Using Cannon Optimum and Optimum TS (2020-Present)

Updated October 01, 2024 14:15

This article give an overview of using the Optimum and Optimum TS electric downriggers.

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Optimum Anatomy

Serial Number Location

The serial number on your Cannon Optimum downrigger is located on the bottom of the downrigger frame.
It can also be found on the About Screen within the Cannon downrigger operating system.

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Attaching Rod Holder

Attach the rod holder elbow to the downrigger on the left side using the supplied spring and knob.
Fasten rod holder to rod holder elbow using supplied spring and knob. The rod holder can be adjusted by loosening either knob until the locking teeth are free from each other. Rotate the rod holder or arm to the desired position and re-tighten knob.
CAUTION: This rod holder is intended for use of up to 30 lb. test line only and is not recommended for use with any tackle IGFA (International Game Fish Association) rated higher than 30 lb. A safety strap (not included) is recommended for all applications.
NOTE: The rod holder assembly is not covered under warranty when used with tackle above 30 lbs. Equipment placed in the rod holders and the loss thereof is the responsibility of the user and is in no way warranted by Johnson Outdoors, Inc. Mounting must be in accordance with the above instructions to comply with the product warranty.

Rigging Guide

Connecting the Cannon Transducer to an Optimum or Optimum TS Downrigger

The Cannon Transducer (Item #1491072) is an optional accessory available for your Optimum, Optimum TS, Digi-Troll 10, and Digi-Troll 10 TS downriggers. It operates on 120kHz. When installed on your Digi-Troll, the Digi-Troll will be able to Bottom Track to keep your trolling weight a select offset distance from the bottom.

When installed on the Master Optimum, you will be able to see a full-color 2D sonar view on the Master downrigger. You can also view the surface depth and Bottom Track by networking up to four downriggers to troll at set distances from the bottom with a single transducer. Each Optimum will be able to see surface depth and Bottom Track. The Client Optimums will not receive the 2D sonar data as the network is a Bluetooth network and displaying a 2D sonar images it requires more information than a Bluetooth connection will allow.

Proper transducer installation is critical to the performance of the Bottom Tracking feature. For best results, follow all mounting instructions included with the Cannon Transducer carefully, before beginning the directions below, to connect the Transducer to the Optimum downrigger. Once the Transducer is installed according to the provided instructions, route the 28' Transducer Cable to our downrigger. When routing the Transducer Cable give consideration to the following:

Route the Transducer Cable in a way that will not cause damage to the cable jacket.
Keep the Transducer Cable away from ignition, tachometer, alternator and other electrical wiring to prevent interference.
Do not cut, splice or shorten the Transducer Cable. Coil the excess cable into a loop like a figure 8 and loosely secure it in place where it will not be a tripping hazard or be damaged from external forces. Do not kink the cables.

Connecting the Cannon Transducer to a Bluetooth enabled downrigger that is networked to one or more downriggers will make it the Master downrigger. If a Master downrigger already exists in the downrigger network, connecting the transducer to any other downrigger in the network, except for an existing Master downrigger will disrupt the network. See the "Connecting the Downrigger" section of these instructions for more information on downrigger connectivity and Master downriggers

Before connecting the Cannon Transducer to the Optimum, make sure that the Optimum downrigger is turned "off".
Review the Transducer Cable routing considerations above and route the Transducer Cable in the boat so that is reaches the downrigger following the guidelines provided.
Locate the Transducer Input on the bottom side of the downrigger body. The Transducer Input is located just to the left of where the Power Cable exits the downrigger body. The Transducer Input is covered by a tethered Cap to keep the downrigger body water tight. Remove the Cap so that the Transducer Cable from the Cannon Transducer can be plugged in.
Examine the Transducer Input and the end of the Transducer Cable coming from the Cannon Transducer. Notice how the connection is keyed. Align the keys and press the connection firmly together.

Optimum Setup Guide and Menu Defaults

When powering the downrigger "on" for the first time, the Color LCD will bring up a Setup Guide. In order to follow through the Setup Guide, first become familiar with the downrigger keypad. When comfortable with the keypad, follow through the Setup Guide to customize downrigger settings before beginning to use the downrigger for fishing. The Setup Guide will also appear the first time that the downrigger is powered "on" after the defaults have been restored.

