Whenever you’re going deep water trolling, the best tool to bring along is a downrigger. However, these complex devices can be quite expensive and many anglers would rather keep their wallets protected than shell out for a downrigger. If this sounds like you, then the dipsy diver device is the perfect tool for your deep water trolling.
Some of the best game fish – trout, walleye, or salmon – tend to dive deeper as the temperature shifts. This occurs primarily in the winter time as the warmer waters get deeper and deeper. The best place to find a salmon is in the transition zone where the water quickly switches from cold to warm. As this zone gets deeper, trolling for these fish requires a specialized tool.
With a dipsy diver, trolling in the deep has never been so accessible to anglers. The weighted disk allows your bait to reach the depths at which the trout and salmon can be found without much pause. The different width settings allow anglers to adjust where on the boat they will be trolling from. A dipsy diver offers plenty of deep trolling opportunities for all anglers.
Understanding the Dipsy Diver
So how does a dipsy diver work? In the simplest terms, a dipsy diver is a weighted disk that allows your line to get to the optimal depths for late season trout or salmon fishing. With a dipsy diver, you don’t have to worry too much about hooking weights onto the leader and can simply rely on the diver itself to carry the necessary weights. Different divers work better at different depths.
Once you’re at the perfect depth for the salmon or trout and the fish has taken your bait, it’s time to reel it in. With the dipsy diver, the lure pulls a line from the release mechanism which allows you to endure little resistance from the fish. At this point, the fight is all that’s left and the angler can fight freely without much interference from the line.
Little adjustments on the dipsy diver itself allow you to determine the width of your trolling. Many divers range from levels 1-3. The higher the level on your dipsy diver, the more width your trolling will offer. The dipsy diver is a fantastic tool for deep water trolling as it helps get your line to the proper depths, eliminates resistance during the fight, and expands your trolling capabilities.
When and How to Use a Dipsy Diver
The best time to use a dipsy diver is when the temperature shifts and the fish begin to dive deeper. This change occurs at different times in different areas, so it helps to be aware of what the local waters offer. The main purpose of a dipsy diver is to allow trolling in deeper waters, so if the fish are closer to the surface, the dipsy diver becomes useless.
Using a dipsy diver is easy as long as you have it set up properly. If your setup is weak, then the diver could come loose and you’ll lose much more than just the fish. The first bit of information we can give you about using the dipsy diver is to pair it with a strong line. The stronger your line, the less your chances of losing the diver.
Attach about six feet of leader to the diver before you tie on your bait. This allows your line to get even deeper and offers more slack for the fight to come. Always use swivels or else you lose maneuverability. We attach a swivel above the dipsy diver and above the bait so that our line doesn’t get twisted and the leader doesn’t snap.
Once you’ve decided how much width you want to troll with, where on the boat you’re going to troll off of, and how much tension you want in your line, it’s time to cast out. The tension helps you to easily bring the line back in and snap it back into place. With the right tension, reeling the fish in is simple. If your tension is off, your dipsy diver could start to work against you.
Where is the Best Place for a Dipsy Diver
If you’re using a dipsy diver, chances are you’re out on the open water in a boat, not on a dock or fishing in the surf. The best place to use a dipsy diver is somewhere deep where you know the fish will be found. As the fish have gone deeper below the surface, you’ll want to find the perfect spot where your diver can reach great depths and find the salmon or trout.
Luckily with a dipsy diver, you won’t have to stick to the side of your boat for trolling. The adjustable disk allows you to determine before casting out where on the boat you’ll be trolling. You can troll from the sides or the back with similar productivity.
The Best Line Set Up
Don’t skip out on strength. Many anglers believe that the dipsy diver acts as a strong bridge between your lines and you can lower the level of your line. That is one of the biggest misconceptions that can lead to you losing your diver. It’s important to use a line that’s weighted at no less than 20-lbs. The line is even better when braided.
We recommend attaching your diver to the end of a swivel so that your line doesn’t get twisted. After that, you can either attach a snubber for bounce or go straight to your leader. That’s down to angler preference. Next up on your line should be the lead – we always use a 6-foot lead for more depth and space for the fish. Your lead should be durable as well – at least 20-lbs.
At the end of your lead should be another swivel for added maneuverability and a lowered chance of line twisting. Attach your bait and lure and you’re all set. Some anglers have different takes on the setup, but that all comes down to preference. This is the line setup that’s always worked for us and will likely work well for you as well.
