Coating a downrigger ball

[eas111]

I was interested in coating my lead downrigger balls in rubber or vinyl. Does anyone have information on any products that would be good to use? Thanks in advance.

[dogfish]

I am curious on this subject too. Do you think that a rigger weight with a coating "glides" through the water better than an uncoated one? A coating would increase the volume of the weight and, one would think, increase the amount of friction with the water, increasing blowback.

[hourlate]

I coated mine with Plasti-dip (black). I got it from Ace-Hardware. I coated mine to keep the lead from marking up the boat. Joseph may be correct that the smoother surface may decrease blowback but I doubt the results would be noticeable.

[fishsniffer]

I coated mine with Plasti-dip (black). I got it from Ace-Hardware. I coated mine to keep the lead from marking up the boat. Joseph may be correct that the smoother surface may decrease blowback but I doubt the results would be noticeable.

same here but got it from menards..they have a spray can version and a brush on version..i used the spray and it works great

[Jose]

same here but got it from menards..they have a spray can version and a brush on version..i used the spray and it works great

I would also say plasti-dip would work well, havent sprayed a ball with it, but i blacked out the emblems on my truck and it works great.

[hornets nest]

I stay away from coated Dr Canon balls, because if water gets behind coating it will cause a bad odor. Plain lead painted flat black for me.

[FsnMachine]

Mine are spray painted black but I may try the spray on coating as I too would like to protect the boat floors from the weights marking them.

[Reel Screwd]

I used a two part epoxy paint with a couple coats, did it on some i used on my other boat yrs ago as well it hold up very well. it is rather exp for a gal of it but i believe if you went to a paint store you could possibly get it by the quart its great stuff

[eas111]

I am curious on this subject too. Do you think that a rigger weight with a coating "glides" through the water better than an uncoated one? A coating would increase the volume of the weight and, one would think, increase the amount of friction with the water, increasing blowback.

I am wanting to do this as a little experiment. A recent fishing trip has me thinking that maybe my 'non-coated' downrigger balls might have something to do with my catch rates. I've thought this the last few seasons with no real proof. This year I was fishing with a family member with an identical boat, riggers, and rods and fished in the same waters, depths, speeds, lures, and distance from riggers. The only difference being the downrigger balls. Mine are round and lead and theirs were finned and coated. Their catch rates being much better than mine. I'm probably nuts but it gives me something to do in the off season.