Keypad Functions

POWER
When the downrigger is "off", press to turn the downrigger "on". When the downrigger is "on", a quick press will open the Power Menu or pressing and holding for 3 seconds will power the downrigger "off".
UP
When all menus are closed, press to control the Spool to bring the weight up and the line in. The weight will continue to come up until the button is released or the line counter reaches "0". If the downrigger is currently moving the line when pressed, it will cancel the action. When any menu is open, pressing it will cycle up through the menu options. If the menu reaches the top of the list it will move to the bottom and continue to move up the options.
AUTO UP
Single press to automatically bring the weight up and the line in at speed 5. The weight will continue to come up until the line counter reaches 0 or Short Stop is engaged even when the button in released. Single press and hold to bring the weight up for all downriggers in the Network. Use the Right button to confirm the Auto Up All selection. The weights for all downriggers will continue to come up following the same controls for a single downrigger.
DOWN
When all menus are closed, press to control the Spool to send the weight down and the line out. The weight will continue to go down until the button is released or the line is completely let out. If the downrigger is currently moving the line when pressed, it will cancel the action. When any menu is open, pressing will cycle down through the menu options. If the menu reaches the bottom of the list it will move to the top and continue to move down the options.
LEFT
Press to make selections, adjustments to menus or change Views.
RIGHT
Press to make selections, adjustments to menus or change Views. When menu selections are finalized, press to close the menu.
MENU
When the Color LCD has any one of the Views open on the screen, a single press will open the Quick Menu for the View displayed. Double press from any View to open the Settings Menu. If the Settings Menu is open, pressing again will close the menu. If a Quick Menu is open, a single press will open the Settings Menu.
PRESET DEPTHS
Press to open the Preset Depths Menu and to access Last Depth Recall.
EXIT
Press to exit or close menus. Returns Color LCD to the last screen or View.

Setup Guide

The Setup Guide is a set of menus that help the user select settings to help with downrigger operation. All of the options in the Setup Guide can be accessed in menus within the downrigger if preferences change after initial setup. The Setup Guide will first bring up a menu that gives the user the option to select Language, Battery Alarm, Temperature, Depth/Distance and Speed. Use the Up button and the Down button to scroll to the options in the list and use the Right button and the Left button to change the setting for each one. Once the options in the first menu are selected, scroll to the Continue option and use the Right button to select it. This brings up a second menu in the Setup Guide.

The second menu allows the user to select the amount of Line on Spool, Line Type and Line Weight. The second menu is navigated in the same way as the first. Once happy with the selections, scroll to the Complete Setup option and use the Right button to select it. After the second menu is complete, the downrigger will bring up information on the Cannon Transducer. Read the information on the Color LCD and then use the Right button to Select next. This is followed by a message about the Fish Hawk and Humminbird® fish finder. Read the messages and then use the Right button to select Next. Selecting next on the Humminbird screen completes the Setup Guide.

LANGUAGE
Choose between 1 of 22 languages. The default language is English. Use the Right button to confirm the language and make sure that the radio button to the right of the desired language is selected.
BATTERY ALARM
Shows an alarm when the battery drops below a certain voltage. The default is set to "off", but can be adjusted between 9.0V and 13.5V. Use the Right button or the Left button to edit the sliding scale.
TEMPERATURE
Sets the temperature readings to Fahrenheit or Celsius. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to Fahrenheit.
DEPTH/DISTANCE
Sets the Distance and Depth reading measurements in units of Feet or Meters. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to Feet.
SPEED
Sets the Speed measurements in units of mph (miles per hour), kph (kilometers per hour), or kts (knots). Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to mph.
LINE ON SPOOL
Program the downrigger with the amount of Line on the Spool. The spool comes installed with 400 feet of stainless steel line. The Line on the Spool is set to the default of 400 feet. The range can be adjusted from 150 feet, (the minimum suggested amount) to 400. The Line on Spool can be adjusted on 50-foot increments on a sliding scale that can be adjusted using the Right button or the Left button.
LINE TYPE
The default Line Type is stainless steel line, but can be set to either Braided, Stainless Steel or Mono. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options.
LINE WEIGHT
The default Line Weight is 50-150lbs, but can be set to either 50-150lbs, 150-200lbs or 200+lbs. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options.

Default Settings

Optimum downriggers are shipped with the following factory default settings.

To restore defaults, double press the Menu button from any downrigger View to open the Settings Menu. Use the Up button and the Down button to find Preferences in the Settings Menu. Use the Right button to select Preferences and open the Preferences Menu. Use the Up button and the Down button to find Restore Defaults in the Preferences Menu. Use the Right button to select Restore Defaults and then use the Right button again to confirm the selection. This restores all default settings on the downrigger. When restoring defaults, the downrigger will cycle power and reboot. The first time that the downrigger is powered back on after the defaults have been restored, the downrigger will bring up the Setup Guide. Read more about the Setup Guide in the Setup Guide section of this document.

Operation

Manual Descent: Fast or Slow By turning the clutch knob gently clockwise (toward the boom), you can let your trolling weight descend as fast or as slowly as you wish.
- Turning the knob counterclockwise (away from the boom) stops the weight.
- This gives you control to let it plunge rapidly or sink slowly to a predetermined trolling depth.
- With multiple downriggers, you could start all your weights creeping down, one at a time, and then stop them each in turn.
Powered Descent: One speed fits all.

Hold the toggle switch down until the weight reaches the desired depth and release.
The motor will stop when switch is released or moved to the off position.

Raising the Weight Push the toggle switch up momentarily and release. The weight will rise until it reaches the surface and then automatically stop.
- If you want to raise the weight farther push the toggle switch up and hold until the weight reaches the desired position, then release.
- To stop the weight during ascent, push the toggle switch down momentarily (approximately 1 second).

