Three-Dimensional Trolling Systems for Working Open Water

It’s possible to set up a spread of diver lines, all reaching different depths, by angling planers to varying degrees and letting out different lengths of line. Done properly, lines won’t tangle when trolled. And when a fish strikes, the planer release pops, and the planer drops back behind the boat. Net the fish off the transom to avoid crossing lines. Easier said than done with fast salmon, but not difficult with walleyes.

Most diving planers have such significant planing surfaces and water resistance that they must be run with fairly heavy line and stout rods. Twenty-pound mono is standard; 8-, 9-, or 10-foot diver rods help spread and position lines, absorb the continual strain of trolling, and cushion hooksets. Tying a rubber snubber between the diver and leader softens strike impact.

Diving planers tend to hold true to depth. They excel at faster trolling speeds than can be achieved with planer boards and snap weights, or leadcore. While theoretically they can be run at any depth, practically speaking, over 150 feet of line becomes difficult to work with, due to line stretch and water resistance. So visualize fishing within a big wide semicircle beneath and to either side of the boat.

All divers are similar, but each offers its own blend of features:

Diving Planers

Luhr-Jensen Jet Diver—A floating diver that trolls lures on fairly light 10-pound line with medium-weight rods. It takes lures down, but will float when the boat stops, raising the bait above snags.

Luhr-Jensen Pink Lady—A weighted diver with a sensitive trip mechanism for lighter-biting fish.

Luhr-Jensen Deep Six—A heavily weighted diver for extremely deep or fast trolling.

Doelcher Fish Seeker—A lightweight diver that trolls lures on 10-pound line with medium-weight rods.

Directional Divers

Luhr-Jensen Dipsy Diver—The classic and best-known angled diver for fishing down and out. Turn a weighted keel to determine dive angle, from straight down to off to either side. Features an outer detachable ring to increase or decrease planing surface and depth.

Big Jon Mini Diver, Deep’r Diver—Similar to the Dipsy, but smaller. Sometimes used in conjunction with side planers and mast systems to spread lures.

Kastaway Diver—Similar to the Dipsy, with a magnetic trip mechanism, rather than a swivel and clip, for precisely setting trip tension. Tripped release can be reset without retrieving.

U-Charters Slide Diver—Similar to the Dipsy, except that it threads onto the line and clamps down onto it without damaging the line. Alone of all the divers, it can be positioned any distance ahead of the lure to minimize spooking. When a fish strikes and trips the release mechanism, the diver slides down the line to the fish, or to a swivel placed in-line ahead of the lure. Detachable outer ring.

Other Systems?

You bet. Switching to wire line when using divers or heavy three-way rigs will attain greater depths; a good option for fishing below 50 feet, but requires heavier tackle. Many folks just don’t enjoy fishing with wire.

Downrigging, notably with spoons, enables you to fish deeper (50 to 100 feet), faster, or both. While downrigging is a viable method for presenting spinners, crankbaits, and spoons, it requires additional hardware and tackle. Considered a near necessity among Great Lakes trout and salmon trollers, downrigging enjoys pockets of popularity among walleye anglers, but not nearly the same acceptance as going on-line with snap weights and boards, and in some cases, divers.