5
What happens when you hit bottom?
When your weight touches bottom while trolling, you will see the downrigger
boom bounce. You should immediately bring your weight up to a safer
depth.
WARNING!
Be very cautious when fishing in strong tidal current or on windy
days. If the weight or wire snags on the bottom, the force of the tide or wind
on the boat can put a terrific strain on the downrigger.
KEEP a pair of wire cutters handy in case you have to cut the wire in
an emergency! Because of the built in tilt-up feature, the downrigger
boom may fly up quickly when the wire breaks or is cut, so be sure to
stand clear, not leaning over the boom.
We recommend you always have a large scale chart of your fishing area
and know your position at all times when deep trolling. With a relatively
smooth bottom, if your weight hangs up on a small ledge it can often be
released by turning around and pulling from the opposite direction. The wire
line can be paid out if necessary while you turn the boat to the direction of
the hang-up. After a hang-up, the wire should be examined for any broken
strands. If strands are broken, it should be cut and rejoined as a temporary
measure and replaced as soon as possible.