Cannon Downrigger - A Great Item of Fishing Equipment.

Author: Fred Sturgeon

When you are fishing, have you found find that you need to drop your bait down deep? Fish are not always the most cooperative of creatures and they don't always hang out near the surface, where they are easily caught. If your depth sounder is alerting you to fish down (deeper) in the depths of the waters, a downrigger can be the answer and give you a real advantage.

What exactly is a downrigger?

A downrigger is a relatively simple device. It is just a spool that holds between 200 - 600 feet of steel cable. Connected to this is a weight of between 6 - 12 pounds. In addition to this, there is a quick-release line gripper, such as what you find with a clothes pin.

How does it operate?

The fishing lines from your rods are connected to the quick-release mechanisms of the downrigger. Once this is done, the entire assembly is lowered down to the depth you need. This way, the bait is far enough from the weight and line gripper so as not to spook the fish. If a fish takes the bait, the line is released from the gripper, so it is just you and the fish!

Some downriggers can be purchased equipped with fish-attractant properties (either electrical, or a special kind of paint), but most of them do not have this feature.

There are several companies that manufacture downriggers. These include basic models for the recreational fishermen right up to highly sophisticated models for commercial fishing concerns. The Cannon downrigger comes from a company that offers a comprehensive range of downriggers, from a basic manual feed to an electronic motor quick release operation. Cannon also offers a combination fish finder and downrigger making for a fantastic combination to catch the fish you find in the depths!

Downriggers operate at their best when used for deep trolling and some models even include an electronic crank that will raise everything up. If you need to get at deeper schools of fish, these are highly recommended.

Downriggers are another tool that will give you the edge when you are fishing with your buddies. Brands other than the Cannon downrigger, would include the Penn downrigger, and the Big Jon Downrigger.