Check out Jim Stedke's online seminar here on the site. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Very informative on all trolling applications.

 

i started out running dipsies when i started fishing the central basin. i didn't have a clue how to use them. but we went out on a charter a couple of times on a boat that used them. we learned how to run 3 per side from the charter. went on our own and did pretty good but still had a lot to learn. after some time fighting the rings we switched to the deeper divers which was a lot better. then we tried using the lite bite slide divers. now I'm hooked on the lite bite divers but i don't use the slide part on them. i just tie my main line to the front arm then use a 6' to 8' fluro leader tie it to an o ring then lace it through the back through the lite bite arm and I'm in business.i went out on another charter later that used inline boards. we caught fish but i like using the lite bite divers better.

i think using divers is the best way to fish the central basin. and they can be used to fish the shallow western basin. but there other ways to get down in shallow water. clip on weights inline weights or do like we did many yrs ago with spinning reels. we just used deep diving cranks. if we wasn't getting fish we would just switch up the cranks until we got fish. don't know if they even had line counters back then. but we did pretty good with spinning reels. but that was back in the 80's and early 90's when limits was the norm.
sherman

 

I should probably find someone that runs Dipsey Divers to tag along with sometime. I’m sure I’d learn a lot

 

that's a great idea. you will see some guys post open seats on here. but you can also post open seat wanted to learn dipsy fishing. you'll be surprised at how many guys are willing to take out new guys and teach them what they can. so many guys fish alone or with 1 or 2 guys. dipsy fishing is really very simple once you learn how to use them.

one of the most important things to do is to have the clicker on when letting the diver out and just enough tension to slowly let the diver out.

Use 30 or 40 # Powerpro main line, set trip tension on Dipsys at 3 pounds using the fish scale. For starters set the inside Dipsy at 1/2 and the outside at 2-1/2. Put the outside in the lake 1st. If possible keep rods holders close together like 1' apart, and the rods low to the water. It makes the rods easier to read.

They are fast easy to adjust and not that complicated after you get onto them.

Good luck.

jim that's all good info for a new guy to divers. i don't set the tension at any certain setting as i set mine a little tighter when in rough water and a little looser on calm water. i just want them tight enough so i don't get a bunch of false releases. since i started using the lite bite divers i can get by with a little extra tension on the front and set the lite bite loose. then i don't get many false releases. and even most small fish will trip the diver. I've had even small white perch trip the lite bite diver.
sherman

 

I spend a fair amount of time fishing solo or with 1 other person. I found messing with boards unnecessary "for me". One night this past fall i happened to be sitting around a few prominent charter captains at the marina. Told them i was having a tough time catching walleye. They told me to run spoons behind jet divers right off the back, no board needed. They were right, started catching more eyes that way. I only run 2 to 4 lines max when trolling though. I like to drift and cast in the spring, troll in the fall.

 

Same here Tag. I just got into trolling the spring before last and I just run dipseys with spoons, cranks, harnesses. I have 4 rod holders in my 30 footer and we got into a lot of fish. Kept it pretty simple and having a blast. A lot of guys catch a lot of fish on boards, downriggers though. But usually it's just me and the squeeze or a few other guys at the most so it would kinda be overkill for me anyway.

 

You mention harnesses with bouncers, not sure if you have run harnesses any other way but, one of my favorite methods is harnesses with Tadpole divers. Accurate dive curves and easy to pull behind inline boards.

 

I did buy a couple tadpoles to try. They seem fairly simple.

 

Dipseys have the advantage of being able to change depth quickly and easily. They are also a great method when in a lot of smaller fish as the time to retrieve and re-deploy is usually shorter.
Don't be afraid to learn to use dipseys. Let them out slow and steady with some drag and you will be fine.

 

I will give the dipsey some more effort. I do like the point about depth changes quickly.

 

Use 30 or 40 # Powerpro main line, set trip tension on Dipsys at 3 pounds using the fish scale. For starters set the inside Dipsy at 1/2 and the outside at 2-1/2. Put the outside in the lake 1st. If possible keep rods holders close together like 1' apart, and the rods low to the water. It makes the rods easier to read.

They are fast easy to adjust and not that complicated after you get onto them.

Good luck.

 

Trip tension can be a light as 2-1/2 #s for flat water, as the waves get bigger the tension must increase up to as much as 5#s for 4-6' waves. The problem occurs when you're in the troughs and the boat rocks side to side.

 

Trees make reading Dipsys more complicated but I'm sure with practice you could make it work. I've refined my horizontal Dipsy program to a point that it's kinda child's play to detect a fish. Pay close attention to the lines from the rod tip to the water. They'll be in a much different configuration then with the rods flat, but watch for them to change and when a line comes in closer to the boat, that rod has a fish.

Good luck.

 

I prefer to run spoons and harness behind Tru Trip Jet divers over inline weights. Easy to reset. I run a big board set up which eliminates handling small boards

 

So last year was my first year trolling. I am using small boards. I have trolled Bandits and Flicker Shad’s. I’ve also used harnesses and bottom bouncers. Those are easy. I have a couple dipsey set ups, but I’m not crazy about that set up. I bought some inline clip on weights to run with P10s and harnesses.

Other set up suggestions?

 

THIS IS GOING TO BE MY FIRST TIME THANKS FOR THE TIPS

 

Central basin deep water we send all the dipsys off the back. Just clicker on no tension. Once we get close to desired length place tension engage and place in rod holder. The dipsy will start to dig and swing over inline got to remember once july hits most time we are 125. 150. 200ft line out when fish go deep
If u are setting a #3 at 200 off the side. It takes forever to get it out....

 

Once learned and if the dipsy bite is on there is no other way that will out fish a dipsy setup.

Eastside, make sure you have the clicker on and I also have the spool tension set a little tight. You don't want the dipsy to be deployed to fast or it will spin around on you.

Anyone that is serious about learning should jump on board with someone that has ran dipsys. A couple hours goes a long way and you'll be ready to add it to your boat.

 

A little tip for setting tension on Dipsy Divers. The diver it's self is threaded on both sides where the tension screw screws into the diver and such as it is it doesn't really tighten as it should. To fix this take the tension screw out and on the head of the screw side take a 5/32 drill bit and take the threads off the screw head side only leaving the screw threads on the other side, the side the nut is on. Replace tension screw and this will all the tension on the trip lever to be adjusted to the proper tension. I have done this to all my Dipsy's and it really makes a difference in adjusting the tension.

 

This is most likely correct for new divers but there are old ones around that don't need this. And I'd put something steel in the slot to keep the bit from taking out both sides. A penny would work in a pinch.

 

I do well on dipseys but they hardly ever release until I’m bringing the fish in, even decent sized ones. Maybe they’re worn out or something lol.

 

If your not getting a release you either have the release set too tight or you are using mono. You might need to "pop" the rod pretty hard on a smaller fish.