DOWNRIGGER DO'S AND DONT'S

Do put your boat in forward motion before lowering your downrigger. It avoids tangles.
Do read your depthcounter when you catch a fish and then go back to the same depth.
Do rinse off your downrigger wire with fresh water after each saltwater trip.
Do cut out any frayed sections of downrigger wire before it breaks.
Do bring up your downrigger and your fishing line together. You will avoid tangles.
Do use enough weight on your downrigger to keep your line at a sharp downward angle.
Do keep one fishing line on each side of the wire when fishing two rods so they never touch.

Don't let your downrigger wire go slack. Kinks will eventually break.
Don't drop your downrigger weight. Ease it down until you have taken up any wire slack.
Don't replace your downrigger wire with anything heavier than 150 lb. test. You will get too much wire drag.
Don't replace your downrigger steel wire with monofilament. Because of the stretch it can be very dangerous if you snag bottom plus it can break your downrigger spool.
Don't let your fishing reel spin free while you lower your downrigger. Set a light drag.