7 Best Downriggers for Salmon and Steelhead
As a guide and a tournament angler, I’ve spent plenty of time using and testing out a range of downriggers for salmon, steelhead, walleye, musky, and lake trout. I’ve also sold them in my tackle store, so I’ve been able to get a lot of feedback from other guides and anglers.
Downriggers are important fishing gear for anyone who trolls in deep waters and wants to keep their bait or lures at the same depth as the fish they are targeting.
This article covers the best downriggers for salmon and steelhead in all price ranges and all types.
Downriggers work in tandem with trolling fishing rods and Sonar Units, while using heavy-weighted downrigger balls that get your lure or bait down to the precise depths where you need it and then keep it there while trolling. It’s a very simple and very effective way to catch salmon and steelhead in the deep waters.
Key Takeaways
| Consideration | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of Downriggers | Electric and Manual |
| Size and Arm Length | Depends on the size of the boat |
| Mounting Type | Portable or Permanent |
| Base Compatibility | Check base width and type before purchase |
| Electric Downriggers | Higher cost, easier bait/lure depth management, might have additional features, requires external power source |
| Manual Downriggers | Lower cost, mechanically simple, reliable, manual line management |
| Discover the Best Models | Dive into the article for detailed reviews on the top models for both electric and manual downriggers, each with their own unique features and capabilities. |
What to Consider in a Downrigger
Size and Arm length: You’ll need to start with the size of the boat to determine the optimal arm length for the downrigger. A small boat can use a shorter arm, while a bigger boat will need more clearance from the hull.
Cost: Downriggers can range from small, lightweight, portable downriggers that cost around $100 to heavy-duty electric downriggers that cost over $2000.00. It’s best to choose the best model in your price range, and we will cover the best downriggers in all price categories.
Portable Or Permanent: You can get portable downriggers that you can put on and take off small boats. Permanent mounted downriggers are meant to be permanently mounted to your boat.
Downrigger Base Compatibility: You will need to determine if your boat is even capable of mounting some of the bigger electric downriggers. Before you buy, look at the base width or the type of base on each downrigger and compare it to your boat’s side rail to determine if they are compatible. You may need to get a custom bracket for your boat.
Electric or Manual: Consider whether you want an electric model or a manual one. Downrigger electric models might come with added features that make it easier to lift and drop the baits to the desired levels.
Combine them with a good Lowrance or Hummingbird fish finder to help find the fish while trolling.
Although electric downriggers are nice, the simplicity and relative affordability of a manual make them more accessible.
Pro Tip: Most anglers prefer a short rod with a softer tip, so when the clip releases, the spring of the rod can set the hook. See Best Trolling Rods For Salmon and Best Trolling Rods For Steelhead.
Electric Downriggers – Pros and Cons
The electric type of downrigger makes it a lot easier to get the bait or lure down to the desired depth and retrieve it faster than it would with a manual model when moving from one location to another. Many are equipped with fish finders, and some can be programmed to maintain a specific depth or distance from the bottom.
The cost to obtain an electric one is significantly higher than for a manual model, and more things could go wrong that would require fixing. They also need an external battery to power them.
Pro Tip: Most anglers prefer to use monofilament lines on their downrigger reels. See Best Lines For Trolling.
Manual Downriggers – Pros and Cons
Manual downriggers are mechanically sound and easy to use, maintain, and repair when needed. One with an analog depth counter will tell you all that you need to know about the depth and how much line you have out.
The only real negative is that you have to crank the handle yourself to raise the downrigger ball and cable, which can be hard with a heavy ball that’s down over 200 feet.
Pro Tip: One of the most popular baits to use with downriggers is trolling spoons. See Most Effective Trolling Spoons For Salmon.
Price
The right downrigger will fit your budget and provide you with good service for many years. If your budget is low, a manual downrigger is your best bet. If you don’t mind spending up to a grand or more and want a lot of features, an electronic downrigger will suit you.
