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Use Dipsy/Slide Divers to Catch More Fish
Written By: Jason Sutton
In the world of Great Lakes trolling, there are many techniques used to catch fish. But few are as unique and versatile as the use of divers. And probably the most popular diver setup on the market today is the Dipsy Diver.
WHAT ARE DIPSY DIVERS
Dipsy divers are plastic disks that are used to get trolled bait down and away from the boat. A weighted dial on the bottom of the Dipsy is used to change the position of the weight relative to a fin on the top. The main line is attached to a clip that pivots and snaps into a groove on the Dipsy body such that the main line pulls from the disk center. Meanwhile, the leader and bait trail from the back end of the disk. When placed in the water, the weighted side of the Dipsy tips downward and as the boat moves, moving water hitting the surface of the disk causes the Dipsy to “dive” down and away from the boat. When a fish strikes, the added tension in the leader pulls the clip free of the grove, allowing the dipsy to swim easily without added tension so that the fish can be brought in.
WHAT ARE SLIDE DIVERS
A diver that is very similar to the dipsy diver is the slide diver. In principle, these work the same way the dipsy divers work with one distinction. Instead of attaching the main line and the leader separately to the device like one would with a dipsy diver, the slide diver is made to allow the main (or a long leader) line to pass through the device through a hole going through the main body. This allows the bait on the line (or leader) to be let out an unlimited distance behind the diver. Some anglers prefer this if they are concerned that the diver is deterring fish. When a fish hits, the diver trips the same way the dipsy trips allowing the diver to slide down the line to the bait, allowing the fish to be easily netted. Although this article focuses on dipsy divers, most of the information applies to the slide diver as well.
WHAT YOU CAN CATCH USING DIPSY DIVERS
The species that are targeted using Dipsy Divers are game fish that tend to roam open water. Walleye, brown trout, steelhead, Atlantic salmon, Coho (silver) salmon, pink salmon, Chinook (king) salmon and lake trout are all species that are typically targeted when using Dipsy Divers.
WHAT CAN I TROLL BEHIND A DIPSY DIVER
Anglers in the Great Lakes region troll all sorts of baits behind Dipsy Divers. Popular baits include trolling spoons, dodgers with flies or meat rigs, and even body baits.
HOW DEEP DOES A DIPSY DIVER GO
Dipsy Divers come in several sizes. Some also come with a plastic ring that can be attached to the main disk which increases its surface area and thus the depth achieved. The smallest Dipsy Diver is known as the “Mini Dipsy”. It is 2¼” in diameter and has a maximum depth of 20’. The largest
Dipsy has a diameter of 4 7/8” and can reach a depth of 100’ when the ring is added. Each unit comes with a chart which indicates the depth for each baseplate setting with and without the ring attached.
WHERE AND WHEN YOU SHOULD USE A DIPSY DIVER
In deeper water, such as when fishing offshore in Great Lakes waters for salmon and trout, the divers are often used as a part of a diverse trolling spread and cover the mid-depth range of the spread. In these setups, downriggers are used to cover the deepest depths, Dipsies, the middle depths, and lead core lines on boards cover the shallowest depths. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t employ Dipsies more often. In fact, for a lot of smaller boats, the use of downriggers may not be practical. For these anglers, the Dipsies can help reach depths of water that may not otherwise be attainable.
For shallow-water fishing, smaller Dipsies are usually employed. Many walleye anglers use small trolling spoons. Because trolling spoons don’t dive on their own, small Dipsy divers are often used to get the bait down to the fish. Another common use for smaller Dipsies is when targeting early spring salmon and brown trout in shallow waters of less than 50’. The smaller Dipsies allow you to get more line out, which gets the baits away from the boat, while at the same time achieving the depth required to induce a strike.
TROLLING SPEED
The speed at which you troll a Dipsy depends on a lot of factors such as water temperature and underwater currents. Typical trolling speeds range from 2-3 mph. According to the manufacturer, the depths shown in the charts supplied with the Dipsies are based on a 2.5-3.0 mph trolling speed. If you are trolling outside of that range the rigs will drop or rise by as much as 10% for every 1 mph.
HOW TO RIG UP A DIPSY DIVER
A Dipsy Diver rig consists of the Dipsy Diver itself tied to the main line. This is followed by an optional rubber shock absorber, known as a snubber, which is especially important if the braid is used as the main line. Next comes a 4-6’ leader with the bait attached.
When placing a dodger and fly combination or meat rigs behind the Dipsy, I like to use a 4’ leader between the Dipsy and the Dodger. This ensures that the overall distance between the Dipsy and bait won’t be too long, and you’ll still be able to net the fish. When using a trolling spoon or body bait behind the Dipsy you can let the leader be 6’ or even 8’ long. The bottom line here is that you don’t want the bait more than about 8’ from the rod or the fish will become difficult, if not impossible, to net.
MAKE LEADERS FOR DIPSIES AHEAD OF TIME
The time to make up leaders for Great Lakes trolling is not when you are on the water. Bright light and a bouncing boat make it difficult to perform these tasks on the fly. And when the bite is hot, you want to be able to adjust your bait setup quickly to increase your odds of putting more fish in the boat.
For Dipsy rigs, you’ll want to have a bunch of 4’-6’ leaders made up. I like to run these between 2 ball-bearing swivels with welded rings (see below). Having these pre-made up prior to your fishing trip allows you to quickly attach the Dipsy to your spoon, body bait or dodger/flasher.
USE FLUOROCARBON LEADERS
When trolling for anything in the Great Lakes or any lake with clear water, fluorocarbon is the material of choice. Its low visibility properties really increase your odds of hooking fish in clear water. However, it’s important to remember that fluorocarbon is a low stretch line, so if you are using braid for the main line, including the snubber behind the Dipsy is an absolute must.
USE BALL BEARING AND WELDED RING SWIVELS
Split-ring connections are not advisable in these heavy-duty trolling setups. The nature of the split ring introduces sharp edges and grooves to your leader line knots that can fray and weaken them, increasing the odds of losing fish. Welded rings have a smooth surface that doesn’t allow for lines to be cut when in contact.
Ball bearings are also preferred to a barrel swivel. There is much less friction on these swivels which keep them from binding which can cause your rig to get twisted up and not swim right.
FLIES AND MEAT RIGS
You’ll also want your meat and fly rigs made up and ready to go. Each rig should be ready to attach to the dodger or flasher of your choice. For these connections, I prefer to tie a loop at the end of the rig leader large enough to allow me to pass the rig back through the loop when attaching it to the swivel or ring that is typically supplied with the flasher/dodger.
ROD, REEL AND ROD HOLDERS
As a final word, Dipsy Divers can put a lot of stress on your fishing rod, so you’ll need a stout 8.5’-9’ trolling rod and a tubular style rod holder mounted firmly to your boat to place the rods in. Happy Fishing!