Having a well-planned dipsy diver spread when trolling for salmon and trout can maximize the efficiency of the trolling runs, but it can also be overwhelming. In today’s video, Caleb Wistad discusses his favorite dipsy spreads he uses on the Great Lakes for salmon and trout.
Dipsy Diver Tips
One key piece of gear Caleb won’t troll without, is a line counter reel. The Okuma Magda is a great option that allows the angler to reset a dipsy diver to the exact depth it was running before a fish catch or an adjustment was needed. A sturdy rod is also important as it will need to handle a good amount of tension while trolling.
When it comes to using the dipsy divers the first step is to drop the lure and leader into the water first, followed by the dipsy diver. Once the dipsy is in the water it will start to catch water and sink. Make sure to keep a thumb lightly on the spool to avoid a backlash. Next, keep an eye on the line counter until the desired depth is reached. Dipsy divers come with a chart that explains how deep the lure and dipsy will be with certain lengths of line.
Setting Up a Spread
Caleb typically puts his dipsy rods on the outside of his downrigger rods off the stern of the boat. He has the directional weight on the dipsy set to a one setting. This causes the dipsy to run slightly offset sending the rig slightly to the outside of his downrigger lines. If 3 lines are allowed, another dipsy setup is rigged to a 3 setting, which sends the setup further out to the sides of the boat. This spread allows four dipsy diver setups along with two downrigger lines to be easily trolled without lines running into each other. It also adds versatility to the trolling runs allowing for different depths and horizontal coverage.
To watch the first installment of this dipsy diver tutorial series, click on the link below:
Dipsy Diver Setups for Great Lakes Salmon and Trout – Virtual Angling