The Short Stop System The Short Stop system is composed of three critical components: the electronic unit, the reel conductive path, and the trolling weight insulator.
- While the downrigger cable is in the water, there is a small electrical current that flows between the cable and the grounded metal boat components in the water.
- When the cable clears the water, this current flow will stop.
- The Short Stop system senses this interruption and turns off the motor.
- The trolling weight insulator is used to break the cable contact to the water while the weight is still in the water.
- The reel conductive path allows the circuit path to be made through the structure of the downrigger.

Language - Choose between 1 of 22 languages. The default language is English. Use the Right button to confirm the language and make sure that the radio button to the right of the desired language is selected.
Battery Alarm - Shows an alarm when the battery drops below a certain voltage. The default is set to "off", but can be adjusted between 9.0V and 13.5V. Use the Right button or the Left button to edit the sliding scale.
Temperature - Sets the temperature readings to Fahrenheit or Celsius. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to Fahrenheit.
DEPTH/DISTANCE - Sets the Distance and Depth reading measurements in units of Feet or Meters. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to Feet. Speed - Sets the Speed measurements in units of mph (miles per hour), kph (kilometers per hour), or kts (knots). Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options. The default is set to mph.
Line on Spool - Program the downrigger with the amount of Line on the Spool. The spool comes installed with 400 feet of stainless steel line. The Line on the Spool is set to the default of 400 feet. The range can be adjusted from 150 feet, (the minimum suggested amount) to 400. The Line on Spool can be adjusted on 50-foot increments on a sliding scale that can be adjusted using the Right button or the Left button.
Line Type - The default Line Type is stainless steel line, but can be set to either Braided, Stainless Steel or Mono. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options.
Line Weight - The default Line Weight is 50-150lbs, but can be set to either 50-150lbs, 150-200lbs or 200+lbs. Use the Right button or the Left button to scroll between the options.
Positive Ion Control System Your boat has an electrical charge around the hull in water. If a boat is properly grounded and has a proper zinc anode, that charge should be slightly positive when measured from ground to the downrigger cable.
- Positive Ion Control (PIC) is the use of electricity to control that charge and its fluctuation so that it is always maintained at a specified set voltage.
- The practice of setting up and maintaining a slight positive charge on fishing gear has been used by commercial fishermen for many years. This practice has enabled some fisherman to increase yield when used along with other good fishing and boating practices.
- Cannon’s electric downriggers offer fishermen a big advantage in being able to stabilize and control the positive charge around their boat.
- Because of the composite construction of the frame, Cannon downriggers are insulated from your boat’s hull charge. When the stainless-steel downrigger cable is lowered into the water, the natural ionization between the cable and the boat creates a positive charge of 0.7 to 0.9 volts in saltwater and 0.3 to 0.6 volts in fresh water. This natural voltage is dependent upon salinity and mineral content of the water. Your actual voltage may vary

Adjust the Brightness of the Optimum Display

Press the Power Key once to adjust the Backlight on the LCD or change the Display Mode from Day Mode to Night Mode. When multiple downriggers are networked, this change will occur on the entire network.

Power Off All

When a downrigger network is established, you can power down all the downriggers on the network at the same time. To do this, Select the Power Key from any downrigger, scroll to Power Off All and hit the Right Arrow (>) to shut down the entire network.

Blowback

Simply stated, blowback is what happens to the downrigger weight when you pull it through the water behind your boat. As your speed increases, so does the horizontal distance between the weight and your downrigger. The faster you go, the farther the weight is behind you. The farther the weight is behind you, the shallower the weight is.

The following charts provide you with blowback information for three sizes of Cannon downrigger weights pulled at three different speeds with no lures attached and with no current.

Current drag, water salinity and the use of non-Cannon products will affect your actual trolling depth. As an example, the first chart shows that if you are trolling at 4 MPH with an 8-pound weight and you have 100FT. of cable in the water with no current; the down rigger ball is actually at a depth of about 80 FT.

Networking the Optimum

Through the One-Boat Network™, the Cannon Optimum downrigger can be wirelessly networked to give you total control of your downrigger from anywhere on your boat. If you want to put bait on target, you’ve got to fish smarter. The new Optimum™ downrigger is positively ingenious. This smart, connected system gives you access to critical trolling data and lets you raise, lower and cycle weights using the full-color LCD display, or your mobile device. No matter where you are on the boat, you’re in charge. And the fish won’t know what hit them.

The network works by designating one Master downrigger that is paired with all additional equipment through a wireless network. This network includes up to 3 additional Optimum downriggers, a mobile device, the Fish Hawk X4D System and a Cannon transducer. Any one of the Optimum downriggers in the network can be designated as the Master downrigger. The Master downrigger is the central communication hub for the network in which all devices are paired to. Complete the “Installing the Optimum” and “Battery & Wiring” sections of these instructions before setting up the Cannon Optimum downrigger wireless network. Carefully read the information below about how the network functions and then continue to the following sections to pair the additional equipment to the network to set it up for proper control.

Click here for Cannon Optimum Manual for Networking Instructions