Down Rigging rods/reels??

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Hi everyone.
I am looking for suggestions on rods/reels for down rigging. I purchased two Big Jon down riggers from a charter guy a few years ago and he recommended the Okuma Convector CV30D with a Shimano TDR 8 ft rod so that is what I bought. I also bought another reel/rod trolling combo from CTC just to have two. I think that one is a Shakespeare. Now that I have upgraded to a bigger boat I hope to try Lake Ontario for some trout or maybe salmon (really whatever takes my lure). Before I just was fishing the back lakes for lakers. FYI I haven't put the rods through any rigorous testing by any means.

Can't go fishing so might as well buy fishing stuff. :roll:

Thanks!
Glenn

Bobv75 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:23 am **Posts:** 194

Depending on how often they will be used you can get cheap combos at any of the big box stores, but if you plan on doing a fair bit of fishing with them I would call Stacey at pro tackle. Okuma makes some well price gear and he carries all of them. I like the cold water reels and 9 foot rods. If lakers and salmon are what you are after get the medium heavy action. Those fish can be monsters. I would get at least the 30 series reel. Leadcore setups are very effective as well as downriggers. Most of the year I would say they work better. 2 riggers, 2 lead, Couple planer boards and a good net man. All you need. Unless you get addicted to it like I did. Then it’s a room back full of rods for different programs and begging friends to come to get more lines in the water.
Good luck.

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Pro Tackle · **Posted:** Thu Apr 16, 2020 8:59 pm

Bobv75 wrote:

Depending on how often they will be used you can get cheap combos at any of the big box stores, but if you plan on doing a fair bit of fishing with them I would call Stacey at pro tackle. Okuma makes some well price gear and he carries all of them. I like the cold water reels and 9 foot rods. If lakers and salmon are what you are after get the medium heavy action. Those fish can be monsters. I would get at least the 30 series reel. Leadcore setups are very effective as well as downriggers. Most of the year I would say they work better. 2 riggers, 2 lead, Couple planer boards and a good net man. All you need. Unless you get addicted to it like I did. Then it’s a room back full of rods for different programs and begging friends to come to get more lines in the water.
Good luck.

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Thanks buddy,

Pro Tackle does stock everything you will need for Lake trolling. You really dont need to spend alot of money...just dont cheap out too much because you will get what you pay for. check out our website: http://protacklefishing.com/ and you are welcome to call me if you have any questions. Local 613-968-4111. Toll Free: 1-888-442-7456

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Thanks for the info!!
Looks like I will not be needed the stuff for while so I will most likely wait until I can go to Pro Tackle in person and pick their brain on what I need. I have never been there. I would really like to try the leadcore but know nothing about it. Even on the back lakes I hear guys saying it works great for lakers. That and the "Johnnie Green" spoon.
I have two church planer boards. They attach to your line. Are you talking this type or the ones that are tethered to your boat?

Thanks again!
Glenn

chesapeake · **Joined:** Wed Dec 24, 2014 4:15 pm **Posts:** 139

I agree that leadcore is very effective. I have 4 combos with 5 colours and 1 combo with a 45 and full 10 colour.

I have also added 2 combos of short copper. 100 ft. This allows you the same depth approx as 5 colour without out as much line out.

My laker spread would be (from boat side out) (4 people on board)

Rigger deepest rod 20ish foot lead
Copper on offshore planer
5 colour on offshore planer
5 colour on offshore planer

I would have some dipsy rods on board as well in case I need to fish deeper than the 20ft down area.

The 5 colours and copper get used for lakers, rainbows up high late morning, salmon first light, and eyes all day.

Well worth the investment.

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BWHDeseronto · **Joined:** Tue Sep 06, 2016 8:58 am **Posts:** 138

Buy a rod that feels good in your hand, Okuma have a unique triangular shaped fore grip, some like them some don't, depending on your hand size I think, check them out and go with your gut feel,
Try to buy 2 of each rod type,, ie. 2 rigger rods the same, 2 dipsy rods the same etc, it makes setting the rods and watching the tips way easier, different rods have different bends & actions under tension.
Budgets always come into play, IMHO don't cheap out on the reel, Okuma Covectors or Coldwater feel solid and have proven reliable for me. You don't want a reel locking up with your PB on the line.
For Salmon I run 2 riggers 15' apart in cable out, the deepest will have a Glow Moonshine spoon or Spin Doctor with glow Twinkie squid rig to start the day. I prefer dipsys over leadcore, as all my rods do double duty chasing the fall walleye run. I use the 2 smaller sizes witch can cover from 20 to 50 ft down, line counters and depth charts are vital. On the rare occasion with 3 in boat I put out 2 in-line boards use 2-4oz snap weight with spoons, great for bonus bows.
Same rods & reels for lakers usually just target different depths, longer leads on riggers if running shallow Google Secret Weapon Rig or use a deep diving jointed crankbait of a rigger set ball 15ft above bottom enough line out from ball so bait is 2ft of bottom saves snagging bottom with your canon ball

biff · **Joined:** Sat Sep 10, 2011 6:30 pm **Posts:** 451

I have put my lead in the closet, it rarely gets used anymore. Mind you i don't fish the fall walleye run either. If you want something different, have a look at the Torpedo divers weighted steel. I take more fish on this rig than any other, including my riggers. Not sure what it is with this thing, but it cleans up. Its basically a cold water 533, big reel, with 800' of 19 strand torpedo wire backing and 200' of weighted steel. Its tricky to setup, but man it takes a lot of fish for some reason.

