Trolling/fishing with dipsy divers

[Saltwater60]

I bought a few dispy divers to troll with because my son has some larger spinners and Muskie lures that only go down a few feet. We fish in 15-20 feet of water a lot of times and the beam on the boat is only 6’ so we cross lines here and there. This will be my first time using them and I know the basics but any pointers? We use braided line so I did get snubbers since I lost that huge Muskie(assuming it was a Muskie) last weekend. There’s some deeper holes that are 25-30’ I’d like to hit up as well for walleye and bass in the heat and this will allow us to get there. I bought size 0 and size 1 to get down 20-30 feet.

 

[GOYABEAN]

I bought a few dispy divers to troll with because my son has some larger spinners and Muskie lures that only go down a few feet. We fish in 15-20 feet of water a lot of times and the beam on the boat is only 6’ so we cross lines here and there. This will be my first time using them and I know the basics but any pointers? We use braided line so I did get snubbers since I lost that huge Muskie(assuming it was a Muskie) last weekend. There’s some deeper holes that are 25-30’ I’d like to hit up as well for walleye and bass in the heat and this will allow us to get there. I bought size 0 and size 1 to get down 20-30 feet.

Install some small outrigger

 

[Saltwater60]

Install some small outrigger

I have them and a great video. I added the dips divers in so that various lures can be fished at various depths. Also where I fish there is a lot of floating seaweed and I’m hoping the dipsy will catch it and keep the lure running true longer to have more lure in the water contact time and that equals catching more fish. Adding in k es that move off to the side is a bonus and will get the lures out of the prop wash and hopefully lead to more fish as well. There are shipping channels that are 30’ deep and I’m hoping to get some late summer bass and possibly walleye out of there.
I feel like the dipsy divers will add tons of versatility to my set up and what lures can be used. I also feel like the dipsys will allow me to fish 4 rods instead of the two I can fish now and increase my spread, deaths, and lure colors used. My son was excited because he can use his big buck tail spinner down 15-20’ deep now and he’s right he can. I know lots of guys use them for walleye and trout/salmon but not sure how many use them for bass, pike, and Muskie but I’m going to try it. I figure if salmon and trout hit set ups like that then my target species will as trout and salmon have great eyesight.

 

[pjzwtl]

I use them often along with my down riggers. You should be able to set them to track off to the sides a little and take wide gradual turns to prevent crossing lines.

 

[Saltwater60]

I use them often along with my down riggers. You should be able to set them to track off to the sides a little and take wide gradual turns to prevent crossing lines.

Thanks and that’s what I was hoping for. Do you find things like line weight, speed and current have a large impact on depth? I’m fishing the Niagara river and the st Lawrence river that has good current.

 

[OwnTheRide]

I came in here expecting some stories about fishing with drunk scuba divers.

I leave here disappointed.

 

[pjzwtl]

Line distance from the boat will be a large factor in overall depth. The further out the deeper it will go but farther out requires wider turns.
Species and lure type will determine speed and depth. I would also put a fluorocarbon leader between the diver and the lure if running braid.
Faster speed when trolling with the current slower when against it. For instance depending on the water temp using spoons for lakers and salmon on Champlain I average about 2-2.5mph. Also pick up an occasional smallmouth as well.
When I troll for walleye w generally just drift harness rigs down low.

 

[Saltwater60]

Line distance from the boat will be a large factor in overall depth. The further out the deeper it will go but farther out requires wider turns.
Species and lure type will determine dept. I would also put a fluorocarbon leader between the diver and the lure if running braid.
Faster speed when trolling with the current slower when against it. For instance depending on the water temp using spoons for lakers and salmon on Champlain I average about 2-2.5mph. Also pick up an occasional smallmouth as well.
When I troll for walleye w generally just drift harness rigs down low.

Thanks and I know distance will be the biggest factor or at least that’s what the chart says. Good to know about the wider turns the farther out because we do turn and at times the turns need to be tight. For a while I will only run two lines until I get used to them and then go with four rods.
I was wondering how much speed impacts the depths because we troll about 3 miles per hour and the chart is rated for 2.5 mph. I also don’t really expect a straight forward answer to this question but figured I would ask. Glad to know you catch some small mouth on dipsys because that will be my main target with pike and Muskie a bonus. Although my son wants to target Muskie more so that has been his target this fall.
Surprisingly I will catch walleye at this speed as well on crankbaits in about 20 feet of water in May. My boat doesn’t gear down too slow but we do alright for what I have and trolling produces much more fish than casting for me but I’d like to get into drifting crayfish as well. Thanks!!

 

[pjzwtl]

M

Thanks and I know distance will be the biggest factor or at least that’s what the chart says. Good to know about the wider turns the farther out because we do turn and at times the turns need to be tight. For a while I will only run two lines until I get used to them and then go with four rods.
I was wondering how much speed impacts the depths because we troll about 3 miles per hour and the chart is rated for 2.5 mph. I also don’t really expect a straight forward answer to this question but figured I would ask. Glad to know you catch some small mouth on dipsys because that will be my main target with pike and Muskie a bonus. Although my son wants to target Muskie more so that has been his target this fall.
Surprisingly I will catch walleye at this speed as well on crankbaits in about 20 feet of water in May. My boat doesn’t gear down too slow but we do alright for what I have and trolling produces much more fish than casting for me but I’d like to get into drifting crayfish as well. Thanks!!

If you need help running slower toss out a 5 gallon pail and tie it off to a stern cleat. I do this when the wind is at my back. It just needs to be back a safe distance from the prop. Speed will also cause a deeper or shallow dive respectively.
It will really be trial and error till you get dialed in with your gear.

 

[GOYABEAN]

I came in here expecting some stories about fishing with drunk scuba divers.

I leave here disappointed.

You need to contact @Darth for those types of adventures bunny costume and handcuffs not included

 

[Saltwater60]

M

If you need help running slower toss out a 5 gallon pail and tie it off to a stern cleat. I do this when the wind is at my back. It just needs to be back a safe distance from the prop. Speed will also cause a deeper or shallow dive respectively.
It will really be trial and error till you get dialed in with your gear.

Great idea. Thanks. It’s like one of those drifting socks. I should do this and I have plenty of 5 gallon pails.

 

[Saltwater60]

I received the dispy divers and read the directions and it said every increase in one MPH the depth increases by 10% and the thinner the line the deeper it will go. I also use 10-15 divers so they won’t get too much depth on a 6’ leader but I think I’ll cut off 5-10 foot of length and assume I’m hitting the same depth as stated on the chart. So essentially I’ll move the chart up one level.
I didn’t make it out today because other things and it’s pretty cold but maybe tomorrow, possibly during the week or next weekend for sure. Next weekend looks nice.