Z Wings or Weights

[bl]

When trolling down riggers deep for wahoo, tuna etc. what are the pros and cons of z wings or weights or is a large planer preferred?

bl

[Mike Avery]

I like the Z-wing. Gets you down deeper with less of an angle than regular planers or weights. Only issue is you have to slow the boat to clear it as it puts a lot of pressure on the line and downrigger.

[Woody Fish]

I just ordered a Z-Wing 500 for my next offshore trip. Literature sounds good and I don't like the length of wire/spider line necessary for the down rigger weights. I've asked Bishops Bait and Tackle (757-591-9300) to get me one to try and he was checking on the status of becoming a retailer. They are expensive though; $50.00 from Z-Wing, plus shipping, about the same at Cabella's. Sounds like it would also be good for deep water strippers.

[sloth]

I use a #24 Old Salty Planer. Never use the cannonball weights, too much blowback. I have never used a z-Wing, but I've heard they put a tremendous amount of strain on the downrigger boom.

[Casca Dura]

The Z wing works great, but it pulls hard. You will loose it eventually. I always do. Just lost one a couple of weeks ago. It's probably my 4th or 5th one. I may switch to 24 or 32 planer. Believe it or not the Z wing pulls harder than the #32 planer.

[TommyTuna]

ZWings are nice - don't bang your boat up, can adjust the fins to track outward from the boat but they pull HARD. Finally settled on 250# braid and breakoffs stopped.

The 500's angle of attack is almost the same as an Old Salty #32 - they advertise 19 degrees but i don't see that at 6 knots. The 250 pulls even harder, and would be a better bet slow trolling for stripers

[croakerpoker]

i ordered one from alltackle but last time i was in princess anne distributing they had one for the same price. ive only used mine once and i like it. its on #400 mono but from a downrigger the braid would be best. start slow and tie a rope to your top from the boom for support if it's too much strain.

[jfish]

Used to use them before putting a planer rod set up on the boat. Make suere you backing plate is a good one and like said above plain on losing one every now and then .. I used to lose one about twice a year. They tend to bend loose down near the wing. Try re-tying frequently and yo may get a few more trips out of them.

[wlybuger]

A z-wing puts a lot of stress on the downrigger and cable at 6-8 knots. Way more than a planer. The cable looks like it wants to pop any minute. Try a 13lbs pancake weight. They slice the water pretty well. And you can raise them with out slowing the boat.

[cbdaddy]

Love it. you will have to "tweak it" to get the best performance, and I disagree with the thought that you WILL lose it.... You HAVE to check the terminal tackle on your downrigger cables. It does pull hard but that is why there is little blow back. You can and must adjust the wing to get it runing where you want it in the spread. Say god bye to gel coat dings. I dont like the cable vibration that it has at higher speads offshore, Not sure if that "singing" cable helps or hinders. My buddy swapped his cable out with SSuper brad and foung even less blow back even truer dept while running and No vibration or "singing" in the cable.

Won't go back to ball again! (only use the ball when anchored up chunking, eeiling for stripers in ripping current and holding the garage door open on hot summer days).

Capt Wayne
"TUFF ENUFF"
VHF 16/ 68/72 Offshore

[Casca Dura]

I changed from cable to Braid several years ago. I was using 200lb and lost a z wing with it. Never lost one with cable, but the humm is a definate draw back. Now I've gone to 500lb Jerry Brown braid. There is a learning curve with these things.

[bl]

Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it.

bl