Need to modify a downrigger

Hey guys, I was just given a scotty lake troller which is rad.  However it is the gulwale mount version.  I need to turn it into a scoty post mount version.  Seems simple enough, just get a scotty universal post mount and swap.  Think it is that simple?  I want to mount it right behind my left hip pointing forward.  Any thoughts?

Call Scotty directly.  They sell a kit.  I converted two last year.  Awesome customer service and great folks.
 

Fantastic! Thanks

What kind of kayak do you have?  If you mount the Lake Troller behind your left hip, it'll be difficult to reach it with your right hand, particularly when wearing a PFD, so be sure you can turn the cable reel with some of the fingers on your left hand while at the same time tighten and loosen the nut which brakes the cable reel with other fingers on your left hand.  If that proves to be difficult, consider mounting the downrigger next to your thigh so you can operate it conveniently with both hands and without changing position in your seat. 

If you have a paddle kayak, another advantage of mounting the Lake Troller next to your thigh is that you can use your thigh to slow and stop the cable reel.  This allows you to lower the downrigger weight gradually while paddling forward, by putting more and less pressure on the cable reel with your thigh. 

When you catch a fish while downrigger trolling, it's a good idea to raise the downrigger weight before you play in the fish very much so the fish can't wrap your fishing line around your downrigger cable. If the downrigger is mounted next to your thigh, you can stop cranking up the weight, hold the cable reel in place with your thigh, reel in some fishing line to keep tension on the fish, and then go back to cranking up the weight.

To minimize the effect of the downrigger cable and weight on the tracking of your kayak, mount the downrigger with the boom pointing forward or backward to position the cable only an inch or so from the side of your kayak.  If you have a paddle kayak, you need to mount the downrigger where it won't interfere with paddling, which can be tough.  And it's a good idea to locate the pulley where you can reach the downrigger ball and downrigger release easily without changing position in your kayak.

What kind of kayak do you have?  If you mount the Lake Troller behind your left hip, it'll be difficult to reach it with your right hand, particularly when wearing a PFD, so be sure you can turn the cable reel with some of the fingers on your left hand while at the same time tighten and loosen the nut which brakes the cable reel with other fingers on your left hand.  If that proves to be difficult, consider mounting the downrigger next to your thigh so you can operate it conveniently with both hands and without changing position in your seat. 

If you have a paddle kayak, another advantage of mounting the Lake Troller next to your thigh is that you can use your thigh to slow and stop the cable reel.  This allows you to lower the downrigger weight gradually while paddling forward, by putting more and less pressure on the cable reel with your thigh. 

When you catch a fish while downrigger trolling, it's a good idea to raise the downrigger weight before you play in the fish very much so the fish can't wrap your fishing line around your downrigger cable. If the downrigger is mounted next to your thigh, you can stop cranking up the weight, hold the cable reel in place with your thigh, reel in some fishing line to keep tension on the fish, and then go back to cranking up the weight.

To minimize the effect of the downrigger cable and weight on the tracking of your kayak, mount the downrigger with the boom pointing forward or backward to position the cable only an inch or so from the side of your kayak.  If you have a paddle kayak, you need to mount the downrigger where it won't interfere with paddling, which can be tough.  And it's a good idea to locate the pulley where you can reach the downrigger ball and downrigger release easily without changing position in your kayak.

I paddle a T13.  There is a flat spot about where my hip socket is, that is where I am thinking.  Point the boom forward at about 1 inch off the hull and be able to crank/control the clutch with my left hand. I am left handed, so I like that side better.

I paddle a T13.  There is a flat spot about where my hip socket is, that is where I am thinking.  Point the boom forward at about 1 inch off the hull and be able to crank/control the clutch with my left hand. I am left handed, so I like that side better.

Here is where I mounted a Scotty Lake Troller on my 13' Trident.  I could have mounted it in a Scotty flush mount installed on top of the gunwale, but I decided to mount it on a deck mount next to my thigh, in order to move it several inches towards the center of the kayak, to keep it further out of the way of my paddle stroke.  It's very easy to operate the downrigger in this location, and it's easy to use my thigh to stop the cable reel.  The disadvantage of installing a deck mount in this location is that the deck mount sometimes jabs me in the side of my thigh.



I have a friend who also has a 13' Trident, and mounts his Scotty Lake Troller in a round flush mount which he installed near his knee on the angled surface on the outside of the gunwale of the kayak on which the handles and gunwale ropes are mounted.  I don't have a picture of his downrigger in use, but the picture shown below shows where he installed the flush mount in front of the handle.  This installation seems to work pretty well for him, but I haven't borrowed his kayak to see how I like the location.  If I wanted to install a Lake Troller on this angled surface, I think I'd install the flush mount under the handle, so I wouldn't need to lean forward to operate the downrigger.



Before you decide to mount the downrigger on the flat area behind your hip, be sure you wouldn't whack your elbow on the cable reel or its handle while paddling.  Also check to be sure that you'll be able to crank up your weight with one hand while you reel in your fishing line with the other hand at the same time.  If your downrigger and your rod holder are too far apart, you won't be able to crank them both at the same time, and you'll need to periodically stop cranking up your weight, lock the cable reel, lean forward to reel in fishing line, and then go back to cranking up your weight for a while.

If you mount your downrigger on the left side of your kayak, with your rod in front of you pointing to the left where you can monitor its tip, you'll need to use a rod holder which positions your rod so the handle of your reel is facing you, so you can easily reel in line while the rod is in its holder.

thanks man.  Maybe I will test some mock ups.  I

So ...scotty just gave me a part number.  Said something about shipping being too expensive.  I called the local contact they gave me, he was confused about what I was asking for.  I gave him the part number...he said he would look into it.  Is there any way to just to order the parts directly form Scotty?  Did I call a bad number or something?

Hmmm when I called Scotty the lady that helped me said that the local guys wouldn't have a clue what you were asking for.   I ordered two and they shipped them directly.  No fuss and really helpful.  Try again, maybe you got someone in a bad mood or clueless. 

Hmmm when I called Scotty the lady that helped me said that the local guys wouldn't have a clue what you were asking for.   I ordered two and they shipped them directly.  No fuss and really helpful.  Try again, maybe you got someone in a bad mood or clueless.

Thans.  I will try again.

finally...parts are on teh truck from BC.  Kokanee better watch out.

Glad they were able to help you.  You have spent more time on the phone than it will take to actually put the new parts on!

Great little down riggers though.  I use a 4lb ball on mine, but am planning a stainless steel stick weight.  I just need to find the pot big enough for 4lbs of lead.

Good luck!

Glad they were able to help you.  You have spent more time on the phone than it will take to actually put the new parts on!

Great little down riggers though.  I use a 4lb ball on mine, but am planning a stainless steel stick weight.  I just need to find the pot big enough for 4lbs of lead.

Good luck!

yea, mine came with this strange little finnd torpedo weight.  Oddly there are attachment points on teh top and the nose?...I might just get a small ball for now.

yea, mine came with this strange little finnd torpedo weight.  Oddly there are attachment points on teh top and the nose?...I might just get a small ball for now.

I use a strange little finned torpedo weight.  I attach to top and ignore the nose.

-Allen