From flatfalls to poppers to squid bars and even deep dropping for swords, there is a never-ending chase for the right tool or trick that changes the game out there. However, hunting for the magic bullet, and settling on the best tactical approach are quite different things. One never seems to stay in favor, while the other is proven in both anadromous as well as ocean settings.
The effective use of downriggers sits front and center among them. From the Central Coast of California to salmonrich Alaskan waters, the use of downriggers has been a staple, and smart fishermen have realized the possibilities and have jumped in. Instead of targeting a narrow selection of gamefish, the downrigger has become an excellent tool up and down the coast as the bluefin expand their range. Realistically, most fish live well below the surface 90 percent or more of their lives yet we as anglers continue to fish them up top. While in recent years this is often all you need to score a good day of fishing, there are many other days when this just will not cut the mustard. Telling passengers or buddies “they just won’t come up” isn’t going to work anymore. This is why sport boats that cannot use downriggers have adapted to fishing the flat fall style jigs during those periods when the fish just won’t bite. Delivering the bait or lure to their level is the key, and the downrigger Read more
