downrigger location & opinions on best puller.

[bmcminn]

Our boat came with downriggers, but they had been removed and the holes filled. They had been located forward of the lazarette but I've seen other boats with them aft of the laz hatch.

Could I mount one on the port quarter and another closer to the helm, stbd side, as almost all of this will be done solo?

Please share your thoughts...

Also, are the scotty 2500 pullers totally useless for 30lb shrimp pots at 250'?

[jakevolvo@yahoo.com]

Get a brutus pot puller, it's amazing for a couple more bucks. Dont have the hand free device but that looks handy to

[Standas]

I second the Ace line puller. I found the best price at Johns sporting goods and they included the hands free device. The biggest reason I would recommend Ace is how they responded when I had a issue with the motor after it was out of warranty , they went above and beyond to make it right and no charge to me. The company is located in Canada but they have a drop off location in Bellingham.

[smckean (Tosca)]

[TyBoo]

I can't guess as to what is the best but I can say I am happy with the EZ Pull davit and electric puller.

I bought a foot switch that is designed for electric trolling motors and have it mounted at the base of the davit post. It is much easier for me to control the line than simply letting it go slack around the wheel and reaching for the main switch. It also makes it safe for me to let my 6 year old great grandson do the pulling if I have instant control of the motor. I don't have the hands free device but had intended to fabricate one. Turns out I don't miss it.

Tosca is right - they ain't cheap. This is the fifth season for ours and we have the price down to 71¢ per crab kept. We use heavy round pots - five of them - and use a ring while we are anchored. Since the electric gizmo is there, of course I use it to pull the ring up also. That saves a lot of wear and tear (literally) on my bum shoulder.

I am going back and forth to the boat today working on a project so next trip down I'll look at my chart and count up how many trips we have made with the puller in service and tell you pretty close to how times it has pulled up a pot from 40' - 50' deep. That will make that 71¢ per crab seem real cheap. We'll get it down to four bits next season.

I can't help you much with the downrigger question. Mine is just forward of where the lazerette would be if I had lazerettes. Maybe a bit more aft. I don't know if that's the best place but I only have the one and I make it work. Starcraft Tom and Rogerbum are experts on the things, and even they can't agree on what is best. They argue about it every time it comes up on here.

[Teufelshunde]

[Teufelshunde]

Here is the link to where I too found the best deal as mentioned by Standis - https://johnssportinggoods.com/product-category/crabbing-shrimping/crabshrimp-pot-puller/[url][/url]

[localboy]

[dgeorges]

Regarding d-riggers and their location(s): See my photo album for multiple photos on what I feel is the best location when fishing by yourself. These are located on the bow side of the Lazerette(s) for best access. My two Scotty 1099's are fully accessible at these locations.

I've run these for hundreds of hours as shown with no "wants or warrants" to change them. I did change out the stock two foot arms to extended arms to upgrade the reach on them. this is especially important if you run the weights deep so that you don't get the cables hitting each other... they will break and it is a very violant break at that (had it happen to me in Monterey Bay canyon @ 200 ft down).

I have my house battery between the gas tanks under the motor well. I run the power to a fuse box in the starboard lazerette and then to two power plugs under the two horizontal storage areas on the sides. Works great. The Scotty 1099's will handle 16 lb weights with no problems. Ran these heavies while fishing the gr8 lakes for 10 years with now amperage issues pulling them up and down; in some case down to 150 ft multiple times for 5-7 hrs.

When I fished in CA off Bodega Bay for many years, I used SS cable with a black box set to .65 V and did great sucking salmonids and sharks into the gear.

Good luck with your decision.

[Teufelshunde]

[/quote] When I fished in CA off Bodega Bay for many years, I used SS cable with a black box set to .65 V and did great sucking salmonids and sharks into the gear.

Good luck with your decision.[/quote]

Just starting to fish Bodega with my own boat - fished in others for a few years and can’t wait for salmon season to start!
what do you mean by Black box set to .65 V ?

[dgeorges]

A black box electrifies your d- rigger cables to attract fish to your cables and consequently, your lures. West coast commercial guys use this tec all the time because it flat out works.

See: https://www.protroll.com/black-box-technology for complete descrtipn. This is not a joke, and I don't represent the manufacturer.

The whole idea revolves around electrolysis and your boat. Read the manual, and do your own research and you'll see what I mean .

BTW: tip on where the salmon hang out off Bodega; look for the off color dirty water. The bait feeds in this food rich water, and hides from the predators their too. The best locations are about ten miles out of Bodega where the deep water wells up into the shallower water. Your only problem will be the seals and sea lions following you out and stealing your fish.

Best lures: Apex in watermelon pattern OR rolled bait off a Franko Bullet Rotator (FBR).

Lifesaving tip: NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE OCEAN...THE ROGUE WAVES WILL KILL YOU.

Tight lines...

[localboy]

[tsturm]

[Teufelshunde]

[localboy]

https://shop.electra-dyne.com/Haulers_c3.htm

Serious pullers, for professional use. No doubt they work, but cost way too much for a recreational boater IMO.