Best down riggers?

[Reel Time]

I've fished LOW almost exclusively the last two years. I see alot of people use downriggers with great success so I'm pondering the prospect of purchasing a couple. I have a 2003 18 footer with a 90 horse Merc. What downriggers would work well for this type of set up? I've read a little about "ions" for the rigs, is it just a gimick or does it really work, Any ideas? Thanks for your inputs!!<P>Reel

[warrior]

hang some cannon uni-trolls on your rig. there reasonably priced and they are more than adequite for LOW.

[Lip RIPPER!]

Any suggestions Widetrack?

[widetrack]

There are much cheaper methods of getting a crankbait down to the depths. Snapweights being one, leadcore being the other.<P>I don't have a problem with the guys that use their riggers reponsibly, stopping the boat to play the fish once they are hooked up.<P>What I have a problem with is the launches that have 6-8 riggers out cranking 3mph and jerking fish out of 33 fow, never slowing down. They have the fish skipping across the water surface to the landing net, and then pitching them back because they already have their quota of over 19 1/2's. I'd rather there wasn't a slot for them, and they kept every fish that was hooked up till full, then go home.<P>There Ripper, I bit.

[ParkersPal]

After having fished with downriggers for nearly twnety years for trout, salmon and walleyes, the very best downrigger is the Penn Fathomaster. You don't see them in catalogs like Cabela's or even in stores like Gander Mountain and the like, but these are the very best downriggers. Beautifully constructed and easy to use. Very durable. The handle and the drag system is great. The Cannon riggers and most others require you to crank the handle in reverse to loosen the drag and lower the weight. The Penn drag is a yellow disk on the right hand side of the real that fits the palm of your hand beautifully. The problem with cranking the handle backward is that you loose the finese control when the drag begins to ease up. What happens then is that your weight drops suddenly and you end up with a backlash or your line has released from the cannonball and you wind everything up and start over. With the Penn you adjust the drag with your hand and you can control the reel with the heel of the same hand as you loosen the drag. You can also give the reel a little jump start so you end up with a much smoother start on dropping the weight and fewer tangles and releases. <P>There is a place in Duluth, I think it is called Marine General. They have a website. The Penn Fathomaster will run you about $300 for the long boom arm. Also check out HSO-Classifieds. I know last summer I was looking on my nephew's behalf and found some Penns on there for some great prices.

[Reel Time]

Thanks for the tips, I really appreciate it . I go to Duluth quite a bit and will check them out.<P>Reel