Ball bearing swivels and dipseys

[LakeErieNewbie]

What is the advice about using ballbearing swivels and dipseys. I was reading and people were saying not to use ballbearing swivels for some reason... Any clue why that would be. I would think the more ball bearing swivels the better.

Current setup is 17# Fireline from reel to ball bearing swivel. Clip ball bearing swivel to dipsey. Ball bearing swivel from dipsey to 17# fireline leader. Ball bearing swivel at end of fireline leader to lure... What's the consensus?

Also, are Meps Minnows any good in Erie? I have a bunch but don't know if I should be using them. I heard nightcrawlers are better than minnows but I don't have a Minnow harness and couldn't find any at Target.

Neal Squires
nealsquires@yahoo.com

[FreeByrd]

Neal,
Here's our dipsey setup. 1) Large Ballbearing Snapswivel between main line (spiderwire braid 50# test/ 10#mono diameter- overkill for eyes but we use the same reels for Salmon fishing) and the dipsey. 2) Ballbearing snapswivel from back of dipsey connecting to 6' leader of 15-25# test Pure Florocarbon leader material (either P-line or SeaGuar). 3) Snap (no swivel) on lure end for stickbaits (no deep diving cranks off of dipseys) or spoons - may use a snapswivel for pulling a worm harness. We sometimes use the rubber "Snubbers" between the backside of the dipsey and the leader. Usually when we expect big eyes and if steelhead are in the area. Snubbers are a 6 or 8" piece of surgical tubing sold at the same place dipseys are with swivels and snaps on each end. Designed to give you a little forgiveness for a surging fish - especially helpful with no stretch superlines. Main change I'd make if I were you is replace your fireline leader with either Florocarbon (get the stuff sold in small 25-30 yard leader spools, not the stuff sold as reel filler line - there is a difference) , or even go to a mono leader. For your 17# fireline I'd go with a leader rated up to 15# so if something breaks you hopefully only lose part of the leader and a lure and one snap - not the entire dipsey setup.
Good Luck,
Steve

[groovymoe]

Another good site to access with questions about dipsey's, and downriggers is www.glangler.com . Most of these guys do nothing but troll 99% of the time.