Jethro, Why is so important that you can see the rigger ball? I run flashers directly off my ball and would rather have it out of the transducer cone so the I can see fish. The rigger should register your approximate depth.
I guess I've never used anything but the cheepo Cannon riggers with that absolute garbage depth gauge on the pully wheel. It is so unreliable that I don't bother setting it to zero any more. So with better riggers and a better line counter I wouldn't care as much. But with the mini-troll, the only way to know my depth is with the sonar. I can't really get a trolling bar because my motor is a manual trim/tilt. I need to be able to get back there and reach it. But yes, I plan on doing a lot of coldwater fishing from now on. It seems to be what I like to do.
"one turn of the Rigger wheel equals one foot of depth".......Nevermind seeing on sonar, that usually never happens unless your have your electronics dialed in properly.
Oh man, my new Helix 5 I can see the little 4lb ball down to about 45 feet even trolling as fast as 2.2. I'm thinking I'll see 8lb balls down as far as they go.Counting the turns works if you have a sharp memory. Unfortunately I do not. Plus it's hard when you see the ball most of the time and then not others. I just really like seeing the ball on the finder.
I guess I've never used anything but the cheepo Cannon riggers with that absolute garbage depth gauge on the pully wheel. It is so unreliable that I don't bother setting it to zero any more. So with better riggers and a better line counter I wouldn't care as much. But with the mini-troll, the only way to know my depth is with the sonar.
I wouldn't be too quick to disparage the "depth gauges".As with line counter reels, rigger counters are most effective for "duplication".
Jethro and Dispy, I've always connected my flashers directly to the rigger ball. I use the biggest Dave Davis spinners I can find ( just what I've always had). The release is set two feet above the ball. That makes it easy to leave the ball in the water while resetting the release.I've often set the bait as little as 15 feet behind the ball, especially when fishing below 16 ft. I never try to guess what goes on in a fish's little brain but I think the flashers attract the salmon and they drop back and find what looks like a tasty meal? I am sure that the flashers attract salmon from far below the trolling depth. But, remember that I still use Roemer releases because I have a huge collection of the original Roemer release. Jethro I would never go back to inline spinners with downriggers. I do sometimes try some of my old Maine spinners on flat lines. I would do some serious measurements concerning your access to the manual trim and the possible location of a trolling board?Dick
Apparently I mis-understood your use of flashers......not a firm believer in running them off the balls.
We ran them this year off the ball for early season browns and salmon in Lake Ontario.The rigger with the flasher clearly out-produced the other 3:1, maybe 4:1.I'm a believer and we will be running them off the balls for eyes in Lake Erie.Mac
Dodgers and Flashers work well
I wouldn't be too quick to disparage the "depth gauges".There are a few factors involved much the same as line counter reels.