Cannonball Sinker and Hangers Kit - Downrigger Substitute

You don't need downriggers, leadcore or copper. Fisher Tackle Cannonball Sinkers and Hanger kits will get you to depth fast with a super low-profile cross-section that cuts through the water with less drag than any other attachment method. Perfect for Great Lakes king salmon, coho, and trout trolling- no downrigger required.  

DEEP: Comes with 4pcs of 1lb lead balls and a 4pc hanger kit.

SHALLOW: Comes with 3pcs of 4oz, 3pcs of 8oz balls and a 4pc hanger kit.

I use a 75lb Spro roller swivel to attach my hanger/weights. You can also use a crimped down solid ring or even tie a loop in the line. I run my braid to the swivel and then a 20ft-ish mono leader off the other end with a snap swivel at the end of the leader. Clip a lure on and let line out until you reach the swivel, then hang the sinker thru the rear eye of the swivel. Reset your line-counter and let her out. When retrieving, simply lift the weight up and out of the swivel. Gravity will keep it in place. Super easy.

And the added weight of a larger sinker helps to keep slack out of the line and keep fish hooked-up.  Especially helpful for less experienced anglers.

See my videos here: Running 1lb Balls
and Using FT Hangers with Lead Balls

See pic of the chart for a quick look at how speed affects depth. 1st number is line out...2nd is depth as read from a SmartTroll probe attached to leader in place of spoon. Speed was via GPS while maintaining a constant heading. 

Remember lead/sinkers are very speed dependent...

At 0mph the depth achieved is equal to the amount of line out.  So let out 50ft...speed 0...depth will be 50ft. 

At 40mph the depth achieved will be about 0...with the sinker skipping along on the surface!  So by varying speed, you can reach all depths in between...and changing speed will cause fish-triggering vertical changes in your lures/spread.

FWIW...I've never lost an 8oz or 16oz weight. And I hadn't lost any weights ever until this year...a 3ozer and a 4ozer. One on a fish and one retrieving line to change a spoon. Both times the fisherman was reeling like mad and bouncing pole like crazy. Really it was kinda an operator issue. But I guess it can happen...

2026 season: lost 2 balls...first was a 1lber the wire loop broke on the actual sinker???  2nd was a 8ozer on a fish...just gone...dunno.  Gonna make hook length longer. 

I have used up to 2lb balls.  They work great on big flashers or if you have to get really deep.