Originally Posted By: parker
How does one get a DR1264 with an MR2 to touch the tip of the rod to the water while using a downrigger?

I want that rod bent over and damn near on the water when hooked up to a rigger.

You guys re-setting your drags after the fish pops off the rigger?

I set the drag right at the breaking point. Usually a good wave will cause the reel to give, freaking everybody out (including me).

I've yet to hook a fish in the sound that puts up any real fight while on the Islander. A few line tugs, but that's about it.



I fish my MR3 with a Sage 12' rod in downrigger all the time. The rod tip is usually almost touching the water when set in the holder. I set the drag just tight enough to keep the line from easily slipping off. I've had plenty of puget sound fish that gave me a good tussle on this setup.

I usually do a quick turn of the drag if I can w/o getting my knuckles hammered when grabbing the pole. Just the other day I had a nice king at PT that jerked it off the rigger and there was not way I was touching the drag as he had it singing right off.

Like Dave I prefer to use my hands versus the drag. Makes it more of a challenge and fun.