How to Mount a Downrigger to a Boat

Downriggers are a kind of auxiliary fishing rod that bolts on the back of a boat. Instead of fishing line, downriggers unreel a length of steel cable. An eight to 20 pound weight called a cannonball snaps onto the end of the downrigger cable and a fishing line attached to a conventional fishing pole snaps onto that. Downriggers allow fisherman to put their hooks at precise depths where they expect to find fish. And, downriggers are always used for "trolling," which is the technique of towing lures or bait behind a slow-moving boat.

Things You'll Need

  • Steel measuring tape
  • Downrigger trolling bar rack
  • Touch-up paint
  • Electric drill
  • 3/8 inch drill bit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Mount your downrigger to the factory-installed downrigger mounting plates in your boat if your boat came equipped with them. Install the downrigger according to the instructions that came with your downrigger.

    • 2

      Measure the width of your boat at the stern using a steel measuring tape if your boat did not come pre-equipped with downrigger mounting brackets. Use this measurement to select a downrigger trolling bar that will fit the width of your boat.

    • 3

      Clamp the downrigger trolling bar to the gunwales of your boat at its stern. Most trolling bars are adjustable and they require no tools to attach them to your boat.

    • 4

      Set the downrigger on top of the downrigger trolling bar. Mark the location of the downrigger mounting plate holes on the trolling bar with touch-up paint. There are usually four holes.

    • 5

      Drill holes through the marks you made on the trolling bar using an electric drill and a 3/8 inch drill bit. Mount the downrigger to the trolling bar by following the instructions and using the hardware that came with your downrigger. Most installations require you to drop four bolts through the holes then secure the downrigger to the trolling bar by tightening nuts onto each bolt.