DIY - Alvey downrigger

While it might not look the ‘flashest’, Lee says his home-made downrigger does the trick.

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Gamefishing Workshop - How to skirt a lure DIY - Alvey downrigger DIY Reader's Story The best day's fishing!

I have always wanted a downrigger to help cover my bases when trolling a lure spread behind my boat, but couldn’t justify the price tag that came with it.

My dad gave me an old Alvey reel he’d used for trout trolling. The lead-line on it was long past its use-by date, and when stripping it from the spool, I realised that with a bit of thought I could fashion a DIY downrigger by using it.

I soon found an old pulley from the retired steering system on my boat, and with a bit of scrap steel, I bent up a frame and welded the Alvey and pulley to it.

To attach it to the boat, I welded a scaffolding cramp to the downrigger frame, and then welded a bit of tube to the scaffolding nut to make a giant wingnut so attaching and removing it from the boat would be easier.

This is clamped to my DIY rocket-launcher, keeping it elevated and out of the way, and nearby for the driver to wind up upon getting a hit.

It may not be the prettiest bit of fishing kit about, but it does the trick.

Lee Christison - Napier - February 2009 - Fishing News

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