Running three downriggers

[bvicklund]

Nelly, I really enjoyed last weeks episode of Pro Guide Outdoors! I notice Derek Floyd of Anglers Choice Charters was running three downriggers, I know your a Cannon guy but my question is, while trolling were you using flashers on all three downriggers or were there flashers on the outer riggers and no flasher on the center downrigger? I have the same set up with three downriggers on my boat but have had problems while running flashers on all three, gettting the center and starboard flashers tangled.Might be a rookie mistake on my part but any advice is much appreciated! Thank you for your time!

[Dan Carney]

I was waiting for someone else to respond, but this probably got lost in all the boat show activity. First of all I don't run 3 downriggers, but this has been addressed here before. Basically, what most do is run a lighter weight on the middle rigger. Use 12 or 15 lbs on the sides and an 8 or 10 in the middle. This makes it drop back farther behind the two side riggers. Also it is important to speed up a little in the turns to make everything track straight. This is especially true if there is much of a cross current. One other trick is to run rudder flashers to help all three track straight. On the middle rigger you can use a full sized flasher, go to a smaller flasher, or just use a lure/bait with its own action. Also don't run your flashers way behind your releases, I like 20 feet or so. If I forgot anything, then someone else can chime in or correct me.
L8R
Dan

[Nelly]

Nelly, I really enjoyed last weeks episode of Pro Guide Outdoors! I notice Derek Floyd of Anglers Choice Charters was running three downriggers, I know your a Cannon guy but my question is, while trolling were you using flashers on all three downriggers or were there flashers on the outer riggers and no flasher on the center downrigger? I have the same set up with three downriggers on my boat but have had problems while running flashers on all three, gettting the center and starboard flashers tangled.Might be a rookie mistake on my part but any advice is much appreciated! Thank you for your time!

Hey B! Sorry for the late response and thanks Dan for picking up my "slack"!
I was slammed with the Boat Show then the Super Bowl and the hangover...

I agree with much of what Dan said but there are a few tricks to fishing the "Chute" or middle rigger.
First, stay away from flashers on the middle rigger and think lighter balls too!

Here's a slide from my Dirty Downrigger Tricks PowerPoint that will help out!

ChuteRigger.jpg (29.86 KiB) Viewed 4165 times

Also, watch your cross-currents and big winds but overall, I have to say that the "Chute" rigger is more than worth the effort!

Hey! I think there's a blog idear in there somewhere!!!

[trophymac]

What I just learned here is that the middle rigger is always closer to the fish!!