Would like your opinions on the different downriggers pro,s and con,s .I think Scotty are the best and most people tend to agree.How do you feel.

I vote scotty, but I've never fished with cannons so for all I know I'm missing the boat and they are way better.

Regardless, Scotty makes a solid product and they are local so they'll get my dollars as long as the quality stays the same.

i would say scotty because there local,but as far as the rest of the world penn and cannon are very popular,and also been in the business for years,we are not the only place on earth that trolls for fish,,but i guess thier only opinions unless you have had or tried all makes, right mike

you guys still on here well as to the discusion i have cannon riggers and my boat came with scoty now as i have had the chance to use 2 types i like the cannon first reason is the drive system doesnt go through belts and i love the quick movable spool for the second,they work amazing,my nephew uses cannon as well as his boat came from oregon so he tends to lean that direction aswell but scoty are good too th.

Many Ladz are content with Shimano (and other) reels. Some greatly prefer Islanders and the like. Rather similar situation. The Cannons are indeed higher priced (kinda like an Islander). But for a myriad of reasons they are IMO a MUCH better product than Scotty produces. I like running The Best There Is! and as a consequence, I will never give up my Cannons for a Scotty rigger. EVER!

Cheers,
Nog

I had Penn hand cranks 25 years ago, they were better than the old Scotty’s that’s for sure.
I though about Peen Electrics, but seeing as Scotty is local, I chose Scotty’s.
I have had those downriggers since 1990. Back when you needed a permit from Fisheries for them, and only once have I had a belt break. And that was on one of the newer models.
Just my opinion.

X2

Might I add? If I remember correctly and would have to check, but believe it was in the mid 90’s, when we were allowed and started using “electric” downriggers. I still have a couple of those manual Penn’s myself. And they do work just as good now, as when I bought them 30 years ago. Hard to beat that one!

Supporting local businesses? Not so sure there, IMHO! I have no problem supporting any local business; however, business – is business and if you want the better product, buying it will usually improve the local product. The choice of quality is very much left to the consummer, but is a very big part of that business is business thing. Not saying Scotty doesn’t make a quality product, they do; but IMO Cannon is still the superior. I wouldn't justify buying any product, because it was a local business. I could, would, and do justify buying and paying, as much if not more, for a good quality, or better product whether local or not. That quality and competition has made Scotty, Cannon and all the others - better products. To that comment I would simply just have to ask, does one buy those automobiles, computers, outboards engines, etc, etc, (including farmed Atlantic salmon) just because they are a local product, or because one feels it is in their budget? I TOTALY agree when someone states they buy/bought Scotty due to cost or they like them better.

FYI, both Scotty and Cannon have beefed up their products. Scotty is competing directly against Cannon and their products (and prices) are getting very compareable to Cannon. Cannon has improved their MAG10 series (thanks to the Scotty competition), and has discontinued their expensive MAG15 and MAG20 series. There isn't much difference in the price of two anymore, but IMHO the Cannon is still the better of the two:
http://store.cannondownriggers.com/cate ... ownriggers

well there in lies the problem Charlie - you aren't a local so you wouldn't get it

Do you drive a foreign car? cause you know those are far superior to American cars IMO.

Those old Penn Manuals were very sturdy easy-to-use units, Penn has completely fumbled the ball since.

Hmm…? I might be a local, somewhere?

And, then the foreighn car thing, just might confirm? I do drive a “foreign” car, just for those very reasons! What I wanted, it was a better product, of course this is IMHO LOL