When you're marking fish down in the water column, you need to find a way to get to them.
Innovative anglers have developed several techniques to present their offerings below the surface, including planers and inline trolling weights or drails. However, these tools come with a bit of guesswork regarding the precise depth of deployment. Downriggers are much more accurate for deep-water presentations and are also provide the opportunity to fish with light tackle. But each of these setups have some drawbacks.
Though presenting a single offering from a downrigger is highly effective, the most successful anglers add depth to their spread by stacking the release clips. When dual downrigger clips are used in conjunction with the depths of the marks on your sonar, you can present baits throughout the water column with incredible precision.
Most downriggers are pre-spooled with stainless-steel cable. When pulled through the water the steel line creates an audible hum and vibration associated that the fish find a bit offensive. Because of this unwanted attribute, many choose to remove the stainless cable and spool up the down rigger with 150-pound test braided line or monofilament. While monofilament is much more user friendly, it does increase blowback, the angle of line scoped out to your bait. It's impossible to eliminate blow back, but it can be minimized by using thin-diameter braid.
TWO CLIPS IS BETTER THAN ONE
Like outrigger clips, there are several types and styles of downrigger release clips on the market, but they all serve the same purpose, to release the fishing line from the downrigger when a fish strikes.
Most anglers prefer to fish a traditional style release clip attached to the rigger line slightly higher than the downrigger ball with a pad release clip used higher up the downrigger main line.
There are several ways to stack the release clips, but the easiest is with twin pad release clips and a Coastlock Snap dropper setup.
Regardless of the method you favor, when stacking clips start by sending out your first offering 50-feet behind the boat. This will be the deepest bait. Once the bait is rigged to the first clip, lower the downrigger ball to about half the depth you plan on targeting. Place your stacker clip on the line and deploy your second bait 40-feet back. Pinch open the release and place the second line in the stacker clip and lower the downrigger ball to the desired depth. Remember to keep both outfits in free-spool while deploying.
With numerous ways to rig a downrigger, the bottom line is that this essential tool is crucial to capitalizing on a deep bite for kingfish, wahoo and more. Covering a large portion of the water column is the key to success, just remember that the prevailing conditions, species in your crosshairs and target depth may require adjustments in your rigging techniques.
