Hi PRD,

We are still between boats here (new one is being rigged next week hopefully), but up until a few weeks ago our downriggers have been our bread and butter accounting for most of our keepers in July and August. I am scheduled to go out and help tune some one else's riggers for them here shortly and I will post what we find.

Generally we work spoons on the riggers and put the Bandits etc. on boards. Here are our basics that have consistently produced.
We have been working the line from roughly North of the Huron dump to the weather buoy. Trolling near 3.0 MPH most days.

Suggestions: Use 8 or 10 # weights at these speeds. We use a fish Hawk to dial in exact bait speeds and depths but if you don't have one I would strongly recommend S turns to help you find the best speed. Remember speed changes if you change boat direction. Particularly if you go up or down seas.

We also oscillate our riggers until we dial in a depth range.

The small spoons were producing best but the larger ones should be coming on any time now, I just haven't been able to confirm this.
Also your choice of Chicken Wing is solid. Also try, Nascar, blue chrome and wonder bread, all have been strong producers this year depending on sun - chromes spoons with sun and copper with overcast.

I hope this helps, don't give up on those riggers!