Downrigging 

Where the wire line method is ideally suited for work over regular bottoms, the downrigger method is more suitable in confined areas with highly irregular bottoms. The versatility of the downrigger has given anglers a uniquely different but very effective method of deep-water trolling under conditions that were once considered practically impossible.

By itself the downrigger is hard to beat but couple it with a graph recorder and you have a combination that is unbeatable. Running ledges, drop-offs, side slopes, and encircling deep-water humps could only be conquered by the most skilled of wire liners, yet this combination of rigger and sonar makes fishing child's play for even the beginner. With downrigger and sonar in operation it's easy to maintain vital clearance between lure and bottom. Fishing in some lakes may require additional equipment such as a temperature probe, a device worth having even though it's an additional expense.

Lures can be placed as close as two or three feet from the downrigger weight when fish are very aggressive or as much as 100 feet when they are spooky and not so aggressive. However, 20 to 40 feet is all that is required in most cases. When using a spinning reel in conjunction with a downrigger, line twist can be eliminated by unlocking the anti-reverse mechanism, thus allowing the reel to run backwards, stripping line as the downrigger weight and lure descend.

There are many ways of using downriggers. One way is to pay attention to the lure and if you sense fish by the snap of the lure, allow a little time for the fish to play. Then wind the downrigger as fast as possible towards the surface. Another method is to simply break the line free of the downrigger, letting the movement of the boat swing it up and away from the device. If a fish is spotted over the edge of drop-offs, simply free-wheel the downrigger weight and lure past the area to trigger a response. A favorite trick in lakes with silty or sandy bottoms is to shorten the lead between lure and weight and to drag the weight and lure along the bottom. The effect simulates an injured minnow and the debris raised by the downrigger enhances the realism. Thankfully these tactical manoeuvres are not always required for they can be very arm weary. On those more relaxed days when the lake trout are cooperative, choosing the right color or action of bait may be all that is necessary.

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