Dipsy Question

[Fishun Mishun]

This has been my first year trolling on Lake Erie. Thanks to many of you who eagerly share information I have had success with both Dipsy's and Off-shore boards. I have two basic questions.

1. What is the optimum length of line between the Dipsy and lure?

2. What size Jet Divers can you effectively run behind the in-line type of boards?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

[EYE STALK]

Answer to question #1 would be: not any longer than the length of your fishing rod. You must be able to net your fish. However, at a recent MWC tournament that I fished in, anglers were fishing with leaders longer than the length of their fishing rods (leaders as long as 10 - 12 feet). They were then walking up to the bow of the boat so that the fish could be netted. In response to question #2, I am not real versed in the use of jet divers but I would guess that anything larger than a 20 diver (and maybe even a 20 diver) would cause the boards to drag and not track correctly. Hopefully another angler with experience could answer this question.

EYE STALK

[Walteye]

After the PWT tournament in Erie the year, I pulled 30 and 40 jets behind inline planers without a problem,though the water was very calm(1-3). I also tried the large dipseys with the boards and didn't feel comfortable pulling them(boards sunk very deep). I landed my biggest walleye to date on that day on a board/40 jet and crawler harness in 72' of water,saw the board pull back and fought a good fight to the boat. I never liked the dipseys, especially in rough water when you have to tighten the release and not know if you have a hit, and then can't release the release and fight the dipsey to the boat. I also used snap weights, but wasn't quite sure of depth, but I also caught fish with them, unfortunetely they were sheepshead ( and quite a few!). If I had to do it again,and will sometime soon, I would fish with jets, and not worry if they were 20/30/40's behind inline planer boards. My largest walleye that day was 34" with an Ohio tag, which I contacted Ohio DNR and was responded to by them.

[EYE PROBLEM]

I FISH WITH IN LINE BOARDS MOST OF THE TIME. I PULL JETS UP TO 40'S WITH VERY FEW PROBLEMS.AS LONG AS YOU RUN VARIEING SIZES ON THE SAME SIDE THE DROP BACK DOSENT REALLY MATTER.MY BIGGEST FISH OF MY LIFE CAME OFF OF A 30 JET TOWING A REEF RENNER DEEP DIVER OFF A BOARD IN OCT. OUT OF HURON LAST YEAR. ALOT OF PEOPLE TELL ME THAT IT PROBLY WONT WORK BUT I HAVE HAD ALOT OF SUCESS WITH THAT SET-UP ESPECIALLY IN CLEAR WATER, MY THEORY IS THAT BECAUSE THE JET IS RUNNING ABOVE THE LURE IT DOSENT SPOOK THE FISH AS BAD.IT DOES TAKE A LITTLE EXPERMENTING TO FIGURE OUT THE DEPTH IT IS RUNNING AT, BUT HAS BEEN WELL WORTH IT FOR ME, AS I SIT HERE AND STARE AT THE 33" 13# HANGING FROM MY CEILING.I MONITER CHANNEL 79 WHEN ON THE WATER AND STOP BY SPORTSMANS OUTPOST BEFORE I HIT THE RAMP. THAT TIME OF YEAR IS HERE AGAIN SEE YOU ON THE WATER. TIGHT LINES EYE PROBLEM

[Tom G]

I have found running fireline when i am using a 20 30 or 40 jet divers seems to help it track better and i add weights to the front of my offshore planers to keep the nose down. Good Luck.

[Gilligan]

PWT pro George Barach won the Erie-Dunkirk tournament with 10.5' dipsie rods and 12'+ leads. You can also rig a dipsie up to slide by incorporating in a OR16 offshore release allowing you to set longer leads and not having the hassle of trying to net fish on leaders longer than the rod.

I like using snap weights or 3 way rigs off of boards. Precision Trolling does cover the snap weight end of this.

[Lundy]

I run Jet Diver #20 on ten pound xt with off-shore boards and I've not had a problem.
We can get ripsticks and rattlin roudes down to 30', in fact this worked real well for us at Huron last fall.
Good Luck :-)

[Den]

as most of them said, experiment and try what-ever. there are times when the impossible can be done, and also can be effective, good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Weekend Habit]

I fish for salmon as much or more as I do for Walleye and am a firm believer in dippsys. I have had too many trips were I've used two dippsys and 4 riggers plus high lines and caught almost all my fish on the dippsys. This was the first year I tried dippys for walleye. I was reluctent to use dippsys because Walleyes would very often not trip a rigger. I figured they would never trip a dippsy. Well they don't trip the dippsys very often, but you can tell imediatly when you have a fish on. I caught at least 75% of my walleyes this year on dippsys and small spoons. I am sold on the mediun size (about 3") chrome dippsys. Fireline or other braids work well with dippsys, they release the dippsys better. This comming sumer I'm going to try jet divers behind the boat instead on riggers. In the western basin where I fish it seams that the fish are more spooky each year. I think that is why the dippsys work better then riggers. I am fishing most of the time in 20 to 30 ft. of water. I would stay with a lead of at least a foot shorter then your pole. It makes landing fish a lot easier. The dippsy is supposed to be an attractor.

I'm glad to hear you can pull jet divers behinf boards I'll be tring it for steelhead,salmon, and waleyes next year. I'm making one more trip this weekend for steelhead out of St. Joe, MI I just migtht try oner of my new jet divers.

Good luck,

Weekend Habit

[bobz@qssolutions.com]

Mr. Weekend Habit,
I agree with your experience on small spoons and dipseys. My vast collection of crankbaits has gotten a bit dusty. I use the #0 size exclusively. In the extreme western basin, with a max depth of 25 - 30 ft., they do the job.

I an using 15lb. flurocarbor leader material between the dipsey and the spoon. It is tough stuff and stand up to kinks, etc.

Good luck next year. Let us know how the jets work for you.

[Big Rick]

When you are pulling spoons behind a dipsey the longer the lead you have , the less action there is on the spoon. I generally run the leads no longer than the rod length. I don't see any advantage to running them longer than that. It just makes netting much more difficult. Hope this helps.