Looking to put on 4-6 pounds

No, not on my fat ars.. on my down rigger.
I have been looking for two different downrigger weights, 4 and 6 pound (8 lb is ok too).
Fisherman's wants $25 for a 4 lb ball. 
Does anyone know anywhere to score a good deal on finned downrigger weights, or know of anyone who makes them for a decent price?

 Have you checked out your local Craislist. Sometims guys advertise lead on ours up here.
T2

Have you checked out your local Craislist. Sometims guys advertise lead on ours up here.
T2

Yeah, it's slim pickings this time with Springers on the way.

Wobbler & Insayn are leadsmiths.  Maybe if you taunt them they'll go Plumbum Crazy and build some.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Wobbler & Insayn are leadsmiths.  Maybe if you taunt them they'll go Plumbum Crazy and build some.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Good to know! Thanks for the info Hop.

 RR.....I've been using a 2 lb ball for lakes....kokes/trout. Works pretty good...starts to blow back a little over 1.00 mph ,but doesn't affect depth too bad(can see it sometimes on ff).Have caught kokes @ 100 ft @ Odell.I just have the mini DR, anything heavier will be a chore to crank up.

RR.....I've been using a 2 lb ball for lakes....kokes/trout. Works pretty good...starts to blow back a little over 1.00 mph ,but doesn't affect depth too bad(can see it sometimes on ff).Have caught kokes @ 100 ft @ Odell.I just have the mini DR, anything heavier will be a chore to crank up.

Hey Paul. If you want to try a 2 lb cannon ball I think I have one in the garage.

Noah

RR.....I've been using a 2 lb ball for lakes....kokes/trout. Works pretty good...starts to blow back a little over 1.00 mph ,but doesn't affect depth too bad(can see it sometimes on ff).Have caught kokes @ 100 ft @ Odell.I just have the mini DR, anything heavier will be a chore to crank up.

Hey Paul. If you want to try a 2 lb cannon ball I think I have one in the garage.

Noah

Thanks Noah. I bought a 18 and 24 oz cannon ball from the Sportsmans show I'm gonna use. But I need a bit bigger for some other applications and deep fishing at Merwin, Yale, and swift.
Dberd, thanks for the advice. I'll use the 2 lb I have next time a 100 ft to see how it handles.

I pour all my own lead and when I needed big lead for offshore halibut (above the 3lb cannon ball mold I have) I would pour lead into redbull/beer cans (make sure they are dry inside) with twisted copper wire and a heavy swivel attached (peel the can off when they are cool).  Not super hydrodynamic but at kayak speeds I'm guessing its not going to matter that much.

What kind of line/wire do you have on your downrigger?  If it still has the factory installed cable, replace that with some 50 lb+ spectra and you'll have a lot less drag on your downrigger line and you'll be able to get away with a much lighter weight. 

What kind of line/wire do you have on your downrigger?  If it still has the factory installed cable, replace that with some 50 lb+ spectra and you'll have a lot less drag on your downrigger line and you'll be able to get away with a much lighter weight. 

Good point....I replaced the cable w/ braid that the guy @ fishermans just took off a spool(freebie). Less drag...plus the cable made a funny singing (?) vibration.

What kind of line/wire do you have on your downrigger?  If it still has the factory installed cable, replace that with some 50 lb+ spectra and you'll have a lot less drag on your downrigger line and you'll be able to get away with a much lighter weight.

Thanks Brian. The first thing I did when I bought the DR was replace the cable with 65 lb. braid.
I figured with 4-6 lbs on braid I should (hopefully) be able to use the DR on the Columbia.

Pelagic, if I poured my own I would totally make my own aluminum can weight. That's a great idea. Unfortunately I don't have the equipment. I'm probably going to bug Wobbler to see if he'll poor me a couple different weights.

65 lb braid and a 6# ball is pushing it.  Yes, you want it to break off should it snag on the bottom.  But, you don't want it to break off from just a line jerk, say if you drop it a few inches into the water, or suddenly hit the brake in a fast free fall.  This is the voice of experience.  I went up to 80# or 100# braid (don't remember which) and now carefully place the ball in the water and do controlled descents.

I also found a 4# ball to be too light for trolling in the salt, so I went to a 6# which seems a good compromise for the yak.

65 lb braid and a 6# ball is pushing it.  Yes, you want it to break off should it snag on the bottom.  But, you don't want it to break off from just a line jerk, say if you drop it a few inches into the water, or suddenly hit the brake in a fast free fall.  This is the voice of experience.  I went up to 80# or 100# braid (don't remember which) and now carefully place the ball in the water and do controlled descents.

I also found a 4# ball to be too light for trolling in the salt, so I went to a 6# which seems a good compromise for the yak.

Great point Demonick. I ended up picking up a 4lb and a 6lb ball from Sportsman's Warehouse last week.
I also snipped a piece of the braid and took it with me to Sportsman's as I had it on a reel I never used. I couldn't remember the line strength so I assumed it was 65#. When i compared it to the bulk line they had it turns out it's 80# power pro. I think 80# can handle the 6lb ball. I guess we'll find out.

Put a snubber (DIY or store bought) between your down rigger line (cable or braid) and your weight.  It will greatly reduce your shock loads to the line/cable and your boom.