Downrigger mounting question

[carguy]

I am new to pontoon ownership (still deciding what to buy) and I'm concerned about where is the best place to mount a down-rigger for deep water fishing. It seems to me that mounting it to the railing would not be secure enough and mounting it to the deck would be inconvenient to use.

Any ideas/suggestions from the group will be appreciated.
Than, carguy

[carguy]

I asked the question and thought someone might be interested in what solution to my question I came up with.

Last summer after I got the boat I looked fopr a place to mount the down rigger, designed, built and installed the bracket shown. The result is a sturdy down rigger at a position that will be convenient to use and will not limit the use of the boat.

[ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

[rickdb1]

That ought to do it. Nice work!!

[cwag911]

OK. What exactly does it do. I fished when I was a kid with my dad in Maine but have no idea of it's purpose.

[rickdb1]

Basically holds your rod(s) when trolling..

[carguy]

Actually, a downrigger is a device that takes your line down to a depth you determine while trolling. Not shown in my photos is a large steel weight which attaches to the steel line on the downrigger and your fishing line is attached near the steel ball to a device which trips when you get a strike. My downrigger is one of the less fancy units and displays the depth with a mechanical counter.

So if your fish finder is showing fish at, say, 35 feet deep you drop your line down to 35 feet or so and troll. Since the salmon in our lake are generally deep this is an effective tool to help bring them to the dining table.

[cwag911]

Thanks for the explanation Bill.

[Captain Tony]

Hey Bill:
Very nice.
Did you do the welding and fabrication of the mounting plates and pole?
I like it. Very professional job.
Thanks for the pictures

[carguy]

Hey Bill:
Very nice.
Did you do the welding and fabrication of the mounting plates and pole?
I like it. Very professional job.
Thanks for the pictures

Captain Tony,
Thanks. I designed the all aluminum support, our company cut the plates using our CNC abrasive water jet cutting machine, a local welding shop supplied the tube and did the welding, and then our shop did the powder coating.