How Far Back Should You Set Baits Behind Downrigger Balls?

Walleye pro Mark Courts talks about how and where he rigs baits behind downrigger balls to catch walleyes.

November 03, 2021 By Mark Courts

How far back to set your baits behind a downrigger ball depends on a variety of factors, as Walleye pro Mark Counts explains in this video.

Recommended Articles

The Seiche Effect: How Wind-Driven Current Affects Fishing

Dan O'Sullivan

Vandam's All Time Texas Bass Fishing Favorites

Alan McGuckin

5 Ways Underwater Cameras Will Help You Catch More Fish

Ross Robertson

How to Fish a Breakwall

Andrew Pegman

6 Reasons to Start Building Custom Fishing Rods

In-Fisherman Staff

Steelhead Trout Niçoise Salad Recipe

How to CLEAN Cork Handles on Your FISHING RODS

In-Fisherman Staff

Top 10 Rules to Avoid Childhood Fishing Burnout

Pete Robbins

The Magic of Forward-Facing Sonar

Justin Brouillard

The BEST Swim Bait Retrieve

In-Fisherman Staff

Double Down On The Shad Spawn

David A. Brown

Recent Videos

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

Finesse Tips for Great Lakes Smallmouth Bass with Capt. Ross Robertson

Learn

Finesse Tips for Great Lakes Smallmouth Bass with Capt. Ross Robertson

Renowned Great Lakes walleye guide and owner/operator of Bigwater Guide Service, Capt. Ross Robertson shares some smallmouth bass fishing tips, especially regarding finesse applications. Robertson knows how important the right hook is for anything that swims and he has reliable solutions for your next smallmouth adventure. Good stuff here, check it out!

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Coors x Ross Reels Collab

Coors x Ross Reels Collab

Mayfly Outdoors and Ross Reels are launching a new Coors Banquet Cimarron reel in a 4/5 size, with additional sizes and a limited-edition drop to follow. The goal is to raise up to $100,000 for river conservation efforts through their partnership with Trout Unlimited.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

Doug Stange: Early In-Fisherman Magazine Development

Learn

Doug Stange: Early In-Fisherman Magazine Development

In-Fisherman Editor in Chief Doug Stange sits down with host Thomas Allen for his second interview reminiscing about the early days of In-Fisherman magazine.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Lift-and-Drop Baits For Walleyes

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Lift-and-Drop Baits For Walleyes

Walleyes are known to be finicky critters, but applying the right jig and bait combination is key to increased success. Color, weight and trailer are all important parts, but the action you impart on the presentation might be the most important part. Bothers Ron and Al Lindner break down the famous lift-and-drop presentation for big walleyes.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Jigs for Big Walleyes

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Jigs for Big Walleyes

Dave Csanda and Northland Tackle's John Petersen target big walleyes with big jigs and discuss the power of meaty presentations. The combination of rocks and walleyes on the Canadian Shield should make catching fish easy, you usually don't find one without the other. Hop in the boat with two walleye legends and learn how walleyes often prefer a bigger meal.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Snap Jigs for Big Walleyes

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Snap Jigs for Big Walleyes

Snap jigging has been around for a long time, and it continues to be a solid presentation for walleyes--even through the ice. In this throw-back video, the crew works on making big walleyes attack a snap jig--they talk about presentation selections, colors, weights and action. Al Lindner shares the secrets about effective snap jigging. Does the technique discussed in this video still hold up to what we know today?

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Walleyes Love Jigs Tipped with Soft Plastics

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Big Walleyes Love Jigs Tipped with Soft Plastics

In this throw-back In-Fisherman video, Al Lindner talks about livebait alternatives that work wonders in locations, rivers especially, when livebait may not be allowed. Check out this video and let us know how much has changed over the years.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Specialty Walleye Rigs in Rivers

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Specialty Walleye Rigs in Rivers

River-run walleyes act like walleyes should. If you ask Al Lindner, he'll tell you his favorite places to fish for walleyes during spring and fall are known river walleye destinations. What are the top presentations you need to keep handy to make the most out of a trip on the river? Listen in and begin writing your list--and how much has changed over the years?

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Late Ice with Legendary Ice Angler Dave Genz

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Late Ice with Legendary Ice Angler Dave Genz

In-Fisherman contributor Matt Straw joins Dave Genz to ply frozen waters looking for big panfish late in the ice season. The duo offers some tips and tactics based on seasonal movements and an deep understanding of where the fish prefer to be just prior to ice out. This is relevant information today, just as it was back then. Good stuff.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Proven spring crappie tactics

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Proven spring crappie tactics

In this throwback In-Fisherman video, the team talks about proven spring crappie tactics as the fish work their way through the spring months into prespawn and spawning phases of the year. Big crappies are among the most popular species to pursue before summer sets in, and the staff help illustrate a few reliable methods to find and catch big springtime crappies. How does this information hold up to today's crappie standards and techniques?

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding the Seasonal Movements of Yellow Perch

Learn

In-Fisherman Classics: Understanding the Seasonal Movements of Yellow Perch

Renowned perch jerkers Jimmy Lindner and Matt Straw work to find and catch quality yellow perch throughout the seasonal periods. They are considered a panfish and make some of the finest table fare, but they are easy to find if you understand where they like to feed and breed. The key is understanding their seasonal movements--listen to what the guys have to say to solve the perch puzzle.

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experie...

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Brook Trout Canadian Adventure

Gear

In-Fisherman Classics: Giant Brook Trout Canadian Adventure

Brook trout are among the most beautiful fish that swim, and they are a blast to catch. Matt Straw shares a cool experience in breathtaking Canadian waters, along with some tips and techniques to catch more fish. The adventures of Canadian fishing are truly world class--this video is no exception.

See All Videos

Buy Digital Single Issues

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the In-Fisherman App

apple store

google play store

Other Magazines

Game & Fish

Game & Fish

Game & Fish

Subscribe

In-Fisherman

In-Fisherman

In-Fisherman

Subscribe

Florida Sportsman

Florida Sportsman

Florida Sportsman

Subscribe

Fly Fisherman

Fly Fisherman

Fly Fisherman

Subscribe

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

2023 Fly Fisherman Destinations

Buy A Copy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

2023 Fly Fishing Made Easy

Buy A Copy

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

2023 Catfish In-Sider Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide

Buy A Copy

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

2023 Kayak Fishing Fun

Buy A Copy

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

2023 In-Fisherman Bass Guide Gear Box

Buy A Copy

See All Special Interest Magazines

More You May Be Interested In

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?

Subscribe Now