Mounting to the Boat
The mount needs to be solid and not loosen while on the water. An adjustable base that enables you to reposition the downrigger helps.
Use the screws and mounts that come with the downrigger.
If you need extra bolts or screws, be sure you use stainless steel.
For swivel mounts, solid mounts, rod holder mounts, and all the accessories. See them at FishUSA HERE.
Best Electric and Manual Downriggers Comparison
| Category | Model | Key Features | Additional Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Overall Electric | Cannon Optimum 10 BT | Integrated control screen, Telescopic boom 24-53 inches, 2 rod holders, Up to 250 ft/min retrieval | Adjustable angles |
| Best Under $1000 Electric | Scotty 2106 | Up to 312 ft/min retrieval, 16-position swivel pedestal mount, 3-5 ft stainless steel boom, 300 ft of 180-lb test cable | Clutch brake, digital counter |
| Best Under $500 Electric | Cannon Magnum 5 ST | 250 ft/min retrieval, 24-inch stainless steel arm, Mechanical line counter, 250 ft of 150-lb stainless steel cable | Short-stop feature, positive ion control |
| Manual Downrigger 1 | Cannon Uni-Troll 10 STX-TS | 2:1 retrieval speed, Telescopic boom 24-53 inches, Dual-axis rod holder, 200 ft of 150-lb test steel cable | 3-digit depth counter, line release |
| Manual Downrigger 2 | Cannon Uni-Troll 10 | Similar to Cannon Uni-Troll 10 STX-TS | No mounting bracket |
| Manual Downrigger 3 | Cannon Lake-Troll | 18-inch arm, Vertical spool, manual crank, Swivel-head depth counter, 100 ft of steel cable | Affordable, simple, and effective |
| Best for Small Boats | Scotty Laketroller | 100 ft of steel cable, 2-inch aluminum clamp, 5-lb weight capacity | Ideal for smaller boats, made from nylon and steel |
The Best Electric Downriggers
1. Cannon Optimum 10 BT Electric Downrigger – Best Overall
As a guide, it makes sense to have the best, or at the very least, high quality equipment that lasts.
And if it’s affordable, even better. Which is why I’ve used this downrigger for guiding and fishing.
An integrated control screen on the Optimum 10 BT electric downriggers lets you change the weight, amount of line, temperature, and display speed to precisely control your depth.
The downrigger can also track the bottom to keep the bait or lure at a specific distance from the bottom while trolling to ensure you are fishing the desired depth.
The downrigger has a telescopic boom that adjusts from a minimum of 24 inches to as much as 53 inches of arm length and has two rod holders with adjustable angles. An electric retrieval speed handles up to 250 feet per minute of line retrieval on a stainless steel spool.
See all the specs, details, and prices:
The Cannon Optimum 10 Tournament Series BT Electric Downrigger is slightly better, but it also comes with a higher price tag, which is the only reason I did not say it is the best of the best. However, if money is not an issue for you, you should check it out HERE.
2. Scotty 2106 High-Performance Electric Downrigger – Best Under $1000
I have used this unit for years and can say it is a great electric downrigger for any boat.
The Scotty 2106 electrically powered downriggers provide the greatest retrieval rate from any electrically powered downrigger.
It retrieves up to 312 feet per minute for a 10-pound weight line or 260 feet per minute with a 20-pound weight line.
A half-inch Kevlar drive belt does the heavy lifting while an illuminated and sealed digital counter shows how much line is out.
A Swivel pedestal mount offers 16 positions for the downrigger with a single adjustable rod holder mounted rocket style. A stainless steel boom extends between 3 feet and 5 feet.
The downrigger comes with 300 feet of 180-pound test cable and a clutch brake that has the industry’s largest braking surface to provide an adjustable speed for deployment and retrieval.
