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By Luhr Jensen Pro Staff
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The directional Dipsy
Diver® is the most advanced trolling
sinker available today. Its round shape allows
for multi-directional trolling and also facilitates
(with a special "0-Ring") instant changes
in diving capability, providing the angler with
two different size divers in one. |
Like all planers, the directional Dipsy
Diver® is held in planning position by a lead
weight. But with the Dipsy®, this weight is molded
into an adjustable base plate. By rotating this plate
to the right or left, it tilts the planning surface,
causing the diver to move to either the port or starboard
side when trolled.
By leaving the weight at center,
the diver will track straight behind your boat.
DIVERS VS. LEAD
Lead weights are widely used to take a lure deep, but when compared
with a diver (especially a multi-directional one) they leave
much to be desired.
Unlike lead, a diver loses
its resistance in the water when tripped, allowing easy
retrieval of your gear. This loss of pressure or drag
also provides extra sport and enjoyment when fighting
a fish as there will be almost no terminal gear resistance.
Perhaps even more important, because the diver loses
pressure against the water when tripped, fish are prevented
from gaining leverage and throwing your hook. Prior to
divers, the only way an angler could accomplish this
loss of water pressure was to use a break-away lead;
a very expensive and cumbersome way to fish.
Another big advantage of divers
over lead weights to easily get a lure down to a pre-determined
depth, is that they act as fish attractors because of
their color and shape . . . another big plus when trolling
or exploring unknown waters or where fish are scattered
and a little extra something is needed to attract them.
Dipsys® are available in Fire,
Chartreuse, Kelly Green, Clear (Stealth!), Glo, Black/Purple
Prism-Lite®, Silver, Metallic Gold, Metallic Blue, Metallic
pink, Metallic Purple, Metallic Green, Metallic Red and
Metallic Copper.
Divers are easy to use, reset
easily, always work, apply to trolling everywhere --
whether salt or fresh water -- and are simple to rig
and fish. Any angler can use a diver successfully the
first time out and it requires a minimum of terminal
gear and storage space.
HOW IT WORKS
The special round shape and resulting multi-directional feature
sets the Dipsy Diver ® apart from other divers/planers. The
ability of the angler to add or subtract depth capability with
the unique "O-Ring" (on sizes "0" and "1")
is yet another outstanding feature of this diver . . . it's
like getting two separate divers for the price of one. Here's
how the Dipsy Diver® works.
After you've tied your line
to the barrel swivel at the front end of the diver and
have locked the adjustable trip mechanism in place, it
is ready to fish. When trolled, water pressure against
the diver's planning surface causes it to dive. Shifting
the base plate weight to the left or right tilts the
planning surface and results in the diver descending
on a pre-determined angle. This multi-directional feature
is possible because the base plate contains a molded-in
weight that can be shifted in degrees.  Each
degree of shift will cause a change in the angle of descent.
A shift right or left as indicated on the base plate
arrow (see diagram) will cause the diver to track straight,
to port or to starboard.
Maximum side movement can
be reached by rotating the base plate past the edge of
the numbered scale and then elevating your rod as high
as possible.
Because the Dipsy Diver® is
directional, it gives you the following advantages not
obtainable with other divers or planers:
• It doubles your trolling area, as indicated in the illustration,
and lures are thus exposed to fish which might not have otherwise
seen them.
• More lures can be trolled and sharp turns made without the fear
of tangling.
• Downrigger anglers particularly can take advantage of the Dipsy® because
it will troll to the side and not interfere with cables, allowing
the use of more lines than previously possible.
• It can be used for trolling just beneath the surface and can
be tripped easily from the boat.
Size "0" and "1" Dipsys® comes
with a special removable "O-Ring" which, when
in position, creates extra planning surface and delivers
up to 20% more depth. The depth your diver attains will
depend on trolling speed, diameter of line, length of
line out and weight of your lure and/or added attractor
such as a dodger. Light lines and small lures will produce
more depth while heavy lines and large lures and/or dodgers
will give less. It also is important to note that the
angle of your line from boat to water DOES NOT indicate
the position underwater of the Dipsy Diver®, because
of line belly. Write or call us for a table for calculating
true side angle and depth location of your trolled Dipsy
Diver.
RIGGING
Rig your Dipsy® for fishing by allowing at least 4 to 6 feet of
leader between the diver and lure or, when using a dodger, have
at least 48" of leader between it and the diver. Adjust the
No. 1 tension screw to hold the release pin in place while trolling
, but be careful not to over tighten it.  Because
this trip mechanism is adjustable, you'll be able to set it just
right for the gear you're using. A slight tug on the line or strike
by a fish should cause the pin to release.
The base plate is held in
position by tension screw #2 which should be tightened
just enough to hold the plate in position and still permit
easy rotation for a new setting. Note: the
best results with a dodger are obtained from base plate
settings 0 to 2.
