Set Up a Downrigger on a Kayak / Kayak Downrigger Basics

How to set up a downrigger on a kayak.
Kayak downriver basics and stacking 2 lines on a single downriver.
Scotty Downrigger - amzn.to/2VcdQpC
Cannon Downrigger - amzn.to/3kV3Olw
Brocraft Downrigger - (not available til Oct 2021)

[@LadybugAdventures]

Thanks for the video. I'm looking into getting a pedal kayak next year. This was very informative and I like the way you put it all together for someone new to kayak fishing.

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I’m glad this video helped! I fished out of a paddle kayak for almost 20 years before getting a Hobie… Wish I had bought it much sooner! 😉 Hands free kayaking is a real game changer! 😁

[@barefootterry3785]

Thank you for sharing. I’ve tried using my downrigger on the SF coast for salmon. Let’s just say I had a mess on my hands. Thanks for showing the basics. I think I’ll have it down next time I go out!

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I’m glad the video could help! I still get messed up with it once in a while when I’m stacking 2 lines… Can be frustrating, but keep with it 😁 This has become my favorite way to fish 😉

[@daisylantz3466]

That was a very educational video. Enjoy the view and nice to see you actually caught one.😁😆

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Thanks! It’s always nice to catch fish while filming 👍😉

[@canxlr8]

Nice tutorial, thank you for the video!

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video 😁

[@arnoldlueders7500]

Very informative. Thank you. I am a kayak fisherman on the Great lakes fishing for very large king salmon. Everything in your video makes sense. However, there is no way in God's green earth that I would be stacking to go after King's salmon. Those lines would get tangled like nobody's business.

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Glad you liked the video! I actually started kayak fishing on the north shore of Lake Superior. It was the only way I could fish and get off the lake quickly when the weather got bad in a hurry! I agree about the stacking… It’s not easy to keep the lines untangled with most fish 😉

[@johnnypea43]

Good video. I am switching to all 80-100# braided line for my kayak rigger setup. I have been running a downrigger from both a kayak and canoe for many years, recently becoming concerned about the danger of getting the ball hung up on the bottom in rough conditions, or in the event of flipping, getting tangled in that cable. I might lose a ball or two but it's a small price to pay.

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I agree about the dangers of steel cable! I like the braided much better and it can be cut in case of an emergency 👍😉

[@SerpWerx]

awesome video! thanks for sharing your experiences

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Thank you, I really appreciate your feedback! 👍😁

[@chrisnoble8740]

Great video, thank you 👍

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Thank you ! I’m glad you liked it 😉😁

[@ashtianresburg5349]

Can you show how you installed it on your rail I’m skeptical about the weight on my rail. I didn’t understand how you did it. Thanks man for the info!

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I think I did gloss over how I exactly mounted my downrigger…🙄 I’ll make a short video on exactly how I mounted mine 😁

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Just letting you know I uploaded that video today… Let me know if it helps 😁

[@miamiwax5504]

can u always see the ball on your depth finder so you know what depth u are at?

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Yes, unless you have so much blowback that the weight ends up way be hind you. To avoid that either troll slower or use a heavier weight. 👍😁

[@ryanrogers1226]

I might have missed it but how much weight is your downrigger weight

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

It's just a 4 lb weight. the small down riggers have a 5 lb limit supposedly... 8-)

[@mtnguyen1696]

Can you share the rod and reel specs .. very easy to understand info. thanks.

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I'm glad you liked the video! The rods I'm using are Eagle Claw Featherlight - amzn.to/3XQK5oA They are very low cost and sensitive rods for Kokanee The reels are Daiwa Accudepth 17LC for some reason I'm having a hard time finding a link to the 17... They also make a 27LC which I also use... amzn.to/3EspJuY

[@masonditmars6479]

How long of a rod would you use for that size downrigger?

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I like to use longer rods, 8’-9’ rods, but I don’t think that matters too much. I’ve used 7’ rods with the downrigger too…😁

[@jasonkazakoff3012]

how did you attach the dowrigger to your kayak

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

This downrigger came with a mount made to screw down onto something, so I use a couple track nuts and attached it to the gear track using just 2 bolts and track nuts… amzn.to/3ERnIZm Let me know if this makes sense 😉

[@jasonkazakoff3012]

@@WildEdgeOutdoors thanks exactly what i was looking for

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

@@jasonkazakoff3012 👍😁

[@SC-hc7vy]

is there a mini track mount kayak downrigger? I don't have any room on my kayaks to screw down the downrigger. thanks!

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

Yes, you can use one of these gear heads directly in the track to mount your downrigger in. www.amazon.com/dp/B009JAZW6O/ref=cm_sw_r_as_gl_api_gl_i_K5DDYT7KVP2XNX3HKPWA?linkCode=ml2&tag=weo03-20 You might want to test it a bit to see how much stress your track can take. I asked the Hobie techs if they could tell me how much poundage the tracks can withstand and they said they’ve never tested the tracks for that… Hope this helps …😁👍

[@SC-hc7vy]

Thx!

[@SC-hc7vy]

@@WildEdgeOutdoors but how do you mount the downrigger on the gear heads?

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

@@SC-hc7vy This will mount into the track head.. amzn.to/3onvXnn You can use one of the Scotty track heads like this one amzn.to/3zmaDW0

[@garypeters1441]

Have the same set up but with the scotty downrigger , like the one you have but can't seem to find it, where you get it and where you get your downrigger wight

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I bought my Brocraft on Amazon, but it looks like it’s not available now… Here’s the link for the Brocraft Marine site, but it looks like they’re sold out too…🙄 brocraftmarine.com/products/brocraft-minin-manual-downrigge-small-boat-easy-catch-lake-troll-manual-downrigger-kayak-downrigger I picked up my weight at a local Sporting good store several years ago “Black Sheep Sporting Goods”

[@garypeters1441]

@@WildEdgeOutdoors no wonder i couldn't find it i thought you said Pro craft lol , thanks for the info .

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

@@garypeters1441 anytime! I hope they become available again… I’d like to pick up another one 😁

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

@@garypeters1441 Hey Gary, just thought I’d let you know I found out from Brocraftmarine these downriggers will be available next month sometime…😁

[@garypeters1441]

@@WildEdgeOutdoors Awesome, thanks

[@davidlynrivers804]

Fish cant digest corn. It can plug them up

[@WildEdgeOutdoors]

I’ve never heard that before… I know corn has been used for fish bait as long as I’ve been fishing…. (That’s a long time!) 😉