See all the details and pricing:
3. Cannon Magnum 5 ST Electric Downrigger – Best Under $550
I get it, not everyone can afford or needs a downrigger that costs over $1000. Which is why I sold the Cannon Magnum 5 in my store, and it’s why I recommend it to others. I have also used this on friends’ and other guide’s boats, and know many anglers who are very happy with this downrigger.
A line retrieval rate of 250 feet per minute makes the Magnum 5 ST one of the fastest downriggers on the market. A short-stop feature protects the boat against damage from a swinging downrigger weight when the waves are rocking and rolling the boat.
The downrigger has a 24-inch stainless steel downrigger arm and a fixed mounting base to keep things simple and easy to control while trolling for salmon and trolling for steelhead.
A mechanical line counter shows how deep the lure is while a single dual-axis rod holder secures the fishing rod. The downrigger comes with 250 feet of 150-pound stainless steel cable and has a positive ion control that creates a fish-attracting energy field while neutralizing any negatively charged ions from the boat’s hull.
Best Manual Downriggers
I sometimes use smaller boats for backwoods lakes when fishing for lake trout, walleye, or deep trout, and I have found that the manual downriggers are much lighter, portable, and easier to use.
Another advantage is the cheaper price.
But some anglers will use them for big water fishing as well. If you are interested in manual Downriggers, these are the three best ones.
1. Cannon Uni-Troll 10 STX-TS Tournament Series Downrigger
Cannon’s Uni-Troll 10 lets me reel in the line fast with a 2:1 retrieval speed, while a clutch requires just one hand to deploy the line to exactly the depth that I want. A steel spool supports a monofilament line, while a telescopic boom gives 24 and 53 inches of arm length.
An end pulley stops the line from jumping, and a dual-axis rod holder provides lots of options for positioning the trolling rod.
A mounting bracket enables me to switch from a manual unit to a base for one of Cannon’s electric models. This model provides 200 feet of 150-pound-test steel downrigger cable, a three-digit depth counter, and a line release for rapid deployment.
2. Cannon Uni-Troll 5 Manual Downrigger
Manual Cannon downriggers like the Uni-Troll 5 are fairly standardized and generally of excellent quality. This will do the job, big or small.
You can get this as is, meaning just the downriggers, or as a package with everything you need.
See all the details and pricing below.
3. Cannon Lake-Troll Manual Downrigger
I sold this in my store, and for the small boat anglers, it was the go-to down rigger.
The Lake-Troll Cannon downrigger is intended for smaller boats in inland lakes but also works well in saltwater. It is affordably priced with a design that is simple and effective, with an 18-inch-long arm made of durable material, a vertical spool, and a manual crank attached to the spool.
A swivel-head depth counter shows how deep it is, while a clutch-brake system slows down its descent speed. The downrigger comes with 100 feet of steel cable, a tube-style rod holder, and a quick-mount tab-lock base. It works great on deep lakes and is saltwater-resistant for use in inlets while fishing in a small boat.
See all the features and price:
Best Downrigger for Small Boats: Extra Portable
Scotty Laketroller Manual Downrigger with Portable Clamp Mount
This is the downrigger I used the most when going into hard-to-get-to small lakes, where we had to use 4-wheelers to get small aluminum boats to the lake.
This is as portable as it gets and it can be used on most smaller aluminum boats, like V-hulls and Jon Boats.
It holds 100 feet of steel cable on its angled and horizontally mounted spool that has a crank handle directly attached.
The downrigger is made from nylon and steel with a 2-inch aluminum clamp that secures it tightly to the hull. A short steel arm has up to a 5-pound weight capacity that will get lures and bait deeper while trolling.
It works great when you have an additional fish finder to locate where the fish are schooled up, so that you can reach them. See The Ultimate Guide On The Best Fish Finders.
Tight Lines
Graham
Sources:
- Big Jon Sports
- Website: Big Jon Sports
- Cannon Downriggers
- Website: Cannon Downriggers
- Scotty Fishing
- Website: Scotty Fishing
