Jet diver?

[CapnJack]

Ok, I did the search thing for jet diver and came up with a lot of posts for dipseys so I will try this instead. Have been normaly using 1 oz. bottom walker and a 5 foot flourocarbon leader off either 10 lb. Fireline or 1-8 Power Pro for stocked trout in smaller lakes with good depth to them. I've had some sucess in what I think is around the 30 ish range. I say this because it is a guess. I'm pulling small stick baits most of the time. Recently I watched 2 guys in a larger boat with down riggers pulling cow bells and crawlers in the 30 foot range and they were doing very well. So my question is has anyone here had experience using jet divers with cow bells or a smaller set of spinners with live bait? I've read that the no. 10 with 100 feet out with 10 pound Fireline will go down to about 26 ft. or so. Would the extra drag from large spinners make it rise up? I know they make fairly cheap down riggers for a small boat like mine, 14 ft. but if this works it's a heck of alot cheaper. Steve

[Northlander]

I would use a dypsie before a jet diver. I have tried the divers and dont care for them. They just go straight back and if your only doing 1 or 2 lines they are OK but a dypsie will give ya a lot more spread. Plus the jet divers have more resistance on the reel in.

I would try a 3-5 oz. snap weight if your only doing 1 or 2 lines.

[SKIPPERS KID]

What are you doing . Steve I have been here before . More info please .

[CapnJack]

Skippers Kid, I'm trying to present a crawler on a harness with possible smaller version of a cow bell in the 25-30 ft. range. This is a two story lake with trout in the depths after the spring season. The lake is 60 ft. max with alot of fish showing up in the 25-30 ft. range. Like I said I've had some sucess pulling small cranks behind a 1 oz. bottom walker long lining in the 40-50 ft. depths but actual depth of my rig is a faith thing. So you've been there and done that huh? Any ideas would be great. Steve

[Capt.Blaine]

Try using a 3 way rig with a 3-8 oz sinker on about a 15 inch drop line. Then run your cowbell back behind the 3 way. The guys doing well with downriggers are pulling the largest cowbells they sell.

Are you fishing the in the Ely area?

[SKIPPERS KID]

I would do what Blaine said but with a line counter. So when you start catching fish you can put that much line back out this is a good way to get to the fish you are going after .

[CapnJack]

Capt. Blaine,no I'm from the twin cities but posted here because I thought there would be more info in this area. Three to eight oz. of lead sounds like a bit much to pull. Might have to bite the bullet and invest in a cheaper down rigger and just be done with it. I've found a few models that can be had for under a hundred bucks. Already bought a Jet Diver so I still might give that a try with some home made spinner rigs. Thanx for all the information guys. Steve

[Surface Tension]

I'd try using the same rig you have now but with a spinner instead of the stick bait. Thats going to be a lot less weight you'll be dragging around. Its also what I use in inland trout lakes minus the 1 oz of weight. I can get down 30' with a spinner using 1/2 oz.

If your set on pulling cowbells with a diver the Jet Diver will work fine. Actually it'll work better then a dipsy IMO. Having that much resistance(cowbell) behind a diver will change the plane angle, when you do that the dive plane changes and dive is less steep. To get around that connect the Jet Diver to the main line with a sliding dropper.

[CapnJack]

Frank, when you say spinner are you talking about a spinner rig with a crawler or an in-line type such as a Mepps or Panther martin? Steve

[Surface Tension]

Spinner as in leech, minnow, or worm harness.

[CapnJack]

Thanx. I have a lot of new stuff to throw at them in the coming weeks. Also I hear the tricos are starting on the west-central Wisc. streams so the 3 weight might have to trump the boat for a few trips. What's a trout guy to do?