How to use Downriggers (Salmon Edition)

How to use Downriggers
Best Downriggers
globalfishingreports.com/downrigger/

How to Catch Salmon
globalfishingreports.com/salmon-fishing/

Best Salmon Rods and Reels
globalfishingreports.com/best-salmon-reels/


In this video, Captain Cody shows how to use a downrigger. Cody was using them to catch salmon in Alaska. He has also used them to catch salmon in the great lakes and king mackerel in the USVI.

Having downriggers is a must when salmon fishing. There are times where mooching for salmon is a great option but downriggers are the tried and true consistent way to catch fish.

There is more to using a downrigger than most people realize. I caught most of the salmon this year between 80 and 240 feet down. The best way to fish these depths is with a downrigger. Mooching can be great when fish are everywhere but when they are spread out a downrigger is a must.

The downriggers I was using were Scotty high-speed electric downriggers. These use a 200 lb braided line rather than wire cable. A 15-pound lead weight was best due to the depths that we were fishing.

In this video, I show several tricks that will help you catch more fish. Most of the fish are right near the bottom and someday I would 5 halibut in addition to salmon while trolling. The best way to use a downrigger for salmon in to use a flasher to attract the fish and then use bait that that has spinning action to look like an injured fish. The flasher can be tied to the ball so that it does not have to be reeled in with the fish.

Using downriggers is the same way commercial fishermen catch salmon. They are allowed to run a hook every 6 feet though. Their riggers are on hydraulics to lift a 65-pound weight and all the fish that are on the line.

For salmon leader lengths I use 30-inch leaders from the start of the hoochie to the start of the first hook. This would be a 34-inch overall leader length. Most people use and overall leader length of around 40 inches for kings salmon and 30 inches for coho salmon.

I hope this helps you catch more fish.

Thank for watching,

Captain Cody