Lead versus divers

[Kenia]

I have noticed that people using lead seem to have a better catch ratio than those who use divers for springers. Are the divers scaring the fish or just not being used properly. I have been told salmon are not tackle shy. Is this really true?

[Tanner]

Kenia,
One thing I have noticed is a lot of people that use divers in the Willamette for springers do not use a long enough dropper. In fact I have seen guys (doughballs) attaching their leader directly to a jumbo jet diver. I use an 18" dropper on my diver in Oregon City. That way my bait is a minimum of 18" off of the bottom. A lot of guys don't understand that a salmon is much more apt to see an offering above him then below him.
Last year I was out springer fishing with a friend of mine up at the sand bar hole in O.C. We saw about 40 fish hooked that morning and well over half of them were taken by guides who were using jumbo jet divers. They work. In fact, I believe they help attract the fish to your bait. Kind of like a flasher or dodger.

That's my dollar 2.95 anyway

[ 03-21-2001: Message edited by: Tanner ]

[Kenia]

Tanner
Thanks for the 2.95!!

[Hookset]

From my point of view, most river and bay fishing conditions favor a lead dropper rather then a diver. The divers work and perform well for suspended fish and areas that have consistent bottom depth. Depending on the diver, you can efectively fish from 6 to 30 feet in depth. What a diver fails to provide is direct contact with the bottom. A lead dropper does this. This is why you'll hear people say 6 oz.'s and 3 cranks up or any number of lead and crank combinations depending on current and if your travleing with or against the flow. The key is to stay in the fish zone close to the bottom for most of your Chinook fishing. I like lead since you can get the direct feedback of the bottom. The lead technique works well for Chinook which travel close to the bottom. However, there are a number of reasons for using divers and many of these focus on lack of fishing experince. Guides prefer divers most of the time in areas where divers are effective. The diver method is easier to fish clients and handle the boat at the same time.

They both have there place.

hook

[dogfishboy]

In OC alot of guys use divers, but out on the Columbia most folks seem to use lead. The depths we fish are the same in both locations.

always curious... images/icons/rolleyes.gif

Like the attraction idea...always wondered if it helped or hurt.

[Killertraylor]

I'm assuming you mean jet divers as opposed to Delta divers. I use lead when I'm trolling just about everywhere except for the upriver bright fishery at the mouth of the Columbia in August. For some reason, those fish bite on the Diver rig 3 to 1 for me as opposed to lead. I'm sure the diver helps attract them as hot colors produce better. I hate divers though - the Delta diver I mean - it stays on your main line between you and the fish and it can catch current and if the fish goes the other way, you lose it. I tend to lose a lot more fish on the delta divers than I do on lead. I've never had much use for the jet divers - I tried them on the Columbia last year and they wouldn't go deep enough - maybe I didn't have the biggest one, but it said it would fish down to 30 feet and it only got down to about 5. The delta divers have lead on them that helps get them down.

[Tanner]

Hey Hookset,
You are right that divers lend themselves well to fisherman with little experience.
They also are favored for a guy like me who has minor shoulder and elbow problems and can't spend all day backbouncing. I know some very experienced fisherman who have been fishing for years that quit backbouncing and started using (almost exclusively) jumbo jets while fishing Oregon City for springers. Jumbo Jets, in the proper current, will consistently stay on the bottom. They will also effectively dive to 50 ft. given you have the proper amount of line out. It is strictly a matter of personal preference.

Of course when I am forward trolling herring or prawns, I would never use a diver. Strictly lead. Anytime I am using a diver it is because I am backtrolling.

[Hookset]

Tanner,

Sounds like your backtrolling more around Oregon City then trolling. For backtrolling, I like to use the Luhr Jensen jumbo jet diver too. Works well if you can regulate the depth and stay close to the bottom. And I also agree that back bouncing lead all day really wears thin when the catching is slow at best. Not to many people really want to back bounce all day.

Again, this is just me adding my 2 cents here. The reason the lead works well in the Columbia is the inconsistent current and the tidal influence. You can always regulate and feel your way around with a lead dropper but not with a diver. The lead provides you with instant contact and the diver most of time is just an educated guess.

Of course there are are always contradictions to everything. Buoy 10 salmon fishing close to salt water has been a diver show with the large Delta divers accounting for both Chinook and Coho. I have seen one diver color out perform others. Obviously the fish are attracted to the different colors.

hook

[FishinMission]

I have to go with the diver for backtrolling, and the lead for "front" trolling. It seems to me if you're using a diver for forward trolling, you'll pretty much be flying blind at determining what depth you're fishing at. Sometimes scuffing the bottom will tell you, but then you run the risk of losing your diver...and as you know...they ain't cheap!! Sometimes when I'm out in deep water, or deep heavy current, I'll even use up to 12 oz. of lead, and do "one foot" pulls off my reel. When your line goes straight down, you can pretty much dial in what depth your fishing pretty accurately. images/icons/grin.gif Hasn't seemed to affect the hooking rate fishing deeper right under the boat either. images/icons/wink.gif