downrigger location & opinions on best puller.

B

bmcminn

New member
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'?
 
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.
 
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.
Click to expand...
I had the same experience. I'm very happy with the Ace Brutus.

BTW, I have the hands-free device. I like it and wouldn't give it up (I single hand a lot), but the device is not something that just allows you to "walk away". OTOH, it does act as a sort of "third hand" which can be very useful.

P.S. I'd like one of the big guys with the pulley on the end of a pole so you can get the pot up to eye level and swing the arm (with the pot) into the boat, but those pullers are twice the cost.....the Ace is enough for me.
 
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.
 
bmcminn":3rzlt8ym said:
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'?
Click to expand...

I installed a Cisco fishing system - http://www.ciscofishingsystemsltd.com

Works great and allows you to mount your downriggers/ pot puller or anything that mounts to your Scotty or Cannon plates on a aluminum channel where your able to slide forward or aft. I mounted mine just forward of the tank fill caps.
As far as the pot puller I have the Ace which came with the hands free device. I did have problems with the rope slipping under a loaded crab pot, I contacted the company and they sent me free of charge a new plate that had a rough surface similar to a bed liner and now it works great. Impressed with the customer service.
I’ll post some photos if anyone is interested.
 
jakevolvo@yahoo.com":2olpqrz4 said:
...hand free device but that looks handy to
Click to expand...

I got one a few years ago. Makes the process easier. I just put a large, round plastic storage tub under the puller and it does most of the work. It will "slip" once in a while, but in general, it beats being bent over all the time. Once your line has been properly looped and any twists are removed, it will fall into the round tub nicely, like what you see on The Deadliest Catch in their "coilers". Tub will hold at least three 400' lines easily. I drilled holes in the bottom so any water can escape.
 
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.
 
[/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 ?
 
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...
 
dgeorges":1qujl8ot said:
Lifesaving tip: NEVER TAKE YOUR EYES OFF THE OCEAN...THE ROGUE WAVES WILL KILL YOU!
Click to expand...

Anyone who grew up in Hawai'i and spent lots of time near the ocean knows the adage "never turn your back to the sea". It's ingrained from a young age and even the ancient Hawai'ians taught it to their keiki.
 
bmcminn":2r8jpkzy said:
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'?
Click to expand...

The BEST puller is Electra-dyne it will be the last one you will ever need. I can haul 5 pots & 1,200 ft. of line in 5 minutes.There is nothing wrong with the EZ-pull either. Mount your downriggers where they work for you. :thup :mrgreen: :wink:
 
dgeorges":3jhrz5cy said:
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...
Click to expand...

Black box is interesting for sure - I’m going to check more into it thanks for forwarding the link - are you talking 10 miles due West? That’s in 300 ft + water ( just looked at navionics site )
I use the same tackle for salmon :thup
 
jakevolvo@yahoo.com":vp7g53ef said:
Don't have the hand free device but that looks handy
Click to expand...

localboy":vp7g53ef said:
... in general, it beats being bent over all the time.
Click to expand...

Maybe that's why I don't miss not having the hands free gizmo. My wheel is up high enough that I don't need bend over when using it. That plus the fact that my lines are only 75' or 100' long and the pot depth is usually about 50'. Now if I were pulling shrimp pots from way deep it would be handy.


51344526_10215177379245298_4661818478729101312_n.jpg

When I first got the thing I was certain I wanted the hands free and was disappointed that I didn't order it at the same time. Then I forgot about wanting it until, well, pretty much this discussion.
 
localboy":3g5aqoc6 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Depends on how much you recreate :thup I kept burning up the
EZ Pull I had on the 22, 600' to 1200' is my favorite shrimp area in PWS. The ez pull is a great puller, 10x better than the scottys & brutis if you use them with any frequency. Safety puller is another option :thup :thup :beer
 
tsturm":2ptbldv1 said:
localboy":2ptbldv1 said:
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.
Click to expand...

Depends on how much you recreate :thup
Click to expand...

Recreate LOL More kids means cheaper puller - I guess that’s why my buddy with 7 kids pulls his pots by hand !

On another thread ( not sure if it was this site) I read about a Scotty base breaking off with his pot puller attached and it went to the deep - just a note- if your using any type of base style attachment like Scotty or Cannon etc... have a leash attached from your puller to a cleat or something solid that’s easy to cut free if needed.
 
tsturm":1uqff8oa said:
Depends on how much you recreate :thup I kept burning up the EZ Pull I had on the 22, 600' to 1200' is my favorite shrimp area in PWS. The ez pull is a great puller, 10x better than the scottys & brutis if you use them with any frequency. Safety puller is another option :thup :thup :beer
Click to expand...

600' to 1200' is way deep for us. Shrimp depths here about 250-350'. As I stated we have 400' of line for shrimp; dungies is 100' and I usually crab in 50-80' of water. 100' not a problem. 400' nope...not with my shoulder. 600-1200"! Fauget about it! I can see a good quality puller for those depths. The Brutus is the most basic, most minimum puller for Puget Sound IMO.
 
TyBoo":3isyy5pk said:
Maybe that's why I don't miss not having the hands free gizmo. My wheel is up high enough that I don't need bend over when using it. That plus the fact that my lines are only 75' or 100' long and the pot depth is usually about 50'. Now if I were pulling shrimp pots from way deep it would be handy.


51344526_10215177379245298_4661818478729101312_n.jpg

When I first got the thing I was certain I wanted the hands free and was disappointed that I didn't order it at the same time. Then I forgot about wanting it until, well, pretty much this discussion.
Click to expand...

The Brutus' mechanism is very low [on our gunwale] and I have to stoop to operate it...and I'm barely 5'10".

My buddy's FIL has a similar puller to yours; electric, tall with a long arm that pivots nicely. Allows the shrimp pot to be both away from the side of the boat (not beating up the gelcoat) and above the gunwale, making getting into the cockpit and emptied so much easier. He just pivots it into his cockpit, lets it hang, opens the bottom and lets all the shrimp fall into a garbage can.
 
Back
Top