Jet Divers

[RiverRat242]

The local Gander MT had jet divers deeply discounted this weekend so I picked up a few. Any reviews on using them in shallower lake(20ft) or in rivers? I picked up a 10's and 20's - what do people like to run behind these and any tips you could share?

Thanks

[yarcraft91]

I generally use #10 and #20 Jet Divers to run small spoons in 15-25' of water. Rig the JD with a trailing 6' leader with good swivels.

[Burr]

I like the JD's, but I'm in a part of the country that doesn't really use them much. The Great Lakes fisherman will have more experience.

My experiences, and I'm pretty novice, but I do fish them in lakes at depths you mention.

I like the fact they float. If I'm fishing by myself and foul a line, or get snagged, I stall the boat, and the other line floats to the surface, as opposed to sinking to the bottom and forcing me to reel in both lines. The off line floats to the surface, I reel in my fouled line, clean it, and when I put the motor back in gear, the off line is ready to dig back down to fishing depth, ready to go.

I've also found they don't work for slow speed trolling. If your wanting to go pretty slow the bouyancy of the JD overcomes it's ability to dive, and it won't go down. For slow speeds, you'll need a diver.

I got the JD's to fish stick baits and spoons, to get these baits down to fishing depths. There's not too many people around me that fish spoons, I've found they work. Spoons work in the GL's, I figured the walleye don't know where they are at, and they should work here too. They do. For me stick baits are primarily a spring time, cold water bait - with their rolling action. Since I want to present them slower, I've found I fish them with a diver. I haven't done that well with them in summer months. During summer months I tend to use a harding kicking bait, shad raps, jointed's, etc. If I need more diving than what they do on their own, I typically reach for lead core.

They work, but they don't completely replace any of the other options out there. I still carry divers, and I still carry reels with lead wound up.

Keep in mind, I'm pretty novice with it comes to divers, I've only been using them for the last 3 years. Others with more experience can probably lend more useful info.

[rebs]

I have tried them a few times on lake erie and didn't really care for them, I prefer dipsy divers. But I am fishing much deeper water, say 50 to 60 feet down over 75 to 85 feet of water in the eastern and central basin's. For shallower water like you are fishing I prefer the drop weights.

[Mich_Fisherman]

I use 30's and 40's on Erie and Huron pulling either spoons or harnesses off of Offshore boards with a lot of success. I like the 30's and 40's as they will "roll over" when you get a hit and you dont fight the diver and the fish. Also use them on Erie for steelhead pulling Wolverine Silver Streak spoons.