Downrigger weight???

[PKG]

This has probably been posted before, but with salmon season just getting started I was looking for some insight on downrigger weights for salmon fishing.

I'm guessing the deeper you go the heavier your weight.

The same with what area your in, because I've noticed that in high current areas your gear is getting pushed all around. Also what style lead do you like? Do you bend the fins on them so they swim away from each other?

[Eli]

I just use the normal round ball 12 to 15 pounds

[t_dub]

round 15# balls with the fin on the back. used to use 12#, but only carry those as my spares. less blowback with the 15# = more precise depth control

[Brandon]

I stay away from the pancakes and use 12 lb balls. Lots of guys go 15. Both work. Honestly alot of it depends how deep your fishing and the structure your going over. If you love to fish the bottom id go big. Only reason i got 12's still is cause I poured a ton of them. As soon as I get ahold of a 15 mold thats what I will go to. I find myself from time to time swearing at everything trying to fish the west side of Poss Bar or the notorious swirls of MCB with 12's

[Rock]

I hear ya Brandon. I just picked up a 15lb mold and have a lot of lead so have been pouring those. Strickly run 15's right now because of the reduced blowback in almost ALL situations. But there is talk about puting a 3rd rigger on the back. I will prolly run a 10 or 12 on that. but with that back weight I will never have to worry about loosing anything.

[PKG]

So with the 15# balls are you running the ones with fins or just a round ball?

[Rock]

These are the molds I use. So to answer your quest they have somewhat of a fin on the back
http://do-itmolds.com/shop/index.php?ro ... th=1_10_76

Seemed to me like the only mass produced mold out there.. that i could find.

[kurtmiller]

I've had good luck with 12# pancakes with fins that I decorate with glow & UV tapes (that way I don't have to fuss with the expensive fins), then bend them so they pull out away from the boat to create less chance of tangles. Also use them with the braided line on the riggers. Haven't lost one yet.