Kingfish Connection: How long has this new Tournament Series down rigger been in the works? Why did you all decide to introduce this new product?

Jeff Davison: We started working on the Tournament Series about 2 months after Johnson Outdoors, Inc. purchased Cannon from Computrol (the previous owners) in the fall of 2005. We knew that we needed a higher end product with stainless steel hardware and white cosmetics because that’s what the saltwater angler demands. They want their equipment to blend in with the rest of their boat while having a rich, premium look.

Why did you opt to rig it with a stainless steel spool?

Many saltwater anglers want to run monofilament or superline instead of cable. Plastic spools can break when spooled with mono or superline, so we made the Tournament Series spool out of stainless steel.

Does it come rigged with monofilament?

No. They still come standard with stainless steel cable.

For some teams that may not know, what are the advantages to having a downrigger spooled with monofilament?

They want to run mono for a number of reasons. First, cable tends to act like a long guitar string when it’s pulled through the water, creating an audible hum that can spook fish. Mono runs silent when pulled through the water. Second, kingfish anglers like the ability to quickly cut their downrigger line if a fish makes a run toward it, to prevent them from losing it. It’s much easier to cut mono than it is to cut braided stainless steel cable.

Does this come with a swivel mount?

Yes, the Tournament Series downriggers all come standard with a swivel base.

Was this product made specifically for competitive anglers on the kingfish tournament trail? Is this product the right choice for recreational anglers looking to target kingfish?

This product definitely had the kingfish tournament angler in mind when it was designed, but it is an ideal product for a professional or a recreational angler looking to go after kings.

What is the main difference between the tournament series and the other downriggers that Cannon offers?

The main difference is the stainless steel boom and spool, and the white cosmetics. All the Cannon electric downriggers have a submersible, IP68 waterproof connector plug, and are all rated for saltwater use.

What does this product do well that your competitors have not been able to accomplish?

We feel that this is the first downrigger that truly belongs on a saltwater fishing boat, from both a performance standpoint as well as a cosmetic standpoint. The combination of stainless steel and white cosmetics really make it a sharp addition to any saltwater fishing boat. And with retrieve rates on our electrics at 250 feet per minute, fishermen are not standing around waiting for the weight to come up when fishing deeper water.

What is the main advantage to using an electric downrigger?

Our manual downriggers have Cannon’s clutch-brake system, which means all the angler has to do to lower the weight is turn the crank handle backward and the weight automatically descends. The main advantage to running an electric downrigger is when its time to bring the weight to the surface. Simply toggle the up switch and walk away – Cannon’s exclusive short stop will automatically stop the lift motor when the weight hits the surface of the water. With manual downriggers, the angler has to manually raise them. Deep water fishing is when the angler will really appreciate an electric downrigger versus a manual.

What is the best way to maintain these new downriggers? How often should a team service the downriggers?

Maintenance is simple. At the beginning of each fishing season, lightly grease the thrust bearing (and bearing race behind the clutch knob – electrics only), reel shaft bearings, swivel head pulley, ratchet brake face, and ratchet dog. The downriggers should be thoroughly rinsed with fresh water after each trip and lubricated on a frequent basis. We recommend replacing the cable every two years.

As a sponsor of both the SKA and FLW trails, does Cannon see the kingfish market as a place for potential growth?

The king mackerel market is one of our key target markets for growth. Angler participation, both at the professional tournament level as well as the recreational level, is strong and seems to be growing. Both FLW and SKA continue to build awareness and bring new anglers to the sport, and we’re excited to be a sponsor of both of these tournament trails.

Is Cannon working on any new products that may interest king mackerel anglers?

We’re always working on new innovative products. Yes, king mackerel anglers can expect to see some new products from Cannon next year that will be of interest to them.