Downrigger Accessories

The downrigger is only the start — the accessories decide how well it fishes. Release clips are the heart of it: they have to hold at trolling speed in waves, then let go cleanly on a strike, including light hits from small fish. Run two styles, one for spoons and body baits and a lighter one for finesse presentations.

Weights come next. Heavier balls track truer at depth and at speed, with less blowback; coated and pancake styles each have their fans. Snubbers absorb the shock between the cable and the release, swivels keep line twist out of the equation, and a weight caddy keeps cannonballs from rolling around the cockpit when you're running.

Most of this category fits Scotty downriggers, and the rigging parts — releases, snaps, snubbers — work across brands. If you're setting up a rigger for the first time, the Dockside downrigger buying guide has the full rigging checklist.