Trolling Setup

[Hernz]

What is the best way to get shallow diving stick baits down 20-40 feet short of snap on wights? If I'm alone fishing, running two rods, and stop the boat to reel in a fish the weight drags bottom and I lose alot snap ons. Any thoughts? Do dipsey diver float when you stop the boat? thamks

[Den]

You could use lead core line, or the jet divers, they float. the dipsy diver has a lead weight in it and it does sink fast. the jet diver is not a directional diver, but it will float when stopped. they make the jet diver to dive different depths from 10 to however deep you may want to go, well not that deep, but deep enough for what you will want.i have seen some for 60 foot. the most common ones are the 20 to 40's, i hope this helps. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Sparky]

Try not stopping with the snap on weights out. If I have a good one on I might slow down but, don't stop. The dipsey diver will also sink as you slow down. I believe that jet divers will float. Maybe someone else could help you with those. I bought a couple to toss into my tackle but, haven't run them yet. Purchase a copy of Precision trolling by Mark Romanack and it'll tell you precisely where your snap on weight and diver will be. It'll also tell you which presentations are speed dependent. It will be a critical addition to your trolling arsenal.

[s.f.]

typically, in those depths, i run the cranks off three-way rigs using about an eight to ten ft. leader. i run anything from 2 to 8oz. of lead, depending on my speed. i have precise control over my presentation this way, as they are close to the boat. this especially is best when trying to work a depth change. it also eliminates the change in your lure depth and speed when you turn the boat. by fishing this close to the boat (about 30-50 degree angle),
i am able to turn back on the fish much, much quicker. now that said...if the fish are over clear water where they are flaring from the boat, i fish these same rigs under off-shore in-line boards.
an example of this is in the central basin of erie. over 80 ft. of water, the walleyes might be down about 45 ft. they still flare and i need the boards...but i still fish straight down from them with the three -way rig. less line to feed out. less to wind in, and more precise depth and speed control.
don't catch'em all!

#49

[SLIPKNOT]

I would agree with lead core. Also, I know you didn't ask for this, but you could try different baits like a reef runner. They will dive to 30 ft, and you don't have to worry about them sinking when you stop. Good luck!

[SUPERTROLLER]

The best things to use are Snap weights and Dipsey's. The real question to answer here is why you seem to think you need to stop the forward troll of your boat? It is far better to keep your tension on the fish you just hooked and keep the boat straight than to allow the fish to possibly start tangling other lines up. As someone else above said, slow if you must but keep everything going. This solves most of the problems in your question. Otherwise get some jet divers as Den said and run them off your boards to spread the lines.

[W'eyes Guy]

Another thing that might help, if you want to continue using the weights.. I make my own snap-weights using the black Off-shore releases attached to a beaded chain sinker with the little clip on the end. I attach the release to the line, and then hook the clip around the line. This way, the black releases have a lighter tension which allows them to release from the line in the event of a snag. With the clip around the line, it will just slide down to the lure and rarely is lost. I did say rarely, however. Occasionally, one does get stuck pretty good, but this technique has greatly reduced the number I have lost. Another benefit is that it's cheaper to make them this way than to buy the pre-made weights. Hope this helps.

#610

[perchjerker]

A couple of things here.
First, I sgree wholeheartdly with Slippy. Dont stop the boat, keep her going. Keeps al your other lines from fouling. Heck, you might be cheating yourself out of some doubleheaders!!
The other thing is the red offshore releases now have a peg in the middle of the pad, you put the line behind the peg so you dont lose it.
Try to find a dealer that sells the clips in bulk. The guy I get them from has them loose in a bin, no packaging. They are a lot cheaper that way.

[Gumbo]

No one mentioned a downrigger. Though I agree--don't stop the boat completely. If it's a good fish slow it down a bit but maintain forward motion. This also makes it easier to fight a fish and keeps it from sounding, and helps prevent accidental slack in the line.

[bluelund]

Gotta second the downrigger idea, even the small clamp on ones would work in this situation. I personally like to put the boat in idle when fighting a larger fish. A downrigger will keep your lure at a controlled depth and you are free to fight the fish without the pull of the boat.

Take care and good fishing,

Bob M