TWO LINES ON ONE DOWNRIGGER
In case you're wondering why I didn't snap into one of the downrigger lines earlier, part of it was stubbornness and part of it was the fact that each 'rigger was equipped with a single release, which allows only one line to be fished on it. So-called "stacking" of two or more releases on the same line allows anglers to fish more than one fishing line on a single downrigger.

Besides allowing more than one angler to get his line into the depths, stacking allows for fishing at various depths at the same time. If you have only one downrigger but are marking salmon at, say, 60 to 90 feet, you can run one line down to 85 feet, another at 65, and greatly increase you chances of hooking up. A word of caution on stacking, though: Don't stack the releases too close together or you'll have a huge mess of tangled lines on your hands.

All the various kinds of downrigger releases allow you to increase or decrease the amount of tension required to pop the line out of the release. As a general rule, setting the release tighter results in more hooked fish. The tighter tension allows deeper hook penetration before the line slips from the release and also cuts down on "false releases" that may occur when fishing in rough water or into strong current.

Keeping your hooks needle-sharp will also result in more solid hook-ups when trolling with downriggers. Check hook points every time you bring your bait or lure to the boat, and don't be shy about using your hook file often. Sharp hooks make a big difference no matter what salmon-fishing method you're using, but they are especially important in downrigger fishing where you may be running long lines and are counting on getting a solid hook-set on the initial strike. That strike may likely be the only chance you get.

OTHER EQUIPMENT
Your choice of rod, reel and line also can play an important part in your salmon-fishing success with a downrigger. Today's revolving-spool reels offer the line capacity, gear ratios, line control and other advantages that make them good choices for downrigger fishing.

Many salmon anglers still fill their reels with monofilament, but a growing number of them are switching to braided line for most of their downrigger fishing. The high-tech braids available now are much more expensive than monofilament, but their low stretch can make a big difference in the number of strikes, resulting in fish that are hooked and landed. Braided lines also are much smaller in diameter than mono of the same test, which reduces line drag and "belly" in the line.

As for rods, most successful salmon trollers prefer a long, soft-action stick for use with downriggers. A downrigger rod should be at least 8 1/2 feet long; some anglers like 9-footers or even longer. A slow-taper rod that "gives" all the way from the fore grip to the tip is much better than a fast-taper rod. Many salmon fishermen find that fiberglass rods suit their downrigger-fishing needs better than graphite.

Fishing tackle isn't the only equipment you need to pack into your boat before the start of salmon season. Remember to carry extra downrigger weights, extra wire, connector sleeves, snaps, snubbers, crimping pliers and anything else that will allow you to make downrigger repairs and adjustments on the water. There's nothing worse than locating a bunch of eager biters, figuring out the combination that works, then snapping off a downrigger ball or suffering some other equipment failure that renders you helpless in getting your bait or lure into the strike zone. Buy extra hardware and the necessary repair tools and keep them together in a safe place on the boat.

Thousands of West Coast salmon anglers are using downriggers to their advantage, but only a small number of them are using this important piece of equipment to its full advantage. Use a downrigger the way it should be used and you might join that elite 10 percent of salmon anglers who catch 90 percent of the fish.