Downrigger cannonball

[fromtheisland]

What is everyone's favourite Weight for the downrigger: Sharks, Torpedo, standard round?

[klode]

Good question... Well i use 8lbs balls; but will be buying 10# balls in the near future. Last night i was trying to go down to 100ft and my cables looked like they were on a 45deg angle...haha need more weight...I was even thinking about buying a mold to make my own then plasti-dip them.

[Just Hook'n]

I have a number of them and my favorite as of late is the standard rounds with short tails. 15lb. I run them all all three riggers down to 250ft and I have not yet had a tangle (knock on wood). I used the think I needed to run pancakes with the tail bent out a little to keep them out - that works good when you are in 65fow, but if you start getting them down to the bottom to fish lakers in 100+ you start messing with your dipsey spread.

[N II Deep]

I run 10# balls, I have tried the pancakes, as mark stated anything over 60-65 feet down and they like to swim. after wrapping them together a couple times in strong down current they went up for sale. which reminds me they never sold.

I also have a set of 15# balls, but my old cannons told me to kiss off - I'm not lifting that.

[SeaCatMich]

10# finned TruTrac balls are the lightest I run. Then I have 12# balls and Sharks and 15# balls and a 16# Torpedo Diver.

What weights you should/can use are dictated by what your downrigger will support and how deep you want to go. Most riggers of the last 15 years can handle 12# with no problem. Before using the heavier weights make sure the downrigger is rated to handle it. It may be able to lift it slower than a lighter one but this could also cause your rigger's electric motor to wear prematurely.

When the target depths are 80' or less and the currents are not too bad, I use the 10's and 12's. If currents are strong I go more with the Sharks to try to reduce side angle/drift.

The Torpedo Diver is what I use on my FishHawk X4 probe rigger with the 15#ers on the non-probe riggers when fishing 80' or deeper. I have Vector and Big Jon Brute riggers that can handle the 15# and heavier balls.

[sherman51]

I have to say I have used them all and now im using 13 lb pancake weights but I have never tried bending them and I only run 2 riggers. but I have never had a problem even when I run 10 lb pancake weights. I just thought if I don't get that much blow back with 10 lb what will the 13 lb weights do. at 60 or 70 ft I don't even notice the blow back with the 13 lb pancake weights. I,ll never go back to any other weight.

sherman

[sjk984]

12lbs pancake. we use only when we are running 2 riggers.. I like the swim. anything over 100 we use ridgeback rattlers 20

[mattmishler]

15 pound pancake from Jim bob weights. Great weights, walk down chinoo pier and ya won't see anything different

[joelsanders]

13lb. panckes with a slight bend on the fin,seemed to take me a couple times to get em to run like i want.Really like them now.

[Line Dancin]

under 50 ft 10 lb sharks

over 50 ft 15 lb sharks

I have a 15 lb saltys ball to try it is a fish shaped ball.

[SeaCatMich]

I tried the pancake weights and found that in cross currents they really wandered. Even had shallower out/down rigger cross a stern rigger. Maybe I was doing something wrong but never had that issue with round or torpedo shaped weights.

A buddy swears by the heavier Stinger brand pancakes which are shaped differently overall than the other round pancake types.

[Rascal Trophy Fishing]

I believe the most important thing to consider is the "biting depths" and "blow-back" factor. Let's face it, I will run a downrigger from 25' to 225' in different circumstances. Depends on the water temps., marks of the graph, and of course, what's working. I have older Tru-track 14#'s on most of the riggers, and then 12#'s on the others, for a total of 6 riggers. The newer thought on this is to only have 3 riggers, and just put on anything that runs. That's a sad plan, imho. Many seasons the majority of fish lately have come very deep, and for that, you need extra long cable, and a weight that will prove more productive. The heavier the ball, the more straight it runs, for sure, jmo. In some parts of Fla. Ocean, the guys run 20# balls, to get deep, also to control the sway on various conditions.

[Line Dancin]

I tried the pancake weights and found that in cross currents they really wandered. Even had shallower out/down rigger cross a stern rigger. Maybe I was doing something wrong but never had that issue with round or torpedo shaped weights.

.

Had very similar issues my pancakes went on craigs list after one weekend fishing the point in ludington

[IRon]

I've had 2 of the pancake weights with the bendable fins for years. Have them set at 5 degrees and you about have to in order to keep them apart. Yes they have a lot of action and aren't really for deep fishing. I only run 2 riggers so that helps. No they're not for all conditions and not for everybody. I like the action they impart to my lures.

If I'm fishing deep I break out the round balls. I'd really like to get a set of Jim Bobs and they're on my want list.

[fishsniffer]

just got 2 15lb and 2 20 lb jim bob weights and wish i would have done it a long time ago..waaay less blowback with the round..if im fishing riggers deeper than 120 i put the 20lbers on and im back to minimal blowback