Cheers All,

Have been intrigued with the new Scotty High Performance downriggers. After watching a recent BC Outdoors Fishing Show featuring "The Murph" where, in the episode watched, Dave was showing his new "High Performance" downriggers - which will be available in January 2010. Curious what others think of them....

I was going to order a couple but have decided to stick to the regular electronic as the new ones - while boasting 'the fastest retreival rates on the market' have a significant drawback. They have electronic line counters which will only be warrantied for 2 years and, having had 2 counters go on mine this season alone, suggests that I will be replacing them down the road on 'my dime' which, as you can tell by now, is not what I call "lifetime warranty". I am also unsure if they will be field replaceable as I can now re and re my analogue in under 5 minutes and the spare counter was inexpensive.

On the positive side...illuminated counters for that first and last fishing of the day would be awesome and I could put away my mag light! The slightly faster retrieval time would be of only marginal importance.

In anticipation...

I'm thinking the counters wont take a grade twelve to change out nowing scotty it should be simple at your expense lol, the new rod holder tube is suposed to be inproved. I am looking at getting a new boat and new electronics and riggers so I'm looking forwerd to the feed back but as it stands I will be getting two maybe three with the "60 booms this spring, I hope the new counters are inexpensive. I carry lots of spare parts cause I've learned my leason in remote places were something happens and you hafto finish the trip with 1 down rigger. I think there worth a try

I'll be in no hurry to upgrade, ya faster will be nice but even when fishing 150'+ the old boys are still plenty quick enough. Sure hope the counters aren't sh*t like the ones they use now.

Scotty makes pretty impressive equipment. I look forward to trying these new riggers but cant see much improvement over the current model. That said i did go through 2 counters this summer but thats nothing compared to how much we use them and how good they are with their service. I also snapped a rod holder off the boom but i saw that coming as the plastic flexed more and more through the season. Grabbed the rod before it went swimming also!

Gerry, I had a new Scotty high performance downrigger to test for Robin at Scotty. They sent it up to Critter Cove for me put it thru its paces half way thru July. This thing was unbelievable from the first time I sent it to the bottom. Because I never use bait I let the downrigger go as fast as it can to get to where it should be. Offshore where I spend most of my time we fish between 120 to 200 feet deep. This downrigger was soooooo smooth all the way down with a controlled decent.

Now coming up was the best part of all with the new downrigger, it is sizzling fast. On my boat we play a little game when bringing up the lines to check. After you hit the auto stop you grab the rod out and reel as fast as you can to try and beat the cannon ball up. With the Islanders you have to give her all the way up to catch it at the top with the old downriggers. The new downrigger is up to the top and kicked out and the line is still 75 feet down. There is no moaning and groaning bringing up a 15-pound cannon ball like the old downriggers; it’s full speed ahead.

The best part of all is the counter and I’m not sure why they will only warranty them for two years. The counter display is huge; you can see it from the other side of the boat. Before it’s light and when it’s getting dark and the diehards are still out this display has a led light that you can see from 20 feet away. I hope they rethink the warranty on the counters to match the downrigger.

I can’t wait until after New Years when I get out off the Fingers and give this new downrigger a workout with a 20-pound ball at 240 feet down.

Cheers All,

Codfather: Thanks for the input. I don't really need more speed as my 'old school' Scotty is fast enough. I run Islanders and it is difficult as it is to keep up let alone chase these new ones up. Most of my guests cannot even begin to utilize the speed of the old ones and the only time I can see it being of any advantage is when I am clearing gear while guest plays a fish. It would then give me more time to help the guest manage his fish.

However...I totally agree with your comment that the best part is the new counters. The old ones are mechanically unreliable, fog up and are so small and, in poor light or first/last fishing of the day, one has a great deal of difficulty with them. I also hope they 'rethink' their policy on the warranty on the new counters as I think it will make a difference. A significant amount of anglers have had 'difficulties of one sort or another with the counter and to upgrade it was required to keep Scotty at the leading edge and to maintain their 'Lifetime Warranty' would also help them.

I was surprised at how much more money the new riggers are booked to cost. Again...time will tell at how the new riggers will be accepted by the sportsfisherman. I am - so far - not convinced I need them but...I have been known to change my mind.

Enjoy your riggers! See you out at the 240 mark this winter!

i don,t know how you can improve the scottty electric except for what they have done but i wouldn,t buy new ones just because they are a bit faster.i don,t know why your electrics would moan and groan pulling 15,s i have 60" booms and my riggers run off a good deep cycle that is charged by the yamaha kicker.they will pull a 15 up like f*** all.However,they will struggle if your voltage drops below 11.5V.i had a non charging kicker on another boat and after a few trips i would have to charge up to maintain performance.Voltage is most important with electric downriggers and some older kickers barely charge at all,basically just a 2 amp charge and thats not enough for them.12 lb balls are best.Ss over and out.

I think you guys are being a little fussy about the counters,ya they fog and can be hard to read but wtf they are scottys and unless your a millionaire why replace whats already great.You know what, i don,t really depend on the counter all that much,quick glance after a little rub off and ya,thats good.However ,yes if i was going to outfit a new boat i would buy the best for the bit more money,but thats me,Ss out