Nice job, thanks for the report. It doesn't get much easier than rigger and dipsy fishing!

 

It’s amazing to me how many people don’t fish riggers. I easily catch as many fish on the riggers as I do on dipsies, not occasionally, every trip.

 

Yeah, when I was a kid I felt like every walleye boat out of Ashtabula had them. Now, you don't see them as much.

 

What’s a rigger?

 

Sometimes, it's an 'OUT-
Sometimes, It's a DOWN-

Here's a great pic of a 'down'-
Like, 'One good pic,,, = a million words'.
Olcott

 

Fished Tuesday evening. Started in 50 fow North of the Harbor and trolled West with the wind. Had a quick 2 man limit. Dipsies on 3 60 back, and riggers at 24 and 32. All fish came on small Stingers with Chicken Wing being the hands down favorite.
Tight lines

What speeds do you roughly pull spoons at?

 

About 2 - 2.5 mph is what I target.

 

Back in the day I used riggers in the Bula area, but as the fish got bigger and more wary, they seemed to favor the baits farthest from the boat. You could still catch them on riggers, but not as consistent. Today, there are so many small walleyes that would eat a shoe if properly presented, I am sure the riggers would be effective.

 

Spikes,
I can tell you that my opinion probably differs greatly from yours. I’m not saying mine is right, but here it is....
Most people believe that the downrigger ball scares the fish. I do not. I fish with fish shaped 10# balls that I make myself. Because there’s less drag, these balls stays close enough for me to see them on the fish finder. I believe that these balls ATTRACT fish. I’m not saying that walleye come running in to bite them. But I believe they come in and look at them.. There are a couple reasons I believe this. Most times I run a short lead directly to the ball, and I catch a ton of fish on that lead. Additionally, I started pulling a lot more fish on the riggers when I shortened the lead length. I don’t run my leads more than 15 feet tops. My theory is: (because I truly believe the fish come look at the fish shaped weights) Mrs Walleye sees the fish shaped downrigger ball and comes in to take a look at it. She decides not take take a bite, but then, right next to it, there’s a pretty little flicker shad. Chomp! One walleye, in the net. If the lead is long, I believe that fish that came in to look at the ball, has already left by the time your lure makes it’s way there. I have run round balls side by side with my fish shaped weights. I still catch fish on round weights. But I consistently catch more fish on the short lead attached directly to the ball, if I’m fishing the fish shaped weight, as compared to a regular round ball.
Again, I’m not saying my theory is right or that yours is wrong, but I catch a ton of fish on the riggers and many times my biggest fish will come on the downrigger.
Tight lines

 

Paint one ball to look like Nemo and the other to look like Dory. Works like a charm.

 

 

Oooops,,, you did say 10# weights,,,,, & now I think I see a '10' on the fin.
Thanks

 

Shorter lead lengths help with more lure action too, especially with spoons. Longer leads can subdue the action of a lure.