Slide Diver or Jet Diver?

[falcon2082]

Which do you prefer to use? What size of each also and why do you prefer the one over the other. Thanks for your replys.

[j9f]

>Which do you prefer to use? What size of each also and why
>do you prefer the one over the other. Thanks for your
>replys.

They are really quite different.

A slide diver is more like a large dipsy, size 0 or 1. It is typically used if you are trying to get down over 30 or 40 feet. The neat thing about a slide diver is that you can run a long lead between the diver and the lure, like 50 feet. I use these alot on Lake Michigan for Salmon or Steelhead especially when the fish are in the top 50 feet. The fish seem to like a slide diver when lead core is really hot. Below that, they don't seem to mind the lure right behind the diver and I use a large dipsy because they are much easier to set (just my experience). Slide divers take a little more time to set because you have to pay the line through the diver before you set it.

A jet diver is better if you want to pull multiple lines off a large planer board. There are various sizes that dive to different depths. They are more similar to a big jon mini disc or 3/0 dipsy. They float at rest all the other divers mentioned sink at rest. You cannot adjust the direction of a jet. You can adjust to the direction of a slide or dipsy diver to plane out to the side further away from the boat. This lets you set multiple divers without using planer boards.

I use jet divers or mini discs if I am pulling them off planer boards, Slide divers or large dipsys if the fish are deeper than I can get with a jet or mini disc.

[Capt. Paul]

It's tough to run Slide Divers off the boards like the Jets, they mostly have to be in close to the boat, but you can run any lead length that you want with them, nice in cleaner water to run your baits back a bit. If you want to run boards use the Jets, and keep the slide divers inside. Much better than Dipseys IMO.

[RickyP]

Captain Paul...Do you really feel that running the longer leads on the slide divers increases your catch rate? How long a lead do you usually run? Do they pull out to the side as well as a size 0 dipsie?

I tried running them briefly last season but got frustrated because they would not hold using power pro line, and I didn't feel like messing with it at the time. I would like to consider them for this season, and either change to mono line to run them, or use 20 to 50 ft mono leaders attached to the power pro.

My usual program (I'm in the western end of Erie)depending on the the number of persons on board is to run 2 to 6 rods off the big boards, either with cranks or jets and spoons, and then to run 2 or 4 rods off the back corners with #0 dipsies and spoons. I usually take the rings off, at least on the 2 outside dipsie rods so I can get further away from the boat at the depth I need to fish. In past years the dipsie rods were hot, but I didn't do as well on them last year, so I was looking at ways to tweak the set up. If the longer leads on the slide divers make a difference I will give them a try.

[j9f]

There are days that slide divers out produce a dipsy. Other days, it makes no difference. At least with a slide diver you are have the versatility to run it either way. With downriggers in shallow water on Erie it seems like a lot of people run very long leads. Sometimes not, but at least you are more versatile.

A slide diver helps for my application. Although I only pull them if there are 6 or 7 people on the boat. I fish Erie out of a Michigan port. Deep water is 30'. I would say the bulk of my trolling goes on in 18 - 28 FOW. If you want to run a size 0 diver say set on 1, even without the ring 18' down, you are going to be fishing almost right under the boat. With a slide diver, you can fish 18' down but 50' back. It helps significantly many times. Other days, the fish don't seem to care.

For what it's worth, I spool my slide diver rigs with powerpro, then start with a 50' mono leader tied with a uniknot. Either put a speedo bead or a swivel with a bead above it to stop the diver from hitting the fish.

If you want to run all superline, turn the surgical tube 90 degrees before you set the diver. It won't slip that way.

They pull out to the side as much as a dipsy, but the numbers don't correlate.

[RickyP]

Thanks for the info j9f. I think I mis spoke on the size dipsies I use. They're #1 I believe which is the smallest one they make that still trips. I will for sure give the slide divers another try this year. I can see where they could really work well.

You fish out of TBM don't you? Do you have a permanent slip or do you rack your boat? I'm in the rack and launch facility there and we love the place. April 15th can't come soon enough.

[j9f]

I can never remember if the 0 or the 1 is the bigger of the dipsies either. I always have to look it up.

Toledo Beach is probably the nicest facility around. I'm out of Brest Bay though. I live on the canal so I dock at home, no slip or rack fees..... just a mortgage.

I will probably keep my boat at Bolles in the spring though with MI waters closed. I can usually "borrow" a dock there before the marina fills up.

[Capt. Paul]

Ricky, j9f said most of it really well. Some days the leads help, some days it seems not to matter and you can run them with a 6 foot lead like a dipsey. Run all mine with fireline and the rubber snubber that comes with the unit, have no trouble tripping when needed. You may just need to tighten the screw a bit. I think the Slide divers run better than dipseys, when I fish kings I will run at least two a side, 0, 1.5 or 2 and if its really slow one way out on 3.5 if the riggers are not going. With walleye I use the smaller one's with the little ring and still run two a side easy.

[RickyP]

Thanks Captain Paul. Where's the best place to buy them? I have only seen the one size (about the same as the medium dipsie) and I'd like to pick up a few more. Thanks.

[Capt. Paul]

Ricky, you are in Canton so are not that far from the Dundee Cabela's, I believe that they have a couple sizes in stock. Have also seen them at Gander Mountains, try the Taylor store. Do not think that I have seen them at BPS yet.

[RickyP]

Thanks. I'll check out Cabelas.