Downrigger placement

[ROBO]

2007 GW 208, boat has never been fished, trying to figure out whether to use hard mounts or rod holder mounts.

 

[luckydude]

2007 GW 208, boat has never been fished, trying to figure out whether to use hard mounts or rod holder mounts.

I'd ask Grady. I have a 2020 228, the rod holders have worked great for me. People here with earlier boats seemed to think you'd want to upgrade the holders to something beefier, not needed on my boat.

I had hard mounts on my previous boat, I like the rod holder answer personally.

 

[Pfu]

When I purchased my Gulfstream I struggled with what and how I was going to play with new riggers. A lot of research and opted to go with a proven solution of mounting on the gunnel. Opted to center the Downrigger (use two) between gunnel road holders to be able to use them when fishing. The aft holder is used for bottom rod and the rigger holder for the stacked rod. Front holder is used at times for dipsey and other options.

 

[Holokai]

I’d vote for hard mounts as you can never have too many rod holders if you fish often. Verify you have access to the underside of the gunnel if mounting near the rear jump seats.

 

[Fishtales]

I like the hard mounts with backplates and 4 bolts thru the gunnel. When you take em off it is a nice clean look.
The GW rod holders are not the best out there. Look inside the pin is held in with rivets. I'd was afraid they would snap if something snagged it. Just me, I'm sure the rod holders work well.

 

[leeccoll]

Hard mount 100%!!

Mount as Fishtales suggested.

 

[Ryhlick]

I have Burnewiin mounts on my 228. They have a down rigger adaptor that is perfect and you just use your rod gunnel mounts. Check them out, nicest I have seen yet.

 

[Ted R]

Make sure you use backing plates if mounted on a track.

 

[wahoo33417]

I fished a Z-Wing on my 208, so definitely four through bolts for me. I used oversized washers - biggest I could fit, and after ten years had no spider cracking or any other evidence of problems. And those Z-Wings definitely put some pull on the downrigger. But that thing also caught fish.

 

[Pfu]

Had never heard of Z-wings and had to google and youtube them. Interested to learn more on use and where used. I use 15# balls and wonder if one outweighs the other.

 

[wahoo33417]

Randy: Well, a Z-Wing weighs a lot less than a 15 lb. ball! . I can only give my experience using it for trolling, so here goes. The Z-Wing puts more downward pressure on the downrigger, so it has a sharper angle downward. This lessens 'blow-back' gives you a better idea of how deep your bait is running. It also tracks a bit straighter in a turn while trolling, in my opinion.

I was usually targeting kingfish and wahoo with it, although you would would get anything else you might get on the the troll. I got my only blue marlin with a Z-Wing. I soon learned to forgo the clips that are commonly available and instead attach the fishing line by a few wraps with a #64 rubber band. This provided a much better hookup ratio, especially with hard-mouthed fish like wahoo.

You would have to be trolling at least a few mph for this downward pressure to kick in. I usually trolled about 7 mph. They do make a live bait version for trolling live baits at slower speeds, but I have not used it.

I don't know what style of fishing you do up there in Burlington, VT (Narwhal, maybe?), so can't really say if a Z-Wing would be of help.

Rob

 

[glacierbaze]

If fishing Z-wings, a short arm on the downrigger greatly reduces pressure on the mount, if you can clear the side or stern of the boat.

 

[wahoo33417]

If fishing Z-wings, a short arm on the downrigger greatly reduces pressure on the mount, if you can clear the side or stern of the boat.

Good point. I always used the short arm. I was able to clear the stern of my 208 with a Canon downrigger, but it also partially blocked my rear rod holder. So I used the Canon, downrigger-mounted rod holder.

 

[luckydude]

I have two brand new z-wings that I haven't used because I guy I trusted said no to them, use balls. We're in the Monterey Bay, maybe that makes a difference. I was going to use them for salmon.

If anyone wants them, 1/2 of retail plus postage and they are yours.

 

[wahoo33417]

Retail is up to $69 now. I always thought they were expensive when I was fishing them and I'm sure I didn't pay that much!

But They do work really well here in SE FL.