Poor man's downrigger?

Was reading an article about kings and the guy was talking about using a poor man's downrigger.
Anyone used one of these?

Would it work to take about 50 feet of downrigger line, tie it off to a gunnel cleat, attached the weight ball, attach a release clip 3 feet or so above the ball, drop the ball down to the desired depth, run the bait from the clip about 40 feet ( or whatever distance) behind the ball?
What are the problems you run into with this idea?

2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
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Been there done that, it works
Originally posted by dirty white boy

Been there done that, it works


Thanks, found some good 'how to' info online.

Question though: why use a swivel/rubber band as the release instead of a release clip like on an outrigger?

2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
Well, the thread title is "poor man's downrigger," and I think a swivel and rubberband is much cheaper than a release clip, no?

Wadmalaw native
1999 16' Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16' Bentz-Craft flats
15' Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson

ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!
Originally posted by leadenwahboy

Well, the thread title is "poor man's downrigger," and I think a swivel and rubberband is much cheaper than a release clip, no?

Wadmalaw native
1999 16' Bentz-Craft flats
1994 16' Bentz-Craft flats
15' Alumacraft, 1979 35 Johnson

ISLAND ARMORY, LLC - CONTACT ME FOR ALL OF YOUR FFL NEEDS!


Very true....However, I'm also taking into consideration which am I less likely to screw up?

2014 Key West 203DFS
1987 Landau
ive done that quite regularly from my kayak paddling through menhaden schools just off the beach. rig downrigger with paracord, tie to cleat, start trolling!
Instead of he release clip, thread several snap swivels on the top of the line before you drop it down. Use a rubber band to clip your line to the snap swivel, then just send it on down the line. Keeps you from having to haul the ball up every time. Planer on a handline can be used similarly.

Kill em' and Grill em'

Colin
What he said#128070;. Rubber bands and snap swivels keep you from having to retrieve the ball. Gets old after a while.
Cheap plastic shower curtain clips work great also.

Sea Hunt 225
Yamaha F200
What lures do yall run and what weight with the ball to speeds, I just got a 10lb ball and a high speed planer and want to run some deep lines at the ledge. Any info could reduce the trial and era for me.
I used to use a window weight on 400# mono with snap swivels and rubber bands. First time I saw a downrigger and watched all the pumping up and down, I thought about a patent. Too much work.
 
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