I'm not sure where to ask this question, but I just got a new Big Jon Runabout downrigger for Christmas.  It came with a 150' cable (which I replaced with 200') and a 24" boom.  The question I have is what is the largest downrigger ball/weight I can use with this?  I can't find the info in the box or the website.  I'm thinking 6# or 8#.  I plan on using this in Lake Tahoe where lake trout are often caught about 180' to 200' down (reason why I changed out the cable).  Thanks.

Can't say for sure, but you should be OK up to about 10# or so. I would suggest using a "pancake" style weight to reduce blowback. Have you tried contacting Big Jon?

Yes, I've contacted them, but still waiting for a response. We have a pretty good fishing store nearby with a great selection of downrigger weights and I'll pay a little extra for the right style. I don't want to drop a round ball 200' down. Any more thoughts on that?

The pancake style weights with a stabilizing fin have worked for me in the past. If you are running just 1 downrigger, get one that runs straight as opposed to the units that pull off to the side as these will run shallower than the straight ones. You will already be dealing with 15 or so feet of 'blowback' with 175' of cable out. A low frequency locator will often pick up your weight and give you a better idea of actual depth.

Thanks for the tips. I have a second downrigger that I just put on 200' of line on that as well. I've been using a 4# weight with that for the past several years, but only down to 100'. The longer cable may have me increasing the size of the weight for that as well. I just received a reply from Big Jon Company saying I can go up to 10# on the Runabout rigger. So, a pancake is a good choice if I'm running two riggers at 200'?

I have found the pancake weights superior in any application. If you are running 2 riggers the curved fin weights will give you more separation and hopefully fewer tangles but you trade depth as a result.

Again, thanks. Tangling is a hassle, especially when you're deep and you're totally unaware that you're tangled. Time just wasted trolling around wrapped up lines.

First of all you did not say wether it was a manual downrigger or electric? If you are using a manual downrigger it will depend on your strength but I would thank that you won't want to be using and cranking up more than an eight pound ball. Most Big Jon electric downriggers will easily handle up to an 12 pound ball with no problem. The weight of your weight or ball is more about the depth you are fishing and the speed you are trolling at. If your fishing shallow and at slow speed and especially with a manual DR, then a 4 or 6 lb ball will do the trick. With greater depths and some speed you should be thinking 8, 10 or 12 lb wieghts. As you get depth and trolling speed and especially in current you will see your downrigger line not hanging straight but with a lot of blow back which you can compensate for if you wish. I like to fish a 8 pound DR weight and sometimes i get a bit of blow back or big bow in my downrigger line but it puts a lot less stress on my Scotty electric DR to retrieve a 8 lb ball. My Scotty will easily handle 14 lb balls and I do have 10 and 12 lb weights but seldom use them. 8 pound balls are less money to purchase and not as bad to replace if ya hang one up on the bottom. I also use a rubber snubber between my DR ball and cable which really helps my ball bounce if it contacts bottom with the 8 pound ball. I have not lost a ball since using snubbers.

Walt tell me more about the snubbers you use or recomend. Are they all the same? Do they come in differant lengths or poundage?

Frank Scotty sells a few different snubbers and two of those are meant for the weight of the downrigger balls. I personally like and prefer the Big Jon 11" heavy snubber which is designed for the DR ball. You attach it between the DR cable and the DR ball. They were on my Big Jon downriggers on my old boat an d are now on my Scotty DRs on the new boat. Best place to buy them for pricing is Coldwater Tackle or: http://www.coldwatertackle.com/big-jon-snubbers

I just bought some new ones this season and retired my old ones that I used for maybe 3 or 4 years. I have not broken or lost one as yet... "knock on wood"