delivery. Tim, it depends on how deep you find the bait and therefore the fish. If I'm fishing over structure not marking much bait I usually fish 5-10 feet above the structure.

Offshore Bob · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 9:00 am Post subject:

I run 2 down riggers and will start with 1 at 25 ft and 15ft behind the ball and the other one at 45 ft and 25 ft behind the ball, try to make it look like one is chasing the other. Once you catch a fish put that down rigger back at the same depth and move the other one closer to the catching rigger. Don't be afraid to move them around . If you don't get a hit after 15 minutes check the bait, pop it out of the rigger clip and let it rise up on its own while winding the ball up some times that is all it takes to trigger a strike .
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Capt. Bob

www.southchathamtackle.com

DoubleD · Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:47 am Post subject:

Great advice Bob, I can't count the number of times I've had a bite right after popping it loose from the clip. Alot of times I set my riggers by the depth of water I'm fishing. If I'm in 60 feet of water for example I'll set one at 25-30 then the other around 50. In my expierience the deeper one always catches the sharks. Anyway there is no set rules just experiment with different depths.

timscarborough · Mate Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 16

yeah i got the delivery, thanks again. Now if only the weather would cooperate....

Hooked · 2nd Mate Joined: Apr 19, 2008 Posts: 41

Tim, was that delivery a new downrigger?! You've got the water column covered now. Capt. Bob hit it right on as far as how to use em'. We fish 2 also, staggered in depth according to water depth and also by what is seen on the electronics. Remember when around AR's, some structure protrudes off of the bottom, just watch the sonar and make mental notes of where you see them and adjust accordingly. Good luck!! Don't know if you got my PM, if you did you've got my number,Be glad to share info.For what it's worth , we left masonboro at about 3:30 this afternoon, trolled the beach with clarks and youzries and out to the liberty ship, not the first bite!! Weather brought us back in and seas were just a little choppy, but still nice to get on the water, had just eneough wind to not sweat , but make it tough to fish. That's the way it goes!! we'll get em' next time!! GOOD LUCK & STAY SAFE!!

Back-Lash · Ol'Salt Joined: Dec 15, 2004 Posts: 702 Location: MT.Olive

Tim fishing with downriggers can be as easy as good luck to a dedicated science , I usually start 1 in the 15 to 25 foot area and another around 40 ft, if I am around 60ft of water . 100 t0 130 ft of water I will set 1 at 25 - 30 and another around 60 - 75 ft .I also watch the color scope for thermoclines , and areas that hold bait . I never run a colored skirt on my deepest bait due to a shark attack , and I may adjust my depths
Remeber somedays you will not catch anything on the downriggers just on top and other days you may only catch them on the downriggers

wavepounder · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 8:05 am Post subject:

Thanks for the question and comments. I'm still learning on mine also.
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May the water be smooth and the fish fight rough...............Wavepounder

Offshore Bob · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:43 am Post subject:

Tim, the proper way to deploy a down rigger bait is to let out about 20 to 25 ft of line then put the clicker on and put the rod in the rod holder. reach out and get the line and with your finger twirl it about 4or 5 times then clip the loop you made in the line into the rigger clip. Then without touching the rod let the ball down slowly till you get the hang of it to your desired depth. Put reel in gear and check drag. The reason for the loop in the line is so the bait will stay 25 ft behind the ball and your line to the rod will be tight , there should actually be a bend in the rod tip. This makes for a positive hook up and when you want to check the bait you simply take the rod and give it a firm jerk upward and pop the line out of the release.
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Capt. Bob

www.southchathamtackle.com

Offshore Bob · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 10:58 am Post subject:

Here's a tip the Thunder Lizard showed me years ago. While slow trolling with live bait a 6lb ball is all you need . Using a 6lb ball instead of a 10lb ball will be less wear and tear on cable, clips and mounting screws, not to mention a lot easier to wind up.
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Capt. Bob

www.southchathamtackle.com

Back-Lash · Ol'Salt Joined: Dec 15, 2004 Posts: 702 Location: MT.Olive

Bob I do not know about a 6lb Ball but I use an 8lb and prefer it over a 10 lb anyday for the same reasons
We even have some 8lb balls for sale

Offshore Bob · Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2008 11:08 am Post subject:

Eris I would like to get a few from you the next time I see you .
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Capt. Bob

www.southchathamtackle.com

skipperspride · Deck Hand Joined: Feb 07, 2007 Posts: 9

I always place 1 at 10 ft off the bottom and the other half way in the colum untill I see depth where the bait and fish are staying then move if needed but always have 1 10 ft off bottom
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James Strange
Skipperspride lures

www.turborattler.com

Turbo Rattler When You Got To Make Some Noise

chumpuppy · Ol'Salt Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 135

Be careful when fishing close to the bottom around WR-4 or any of the other wrecks. Also, even in shallow water i.e. 40 feet, sometimes all of your strikes will come off the downrigger. Not sure why they don't come to the top in 40 ft. but that's been my experience.


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