A downrigger has a cannonball that’s attached to an electric or hand-powered winch that carries the line. It helps anglers lower a saltwater or freshwater lure to a specific depth.
The first step is to select the specific area that you want to target. The ideal place to start is at approximately 80 ft or 24.4 m. It’s always better to fish in areas with fairly flat bottoms and zero obstructions.
Switch the reel to ‘free-spin’ by releasing your drag clicker to let the fishing reel spin and release line. Place the reel in water and allow 20 ft of line to release. Then, lock the drag clicker and place your rod in the holder.
Grab the line that’s beyond the tip using one hand. With the other hand, grab your release clip then clip the line. Once that’s done, lower the cannonball to the water. Steps will vary depending on if you have a motorized or hand-powered setup.
A downrigger setup will be able to increase the likelihood of you catching fish if you’re aware of the exact depth at which the target fish typically hang out. For more tips to boost your chances, check out our website!