Manual downriggers

[lokidog]

Do any of you use a Shuttle Hawk (or anything simular):

You just snap your line into the Hawk then attach it to your DR cable and put tension on the line and it will track down the cable to the stop or the ball whichever comes first and depending on your setup. When the line releases the Hawk comes back to the surface without having to reel up the downrigger.

For salmon my dad use to use something like that. After a strike we could attach another clip to the wire, and it would slide down again without having to bring the ball up. If I remember correctly we could stack a few of the those clips before we had to retrieve and start again.

Tried one of those once, I've also tried the shower curtain ring with a weight attached.  I haven't had much luck with stacking.  I used to have two manual Cannons on my 14' aluminum boat and on my 12 1/2 foot infaltable.  On the aluminum boat, I think i mounted them directly to the seat, on the inflatable, i had a board that I attached across the stern, this also held my depth finder.  I had a hard time turning the aluminum boat as the downriggers worked like the vanes of an arrow and tried to keep the boat going in a straight line.  They also make transom mounting plates.  The Scottys might work better for those though since with the Cannons you would have to hang way over the side/stern to crank the one on the starboard side of the boat. 

I've also had good luck with pink ladys and the other divers when fishing 60 feet or less.  A line counter real is handy for these and as the stacked/top one on the downrigger.

[cohoho]

I guess my computer skills are lacking when I attempted a quote follow up...     but agree on one point rather have electrics any day....

[MtnMuley]

I guess my computer skills are lacking when I attempted a quote follow up...     but agree on one point rather have electrics any day....

I will strongly agree with that.... Digitrolls as well

[KFhunter]

I have two scotty manuals and run heavy pancake weights down to 200 feet.  Manual donwriggers are fine if you aren't catching anything 

I went with the Scottys because that's what you find in Canada, and I fish mostly Canadian waters when I'm going deep.  If you want to run heavy weight get the scotty, the handle pops out and you'll get a lot more power in your crank and it'll be easier on the gunnel of the boat too.

I WOULD NOT suggest manual downriggers on the coast fishing for silvers, you'll wear your self out.  I'm not kidding in fast action when the ball is coming up and down a lot you don't want to be doing it manually.   Fishing for lake trout where the action is slow, ya manual is fine. 

[cohoho]

I WOULD NOT suggest manual downriggers on the coast fishing for silvers, you'll wear your self out.  I'm not kidding in fast action when the ball is coming up and down a lot you don't want to be doing it manually.   Fishing for lake trout where the action is slow, ya manual is fine.

Geez, another disagreement here, just bring #1 deck hand in the State of Washington - Robodad with you on your boat...   

We manage fine, just got to give training to everyone on board on what they need to do in the Chinese fire drills that go off, well as much as possible...  Hand cranking - makes for better stories than sitting there pushing a silly button that does the work.     Nothing like Down Rigger sweat to keep the game fun...  And make the fishing better than ho humpty of reeling them in....  Especially when you get a triple or quad hook up.  Glad - I man the net and thumper...  Besides I take a lot of ex-mil and active duty guys with me, they have practice reeling vertically while previously on deployments!!!

[MADMAX]

Penn fathom master long booms

[bear]

Penn fathom master long booms