 Because
this trip mechanism is adjustable, you'll be able to
set it just right for the gear you're using. A slight
tug on the line or strike by a fish should cause the
pin to release.
The base plate is held in position by tension screw #2, which should
be tightened just enough to hold the plate in position and still
permit easy rotation for a new setting.
Shown in the adjacent illustrations are several ways to rig the
Dipsy and trailing lures and/or dodgers for trolling. Note the
best results with a dodger are obtained from base plate settings
0 to 2.
TROLLING TIPS
Trolling is a most efficient fishing method, particularly on big
or unknown waters, as you can cover the greatest amount of
water in the shortest time, allowing you to locate concentrations
of fish quickly and easily. The multi-directional aspect of
the Dipsy Diver® means that you can cover an extremely wide
swath of water on each trolling pass and draw strikes from
fish that otherwise would have been missed. Because the diver
can be set to run at pre-determined depths, you also have the
ability to cover not only a wide section of water, but also
several layers depth-wise.
 Once
fish have been located, you can then select the right
depth and begin concentrating on that particular depth
and area.
Running a straight line is the least effective trolling path you
can take once fish have been located. Trolling in a zigzag or "S" pattern
between two points will impart both changes of speed and depth
to the Dipsy and its trailing lure… the kind of erratic action
that spells "Easy Meal" to nearby fish.
The amount
of line needed to reach a desired depth is shown
under each base plate setting.
THIS TABLE IS BASED ON A SIZE 1 DIPSY® WITH "O" RING
ATTACHED. |
|
Depth
Desired
|
BASE
PLATE SETTING
|
|
0
|
1
|
2
|
3
|
| AMOUNT
OF LINE OUT TO REACH DESIRED DEPTH |
|
8
|
10
|
11
|
12
|
14
|
|
10
|
15
|
16
|
18
|
19
|
|
13
|
19
|
21
|
23
|
25
|
|
16
|
24
|
26
|
28
|
31
|
|
19
|
29
|
31
|
35
|
38
|
|
22
|
37
|
41
|
45
|
49
|
|
25
|
45
|
50
|
54
|
59
|
|
27
|
53
|
59
|
63
|
69
|
|
30
|
61
|
68
|
73
|
79
|
|
33
|
69
|
76
|
82
|
89
|
|
36
|
77
|
85
|
93
|
99
|
|
38
|
85
|
94
|
102
|
111
|
|
41
|
94
|
103
|
112
|
122
|
|
44
|
103
|
113
|
123
|
133
|
|
46
|
113
|
124
|
136
|
--
|
|
50
|
124
|
137
|
--
|
--
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| This chart
shows the approximate depth the Dipsy Diver® with "O"-ring
will reach by measuring the amount of line released
after the diver enters the water. Trolling speed,
line diameter and lure drag can increase or decrease
these figures. |
NEW MINI DIPSY®
Luhr Jensen's Mini Dipsy Diver® is
the answer to salmon and walleye anglers' need for a small, yet efficient
diving device that retains the multi-directional advantage of the
original Dipsy®.
Directional settings are particularly useful when trolling for boat-shy
species such as suspended walleye which scatter to the port or starboard
when the boat passes overhead. A side-running Mini Dipsy® will
consistently intercept these fish.
The 2-1/4" diameter Mini can be effectively trolled as fast
as 4 m.p.h. and covers the 14- to 20-ft. depth range with a 100-
to 120-ft let-back. It will easily handle 1/8 to ˝ oz. crank baits,
taking them down to depths not achievable alone. It will also effectively
tow thin-bladed Flutter Spoons, Diamond Kings and various weighted
spoons in the 1/8- to ˝-oz. range. Mini Dipsy Divers® have
no more pulling resistance than regular, large crank baits and are
available in all the regular Dipsy® colors.
SHARP HOOKS
One of the easiest things you can do to improve your catch is to
maintain super-sharp hooks at all times. A small file has proved
to be the absolute best fish hook sharpening tool available and will
produce a needle-sharp point in seconds. Hold the file parallel to
the hook point and, with gentle, one-way strokes, remove a small
amount of metal from at least two sides of the point. This will create
both a sticky-sharp point and a knife-like cutting edge.
DEPTH FINDERS
There probably is no one accessory item as important as a good quality
depth finder such as those made by Lowrance,
for producing optimum trolling results.
A flasher unit will pinpoint the level at which fish are suspended,
thereby allowing you to get your lure to the right depth without
guesswork.
A paper chart recorder unit
will provide the above advantages plus give you a permanent
record for future reference. You can chart specific areas,
bottom contours and the like and actually see fish. Schools
of fish which are only momentary blips on a flasher unit
can be seen and followed with a chart recorder. It's
an investment which will pay for itself in both fish
and fishing enjoyment.
Source: Luhr-Jensen
Tech Reports
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