jet divers

[shady grady]

1.Has anyone out there used jet divers in conjunction with big planer boards? Wondering if they would pull too much causing the boards to lag. 2.Are spoons effective in the western basin this time of year Thanks

[ETT]

We run jets off big boards quite a bit. We use Prince Master Craft Tripple Skis. At standard summer/spoon speeds (2-3 mph) it's not a problem to even add some weight to push them deeper.
It's early for spoons right now, give it an other month. Spoons work best when young of the year are present.
20 Jets and spoons are a natural for the western basin. Those who have been using them are doing well. Michigan Stinger spoons are far and away the most popular. Confusion, Dr. Kavirkian, Monkey Puke, Hammered Copper Boy/Girl, Shrimp, Orange juice, Water Mellon, Superman, Rainbow Trout and Blue Berry Muffin are some of the more popular colors.
Boatohio has started a new site for Erie questions. Go to boatohio.com, then under Anglers Alley click on ask the expert. Hope to see you there.
Good luck.

[FreeByrd]

We run as many as four or five jets off of one side off big boards. It's not a problem. For western Basin, standard jet would be the 20. If you want to get deeper we run a chain sinker ahead of the jet (1, 2, 3 oz). Farther east we go to 30's and even 40's. 10s are also effective in the western basin for higher fish. Sometimes adding weight to a 10, 20, or 30 jet rather than going to the next bigger size can be more effective because the weight will cause the lure to hit more of the water column - ie when you slow down with weight it will sink, and when you speed up it will rise. Surging of the big boards can help this too.
Good Luck,
Steve

[Swat1]

Jets work very well off big boards. I have also run up to a 20 jet off the small boards with great success.

As for spoons in the west basin right now.... The standard feeling is that it is too early for them yet. Most people "in the know" about running spoons here feel that spoons work best at between 2 and 3 mph and they usually do not go quite that fast this early in the year.

Hope this helps

Dan
Swat 1