OSHISWET Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 Guys I am new to downrigging. I just want to know what is the most common weight to use on the downrigger in the harbour? ie 10pound. Someone told me that a 10pound weight is over kill for the harbour, is that right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slinkymalinky Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 The weight of your downrigger is really decided by the depth of water you fish and the size of bait you use. With greater depth and larger baits there is more water resistance and therefore you'll need more weight to keep the bomb down where you want it. In the harbour I usually use a 7lb weight which is fine for the relatively shallow depths and small yakkas and squid I usually use. I have a 10lb weight that I've used a few times towing larger slimeys in Pittwater and I even have a 12lb weight that so far hasn't been needed but would be a likely candidate if I decided to start downrigging big squid around the deep Jervis Bay ledges. A 7lb weight should be all you need around the harbour, Cheers, Slinky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the1murph Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 I use 7lb and thats enough for Pittwater so im guessing that should be sweet 4 the harbour Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roosterman Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 7lb is what will be needed in the harbours shallow water... the faster your speed/current is and size of bait an depth of water all change the way the rigger weight trolls.. the more of the above and the more it sways or planes up instead of in the killing zone... i have a 7lb bomb and also 8lb fish style and have trolled nth and sth heads without probs.. your rigger will also have limits, eg; mine are scotty 1050's so can use up to 10lb so keep within specs also... hope this helps and good luck with the new rigger.. not hard to use but practice to get your technique happening and it opens up a whole new arsenal against those sometimes elusive hoodies .... cheers...steve..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marcel haber Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 7lb is what will be needed in the harbours shallow water... the faster your speed/current is and size of bait an depth of water all change the way the rigger weight trolls.. the more of the above and the more it sways or planes up instead of in the killing zone... i have a 7lb bomb and also 8lb fish style and have trolled nth and sth heads without probs.. your rigger will also have limits, eg; mine are scotty 1050's so can use up to 10lb so keep within specs also... hope this helps and good luck with the new rigger.. not hard to use but practice to get your technique happening and it opens up a whole new arsenal against those sometimes elusive hoodies .... cheers...steve..... Great info steve, Noticed that you can buy a 3lb bomb from the tackle store..... do you think that this may be too lite? Even the 7lb bomb to my way of thinking is too heavy or am I just way of the mark....sorry for my ignorance. twin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robbielites Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 10lb, Can't go wrong 3lb is for trout/lake rigs, some of my livies weigh more than that Robbie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roosterman Posted June 8, 2008 Share Posted June 8, 2008 (edited) as Robbie said, those 3lb bombs are for lakes etc.. i know 7 and 10 feel heavy but you will use every once of it mate... you want to troll about 1 - 2 knots no faster otherwise you will drown the livies,especially squid... as i said before the bigger the bait the more drag so bomb will lift and you will see the angle change shallower instead of straight down..and dont worry about the humming from stainless cable,remember kings are very inquisitive buggers.... another thing to watch especially at first is cable and line in regards to prop... especially on turns as can be a disaster waiting to happen if care not taken.... depends on how you setup rigger as to how hard you can turn boat without problems..in saying this i have not been close to prop on turns but i have my booms facing outways and as close to transom i could get and be usable.. cheers...steve..... Edited June 8, 2008 by roosterman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
netic Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 no such thing as overkill, 10lb is fine, 7lb will do but get the 10lb so you can work some deeper holes in crapper days Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jewgaffer Posted June 10, 2008 Share Posted June 10, 2008 (edited) Marcel and Ray. I agree with with the general consensus about using a 10lb bomb and especially with Netic in simply saying using a 10lb bomb is not an overkill, and as Roosterman says stay within your own downrigger specs as to the recommended maximum bomb size I reckon 10lb balls are a good weight for most estuaries, especially where there is deep water and fast currents. I reckon a 12 lb bomb is a good deep sea weight and still not a problem to use in estuaries with a suitable boom in the river mouth swell and , particularly as Netic infers, a 10lb bomb would be useful to own in the harbour and suitable for trolling the near off shore swell areas as well. 10lb balls are the best weight for general estuary use, especially when trying to hold a suspended bomb at anchor in deeper water when the current is running with fast under currents as well in places like F&S, and when the current builds up Wobby where the only way I can hold a boat properly is by tying up to a buoy. I could even use 12 lb balls on some days for holding downrigged jew baits in the one position a couple of metres above the bottom. No matter what the size of your downrigger bomb, be sure to keep the bomb above structure so that the bomb or the cable won't snag. Cheers jewgaffer Edited June 10, 2008 by jewgaffer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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