Mastering the Depths: A Comprehensive Guide to Fishing with Electric Downriggers

For anglers looking to target fish suspended deep in the water column, few tools are as revolutionary or as effective as the electric downrigger. This sophisticated piece of equipment unlocks the ability to present your lure at a precise, repeatable depth, hour after hour, transforming the often-frustrating guesswork of deep-water trolling into a science. Whether you’re chasing salmon in the Great Lakes, lake trout in the Canadian Shield, or walleye in deep reservoirs, understanding how to properly use an electric downrigger will fundamentally change your approach and dramatically increase your success.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything from the fundamental principles to advanced, professional-level tactics for using electric downriggers.

Why Use a Downrigger? The Core Advantages

Before diving into the “how,” it’s crucial to understand the “why.” What makes a downrigger so effective?

Unmatched Depth Precision: This is the number one benefit. A downrigger allows you to place your lure exactly where the fish are, whether they’re holding 57 feet down over a 200-foot bottom or suspended 15 feet off a deep weed edge. Your fish finder shows you the target; the downrigger lets you hit it.
Use of Light Tackle: Unlike methods that use heavy inline weights, dipsey divers, or lead-core line, the downrigger separates the weight from your fishing line. This means you can fight the fish directly on your chosen light-action rod and reel, enjoying the full sport of the battle without heavy gear interfering.
Stealthy and Natural Presentation: Your lure is connected to the main line only by a thin, nearly invisible fishing line. The heavy weight and steel cable are several feet away, minimizing the hardware that could spook wary fish.
Versatility of Lures: You can troll virtually any type of lure at any depth, from lightweight spoons and plugs to large flasher-and-fly combinations, without worrying about whether the lure can dive to the target depth on its own.

Anatomy of an Electric Downrigger

Understanding the components is the first step to mastering the machine.

The Base/Mount: This is what secures the downrigger to the boat’s gunwale. Swivel bases are highly recommended as they allow you to rotate the downrigger inboard for easier rigging and docking.
The Boom: The arm that extends out over the water. Booms come in various lengths, from short 24-inch models to long, telescoping arms over 60 inches. Longer booms provide better separation for your lines, reducing tangles, especially when turning.
The Motor & Spool: The heart of the electric system. A powerful 12-volt motor drives the spool, which holds 200 to 400 feet of stainless-steel cable. The electric motor allows for effortless retrieval of the heavy cannonball weight with the push of a button.
The Line Counter: A crucial mechanical counter that shows precisely how much cable you have deployed. This is how you achieve repeatable depth accuracy.
The Downrigger Weight (Cannonball): A hydrodynamic lead weight, typically ranging from 6 to 15 pounds. Heavier weights track more vertically under the boat (less “blowback”) and are necessary for deeper water or faster trolling speeds. Many modern weights are finned for better stability and are coated in vinyl to protect the boat’s hull.
The Line Release Clip: This is the critical link. The release clip attaches to the cannonball or cable and holds your fishing line, taking it down to the target depth. When a fish strikes, the tension pops the line free from the clip, and you are free to fight the fish on your rod and reel.

Setting Up for Success: Rigging and Deployment

Here is the step-by-step process for getting your line in the water and fishing effectively.

Step 1: Get the Lure Out Before you do anything with the downrigger, let your lure out behind the boat. This distance, known as the “lead” or “drop back,” is crucial. A standard starting point is 20-100 feet. Shorter leads give the lure more action from the boat’s turns, while longer leads provide a stealthier presentation.

Step 2: Attach the Line to the Release Clip With your lure at the desired distance behind the boat, grab your fishing line and open the line release clip. Most common clips are the “pinch-pad” style. Secure the line between the pads with just enough tension to hold it firmly. You want it to release on the strike, but not prematurely. Pro-Tip: To get a feel for the right tension, have a friend pull on the line to simulate a strike.

Step 3: Deploy the Cannonball Place the release clip on the downrigger cable just above the cannonball. Using the downrigger’s controls, begin lowering the weight into the water. Keep a thumb on your fishing reel’s spool to prevent backlash as the cannonball pulls line from it.

Step 4: Zero the Counter and Send it Down Once the cannonball is just below the surface and pulling line smoothly, reset your line counter to zero. Now, use the “down” button to send the weight to your target depth as indicated by your fish finder. If you marked fish at 65 feet, send it to 65 feet.

Step 5: Set the Rod Place your rod in a dedicated rod holder. Reel in any slack line until the rod has a moderate bend or “load” in it. This pre-loaded tension helps drive the hook home and ensures a clean release from the clip when a fish strikes.

Key Concepts for Precision Trolling

Understanding Blowback: Blowback is the horizontal distance your downrigger weight trails behind the boat due to the drag of the water. It’s a critical concept because your lure is not directly below your boat. The faster you troll and the lighter your weight, the more blowback you will have. For example, at 3 mph with a 10lb weight, your lure might actually be 15-20 feet higher in the water column than your line counter indicates. Using a heavier weight minimizes blowback. Many modern fish finders have features that help calculate the true depth of your downrigger ball.

The Fish Finder is Your Eyes: An electric downrigger and a quality fish finder are a powerful team. Use your sonar to:

Mark Fish: Identify the exact depth where fish are holding.
Identify the Thermocline: Find this temperature transition layer where baitfish and predators often congregate.
Follow Structure: Troll along underwater points, drop-offs, and humps with precision, keeping your lure in the strike zone continuously.

The Strike and the Fight: A downrigger strike is unmistakable. Your pre-loaded rod will suddenly snap straight up as the line releases from the clip. This is your signal to grab the rod—the fish is on! There is no need for a dramatic hookset; the forward motion of the boat and the loaded rod have already done the work. Simply start reeling to maintain pressure and enjoy the fight. While you’re fighting the fish, it’s good practice to use the “up” button on your downrigger to bring the cannonball back to the surface to avoid potential tangles.

Advanced Downrigger Tactics

Once you’ve mastered the basics, you can employ these professional strategies.

Stacking Lines: This technique allows you to fish two lures on a single downrigger cable, testing two different depths simultaneously.

Deploy your first lure and send the downrigger down to your deepest target depth (e.g., 80 feet).
Rig a second rod and lure. Attach a “stacker” release clip directly to the downrigger cable.
Stop the downrigger at your shallower target depth (e.g., 50 feet). Clip your second line into the stacker release, let out your desired lead, and then continue lowering the downrigger back to 80 feet.
You are now fishing one lure at 80 feet and a second lure at 50 feet on the same downrigger.

Running “Cheaters”: A “cheater” or “slider” is a second, lighter lure added to your main fishing line between the rod tip and the downrigger release. A simple rubber band or a special lightweight release clip is used to attach a short (4-6 foot) leader with a lure to the main line. When you deploy your main line, the cheater slides down and will run somewhere between the surface and your main lure, creating an additional offering higher in the water column.

Fishing with electric downriggers is a dynamic and engaging process. It’s a system that marries technology with angling intuition, allowing you to explore the water column with unparalleled control. By investing the time to learn the equipment and the strategies, you will unlock a new level of fishing success and gain access to fish that were once out of reach.