Cannon Optimum 10 BT Electric Downrigger 2-Pack with Black Covers

The Cannon Optimum 10 BT 2-Pack with Black Covers is Cannon Downriggers' flagship connected electric downrigger sold as a matched pair, configured for twin-station port/starboard installs on serious offshore and Great Lakes trolling rigs. If you fish for salmon, steelhead, lake trout, king mackerel, kingfish, walleye, or any other species where precise depth control matters more than the lure itself, you already know the difference a quality downrigger makes. The Optimum is Cannon's top model - faster retrieve, smarter controls, wireless networking, and connected-app integration that the entry Mag/Mini lines don't deliver.

What's in the box. Two complete Optimum 10 BT downrigger units, each with: a 10 inch electric downrigger head with full-color 3.5 inch LCD display, a heavy-duty telescopic boom that extends from 24 inches to 53 inches, a low-profile 360-degree swivel mounting base, a composite spool pre-loaded with 400 feet of 150-lb stainless steel cable, two dual-axis adjustable rod holders, an integrated ball storage hook, a Line Terminator with two Uni-Line Releases, and a manual crank handle as backup if the boat's 12V system ever fails mid-trip. Plus a black protective cover for each head unit (the '/COVERS' in the part number) - the cover that's normally an upsell accessory is included with this configuration for trailering protection, off-season storage, and dockside dust protection.

The 250-feet-per-minute retrieve - why it matters. Cannon claims industry-leading 250 fpm retrieve speed, and on the water this matters more than any other single spec. When you're trolling at 2.5 mph and a fish hits, you've got seconds before the fish either throws the hook or wraps the line in the cable. Pulling the downrigger weight up out of the way fast enough to keep the rigger ball from interfering with the fight is what separates landed fish from lost fish on busy multi-line trolls. At 250 fpm, an Optimum brings a weight from 100 feet down to the surface in 24 seconds. Slower competing downriggers (180-200 fpm typical) take 30+ seconds for the same retrieve - which is the difference between a fish on the deck and a fish gone. The 250 fpm retrieve also matters when you're running multi-line spreads and need to quickly clear a downrigger to deploy a different bait or change depth - faster retrieve means more bait changes per hour, which translates directly to more strikes.

Smart trolling features built into the head. The Optimum head is essentially a small computer dedicated to keeping bait in the strike zone. Depth Cycling automatically oscillates the weight up and down through a set range (say 35-55 ft) at a programmable interval - mimicking baitfish moving through the thermocline and triggering reaction strikes from suspended predators. Preset Depths memorizes up to five favorite running depths - tap one button and the downrigger goes back to the exact depth where you hooked that 35 lb king last drop. Bottom Tracking holds the weight at a set distance above the lake or sea floor (say 8 ft) and adjusts in real time as bottom depth changes - perfect for trolling over structure where the bottom rises and falls. Positive Ion Control emits adjustable positive ions along the steel cable, creating an electromagnetic field that attracts fish to the bait zone (some anglers swear by it, others see no measurable difference - the feature is fully adjustable and can be turned off entirely if you don't believe in it). Auto Up retrieves all networked weights simultaneously with one button press - useful when you're on a fish and need to clear the deck fast. Waterline Zero automatically stops the weight a set distance below the surface on retrieve so swinging balls don't beat up your boom or your gelcoat.

Wireless networking - the BT in the name. The 'BT' designation indicates the wireless networking feature that's the headline upgrade in this generation of Optimum. Up to four Optimum BT downriggers connect wirelessly to each other and to compatible fish finders. The networking matters because it eliminates the run of control wires from each downrigger position back to the helm - a real installation problem on bigger boats with downriggers mounted on rear corners or pulpit positions. With BT networking, each downrigger is electrically independent (only needs power) and you control all of them from a single point - whether that's the downrigger head display, a compatible fish finder at the helm with downrigger integration, or the Cannon mobile app on your phone. Tournament captains run a pair of downriggers off the rear corners, two more off planer boards forward, and control all four from the helm without leaving the wheel - the wireless networking makes that workflow practical for the first time.

Cannon mobile app integration. The free Cannon app for iOS and Android gives you full downrigger control from your phone - depth, speed, retrieve, deploy, presets, ion control settings, all of it. The app also handles firmware updates over Bluetooth so the downriggers stay current without needing to plug into a computer. On bigger boats where the angler isn't necessarily at the helm, the app means you can adjust downrigger depth from anywhere on the deck while staying focused on the rod. The app also logs trolling data (depth vs time, retrieve events, ion settings used) which serious tournament anglers use for post-trip analysis.

Mechanical build quality. The 10 inch electric head is sealed for marine duty with waterproof connections at every electrical interface. The 24-53 inch telescopic boom is heavy-duty (not the lighter aluminum on the entry Mag downriggers) and locks at any extension point. The 360-degree swivel base is low-profile to keep the downrigger out of the way during routine cockpit work and pivots smoothly under fishing load. The composite spool resists corrosion better than the older anodized aluminum spools and pre-loads with 400 ft of 150-lb stainless steel cable - enough for any reasonable Great Lakes or offshore trolling depth (most trolling happens in the 30-150 ft range, even 'deep' summer lake trout typically tops out at 200 ft). The 20-lb weight capacity handles up to 15 lb cannonballs with safety margin for current load. Dual-axis adjustable rod holders take any standard 1.25 inch rod butt and position the rod at any angle for clean line release on a strike.

Why buy the 2-pack instead of two singles. The 2-pack is the way Cannon configures matched-pair installs for serious anglers, and the per-unit pricing on the 2-pack is meaningfully better than buying two singles. Almost every Optimum installation on a center console or convertible runs as a matched pair (one port, one starboard) - rarely is a single downrigger the right answer for a boat in the size class that justifies Optimum-level downriggers. The 2-pack also gets you a pair of head units with sequential serial numbers, which simplifies wireless pairing on initial setup. And the '/COVERS' configuration adds protective covers for both head units - which Cannon sells separately at $40-50 each, so the bundled covers are real value.

What's NOT included. Cannonball weights (sold separately - typical recommendation is 12-15 lb pancake or torpedo style depending on trolling speed and depth). Mounting bolts for the swivel base into your gunnel or transom bracket (standard hardware, source locally). Power wiring from the boat's 12V system to the downriggers (use #10 AWG minimum, fused at the battery). And the optional Fish Hawk X4D system for true running depth and speed at the weight (a $700 add-on for serious tournament anglers).

Warranty. Limited lifetime warranty from Cannon on the head and mechanical components. Cannon has been the leading downrigger brand for 50+ years and warranty support is well-established with US-based service.