Downrigger Weights ?

[overthelimit]

Do the herbie weights track much much than round cannon balls? I'm currently using a 6 and an 8 pound cannonball and get significant blow back especially with the 8 pound ball. Do the herbie weights make much difference? Or would torpedo still be best for minimizing blow back?

[Sk8man]

Torpedo or shark weights are the best to minimize blowback.

[Chas0218]

10lbs herbie weights aren't horrible but I recently changed to the 16lbs. torpedo style and they have next to no blowback.  great weights but at a hefty price.

[TyeeTanic]

I wouldn't use anything less than 12 lb weights. That's what I use and even at 12 lbs I still get more

blowback then I'd like.  Even the extra pound or two going to 13lb or even better 15lb is way better.

 

Make sure your downrigger can handle it though.

[LongLine]

Herbies track much better than the same weight cannon ball.  I run a 10 lb Herbie on one rigg'r & a 14 Lb homemade "missle" on the probe.  Whatever you run, make sure your rigg'r can handle it. 

 

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[overthelimit]

I have just an 8 lb capacity on my clamp on riggers. Have seen some 7 lb torpedos and 8 lb herbies.

[Sk8man]

In that case either one but trolling fast you're still going to get blow back but it isn't the  end of the world either... watch your fish finder if you have one and adjust downward a bit.

[Adk1]

Don't feel bad I have been using 8lb ball weights...now that is some serious blowback!

[kingpossible]

I posted this elsewhere before, but I switched the cable that came with the rigger (150 lb?) with 300 ft of Mason Multistrand Leader wire in the 125 lb weight.  The 125 lb wire has a thinner diameter and lets the ball track better.  I switched last fall and have been running the thinner wire all year.

[Sk8man]

Some folks also run heavy test braid which cuts through the water better than the wire but I don't use it so I'm not sure how it holds up.

[Has Been]

Been using Herbies since 1978. They are good down to about 80' or so before you get  real blowback. I run offshore releases off the backs.

[Yankee Troller]

A-TOM-MIK makes a great torpedo weight, and it comes in 13 and 15 pound versions. The price is right on them, and you will see significantly less blow back.

[Sk8man]

He noted above that he is limited to an 8 pound capacity for his clamp on riggers.

[Gill-T]

Scale down on wire size and go to a torpedo style.  You could also tailor your gear to troll slower ie. flasher/flies and thin flutter-style spoons that run well at 2 mph.  If you could master meat fishing which is a slow presentation that does well with a "thin" spread,  you could compete with the big boys under the right conditions.

 

http://www.afwhiseas.com/product-p/r135ta-4.htm

Edited September 25, 2014 by Gill-T

[darkfisher]

 

Meat.  no no  that doesn't work.  stick with the flutter spoons

 

[bout time]

A-TOM-MIK makes a great torpedo weight, and it comes in 13 and 15 pound versions. The price is right on them, and you will see significantly less blow back.

X 2 on A-TOM-MIK torpedoes for heavier weights.

I've seen 8lb pancake style before they may help

Sent from my iPhone using Lake Ontario United

Edited October 13, 2014 by bout time