For rods, check out the Okuma Classic Pro Glass, Stacy has them i think. These are pretty cheap but work horses on my boat. I use a combination of convectors and cold water as well, both great reels. Dipsy i replaced drag washers with carbon fiber as drag creep makes me crazy.

Another tidbit, for your rigger reels, check out the coldwater high speed reels. I find you can pick up the slack really quick with those.

with Salmon fishing i found there was always something i needed. 2 rods turned into 10 rods in a hurry. Flee line, no flee line, larger diameter, braid, torpedo wire...etc it goes on and on. PM me if you want me to take some pics of my setup and send them over. Hopefully my experiences can save you some $$

CrowMan · **Posted:** Sun Apr 19, 2020 12:15 pm

I've gone through a lot of trolling reels over the years...can't beat Shimano Tekota's for durability (size 300, 500 0r 700 depending on the application). Shimano TLD is OK too, but not as bullet-proof as the Tekota.

At a lower price point...Abu Garcia 6500 and 7000, or Penn 320GTi and Squall are pretty dependable with decent mechanicals and drags.

Frankly, I have a junk box full of Okuma's (Magda is absolute trash...Convector, and ColdWater not much better), and Daiwa's (which make some great spinning and baitcasters, but just can't seem to make a decent trolling reel) that last a season or two, but always breakdown at the most critical time.

As for rods...no need to spend a lot of money. Most trolling methods result in a reaction bite...the rod doesn't need to be sensitive. No need for high-modulus graphite. In fact, fibreglass or a blend with low-modulus graphite is preferable for durability. I do like the St. Croix line-up (the EyeCon series has some nice trolling sticks). At a lower price point, Fenwick and Rapala make some decent rods. Again, not a big Okuma fan with their rods either..the Korean's cheap out on the components and build quality.

As for leadcore, my favourite presentation for Shield lake trolling. Load your reel with 30lb. braid....then 3 colours of leadcore for Walleye OR 5 to 7 colours for Lake trout...then 50 ft of 10lb FluoroCarbon...then a stickbait...let out 300 ft total on the counter...make slow "S" turns trolling at 1.8 to 2.2 mph...

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Thank you very much for all of the great replies. Greatly appreciated!
I have another question now. Are line counters always needed? I may have a chance to get a Tekota 500 "lightly used" but no line counter. I am thinking that I would want the counter for rigger, dipsey divers, and planner boards. Not sure about this lead core and steel line. Why wouldn't a person always just get reels with counters?

Thanks again
Glenn

BigMac · **Joined:** Fri Nov 28, 2008 5:18 pm **Posts:** 1383

I prefer counters on all setups but they aren’t needed for rigger rods really. Same if you had specific copper setups of 200/300/500 etc. If you’re letting it all out, you don’t need a counter to tell you you’ve reached the end.

Tekotas are great reels. For just riggers I’d jump on it. If u want flexibility than get counter reels

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GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Thanks BigMac.
Can you explain "Same if you had specific copper setups of 200/300/500 etc". I know nothing about copper or steel line.

I wish I did though

Bobv75 · **Joined:** Wed Oct 05, 2016 10:23 am **Posts:** 194

The steel and cooper lines are pretty specific to salmon fishing. stick to the lead, riggers and dipsy divers unless you are thinking of becoming hardcore spoon puller. I do almost all my fishing on Lake Ontatrio and find that the latter 3 are most versatile and easy to use. I also use snap weights in the fall for the walleye. I use the Tekota reels with line counters on my snap weight and flat line rods for walleye, they are by far the best reels.

tomfoolery · **Joined:** Fri Nov 12, 2004 3:32 pm **Posts:** 144

You can get along without line counter reels just by counting the number of times the line guide on the reel passes back and forth. Over time and experience, this gets to be routine. This is how it was done before line counter reels, just not as accurate.

CrowMan · **Posted:** Wed Apr 22, 2020 10:49 am

Most of them are pretty cheesy....but you can buy line counters that clamp on your rod....

https://www.basspro.com/shop/en/berkley ... nter#close

Also, depending on the type of line, you can use an permanent ink marker every 10 feet as you let it out. There are also some lines that are pre-marked.

Jump on the Tekota...you'll be able to pass it on to your grandchildren.

GAP · **Joined:** Thu Jan 04, 2018 8:16 pm **Posts:** 223

Is the tekota 500 too small? The line capacity looks to be less than the Okuma 30

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Down Rigging rods/reels??

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