Best downrigger survey results

[Kodiak1]

A very active fishing forum that discusses salt water fishing in the Washington area recently asked those members with a lot of experience with dr's what the best electric and best manual downriggers were. Amazing how much agreement there was. Approximately 90% voted for the Scotty electric and the Penn manual came out way ahead in that category. Can't speak for the Scotty, although I hear rave reviews all the time.However, having run Penn manuals since the early 1970's I can attest that they are indestructable and easier to use than most due to huge depth numbers on the handle instead of a small digital counter. They are impervious to salt, which is probably why they seem to dominate the boats in the Olympic Pen. area that I fish. Oh, by the way, Walkers came in second in the electric category, and Cannon owners mainly complained about breakdowns. Mike
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[deepforks]

thats exactly how i would have answered. i own two of the electric scotty's (1101 & 1116) and a penn manual. i have used cannon's and don't really care for them. no experience with the walkers. its ashame that i'm boatless right now...well there is the drift boat.
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[MMDon]

Ford and Chevy perhaps but here goes.

My Cannon Digitrols track the bottom contours without ever hanging a ball. PIC (Positive Ion Control) is huge when even a 100th of a volt can make a difference between stimulating a bite and pushing fish away.

Scotty makes a good mid priced DR but if you want the best you buy the top of the line Cannons.
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[Koke-Fiend]

I agree with MMDon this is like a Ford, Chevy, Dodge debate. I say run what you like and what works for you, for me that is Cannon love em.
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[crappyslayer]

Whatever you use, make sure it has a drag. Kinda nice if when they catch on a ledge or something and it plays out line instead of tearing your downrigger off the boat. Only kind I've used is a walker electric, and I liked it.
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[Lunddude]

[indent][/indent]I have no complaints with my Walker electrics. Don't know much about the high end Cannons but the Mag 5 & 10's are just to big & bulky with to much plastic for my likeing. I can both power down & up with my Walkers something you can't do with the Scottys or Cannons. My Walkers are gear driven & the Scottys are belt driven I don't have to carry spare belts. I did a ton of research before I bought my Walkers & hands down for a simple straight forward day in & day out use the Walkers electrics are hard to beat. [cool]
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