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[Spawn Sack]

The other day I bought a few different diving sinkers for gear trolling. The Luhr Jensen Jet Divers are pretty simple. I bought the #20 (dives to 20 feet) and the #40 (dives to 40 feet). On their website I saved a technical bullitan (or whatever it's called) that has more info on the J/Ds. More specifically, if you let out 100 feet of line and troll at a certain speed, the J/D should be at or close to the specified depth. I used the #20 and #40 last week at Chilliwack Lake with pretty good success for rainbows and lake trout. However, I noticed that some of the fish on my fishfinder were in the 80-100 foot range.

Back at the fishing store and looking at the Jet Divers. The biggest one, the #50, is out of stock, and will only dive to a max of 50 feet which is not enough for this application anyway. So I check out the Deep Six divers. You can get a #000, 001, and 002. The 000 has an "extreme depth" of "about 80 feet" the 001, "about 100 feet" and the 002 "in excess of 170 feet" (info on the back of the packages)

I decide, well...I want to get down to about 80 feet, so I'll get the #000. Back at home I'm looking on their website for more info on the Deep Six divers, and, to my dissapointment, their website says the #000 has a "running depth" of "40 feet," the #001 60 feet, and the #002 90 feet.

My first thought was...CRAP! I should have bought the #002!! But wait, what the heck is going on here?!?!

I can grasp the difference between "running depth" and "extreme depth" however in this case the difference are huge: For the #001 a differnce of 40 feet, for the #002 40 feet, and for the #002 80 feet!!!

I can not find a technical bullitan or any more useful info on the web to help me with this. What I am hoping someone can help me with is... like with the Jet Divers, is there anyway to know with the Deep Six how deep the your gear is if you have, say, 100 feet of line out and are trolling at a consistent speed?

I like that the Deep Six dives fast and can be tripped with a fish on to lessen the resistance (unlike the J/D) but I am pretty peeved off that the difference between the extreme depth and running depth is so great and I have no idea how deep I'm trolling when using my #000.

[zabber]

Not sure there's an answer here but you may find this article useful going forward: http://www.flwoutdoors.com/fishing-articles/146342/deadly-divers/#.Ufqz0yTn_IU

[Spawn Sack]

Zabber, thanks for that. Better than most of the articles I found. Unfortunately does not focus on Deep Six divers that I'm having trouble figuring out. I emailed Luhr Jensen (under Rapala umbrella) with no response yet after 4 days. Errr...

I think I'm just going to try and exchange my #000 for a #001 or #002. The #001 has a "running depth" of 60 feet and the #002 90 feet. I'm looking to get down to the 80ish range so I could probably get the #001 and with some extra line out reach 80 feet ("extreme depth" listed at 100 feet).

[zabber]

Apparently boat speed and type of line will affect it... There's a decent diagram about halfway down this page (http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Diver_Trolling.htm) that should give you an idea of where you're at. Basically, you'll just have to do a bit of rough math/geometry while on the water. A bit of trial and error should get you to 80 feet.

There's a chart here too: http://www.straitlineanglers.com/Articles/Depth_Chart_For_Diving_Planers.htm

And a bit more info. here: http://www.thehulltruth.com/sportfishing-charters-forum/85127-dipsy-divers-deep-six-divers-etc.html

Google "deep six diver depth (chart)" and explore some pages if that isn't enough... You aren't the first to be asking this question and it seems there is an answer available, even if it's not the most straightforward.

But, ya, first step would probably be getting a 001 or 002. Personally, I'd get the 002 and just shorten up on the line...

[Spawn Sack]

Thanks a lot for those links! On my phone right now but when I'm home later I'll read them on my PC. I agree the #002 Deep Six is probably the better choice if trying to get down in the 80 foot range. Better than trying to reach the "extreme depth" of 80 feet with the #000 by having out 200 feet of line or something unrealistic like that. I'd rather run a #002 with, say, 75 feet of line out. I'm nit sure how the Deep Six's are affected by trolling speed. I know the Jet Divers dive DEEPER with increased trolling speed.

[Damien]

So, any learnings you'd care to share with the class?

I've inherited a boat, but I don't have downriggers.  I would like to hear your experience with these.  They seem to be bigger in the Great Lakes than on the West Coast.

I hear Springs getting tagged at the T10, Bell Buoy etc from 30' to 70' feet down.  I would like to pick up a couple Dipsy Diver, Jet Divers or Deep Sixes.  I see there is a newer two ones called a Double Deep Six which go 90 or 135 depending on the size.

[Spawn Sack]

Well, first my (lame) reply from Luhr Jensen. They basically said that the Deep Six I bought had "outdated packaging" and that the new Deep Sixs had updated packaging to reflect the more realistic "running depth" you are likely to achieve rather than the "extreme depth" that is listed on the one I bought.

I have used both the Jet Divers in #10, #20, #30 and #40 as well as my Deep Six #001 (running depth 60 feet, extreme depth 100 feet).

I do like fishing them both instead of adding lead weight to the line as IMO you have a better idea of how deep your gear is. However, if fishing the JD #10 or #20 (10 and 20 feet) you could probably just add some lead and get a similar result.

I like using the Deep Six as it dives at a sharp angle to the boat and "trips" when you have a fish on or want to reel in (tension screw has to be set though). It is pretty simple to rig up too. If going deep 40 feet plus I would go with the Deep Six. Just make sure to check the "running depth" on Lurh Jensen's website as the "extreme depth" listed is unrealistic.

The jet divers are good for shallower water. I would reccomend rigging them with a dropper line. You can get a technical bulliten on their website that details all of this. Well worth a read. I tried tieing to the mainline and was having issues with the JD popping up on the surface - annoying!! With the dropper line zero issues. I do find the J/D have a fair bit of drag when reeling in as they do not "trip" like the Deep Six. Not a big deal if you have a big fish on, but with a small trout it is a bit annoying.

Knowing what I know now I would reccomend the Deep Six if you're trolling 40 feet or deeper. For trolling in the 10-30 foot range the Jet Divers are nice as you know about how deep your lure is especially if you're making fish at a certain depth on your fish finder. Also the J/Ds have a side to side action to them similar to a dodger. I never rig my J/Ds with a willow leaf etc. I just have the J/d connected to my mainline on a dropper line 18 inches or so, then a barrel swivel, then about a 4 foot leader with an apex, flatfish, wedding band or whatever. I find this works best and I have caught some nice char and dollies trolling this way.

Remeber that with both the JD and DS the faster you go and the more line you have out the deeper they dive. I do not have a linecounter reel so I measured out 100 feet on my trolling reels and marked the line with some bright nail polish. Then I know with 100 feet of line out my diver is right around the depth I think it's at.

Sometimes I still use a 1-2oz bananna weight on the mainline as I can't be bothered to rig up a diver. Old school but works perfectly well. Divers are cool and cheap so I'd buy a few and tryem out!