Born Again Downriggers - Original Boat Mag Article
This page preserves Andrew Hestelow's original Born Again ... Downriggers! article from The Boat Mag, pages 40–41. The historical article explains the development of Andrew's downrigger fishing approach and the use of controlled-depth live bait for Australian species including kingfish.
The original magazine spread is reproduced below and remains available as the original PDF. The scans and PDF have been retained as historical material rather than rewritten to describe the equipment Downrigger Shop sells today.
Historical article: Product designs, equipment, fishing practices and other details shown in this archived material may have changed since publication. For current instructions and the current manual model, see How to Use a Downrigger: Setup & Fishing Guide.
Download the original Born Again Downriggers PDF
Original Boat Mag Article
About This Historical Downrigger Article
The article describes how fishing for Spanish mackerel in northern Australia, followed by experience with downriggers on the Great Lakes in the United States, helped shape Andrew's approach to controlled-depth trolling back home.
The core idea remains useful: use a downrigger together with a sounder to present bait closer to fish holding below the surface. The equipment and detailed operating instructions, however, should be read in their historical context.
For a current explanation of the technique, see What Is a Downrigger? How Downrigger Fishing Works. For modern step-by-step instructions using the current manual Downrigger Shop system, see How to Use a Downrigger: Setup & Fishing Guide.