What size Hot n Tot as a diver?

[Mojo]

Due to my inability to find the bigger Mud-Bugs to use as a bait diver, I think I'll try Hot N Tots. I have seen tons of them for sale around here and online. What size do you use? How deep do they run with bait on the leader?

Are there any other lures that work well as bait divers? I'm looking for something that will give a little action to the bait. Jet divers just cruise down and sit there.


Any help would be appreciated...

[Dan Christopher]

Ah series are the 3 3/4 and work good to about 8 feet. Bh series are the magnum 4 1/2 inches and work good 6 to 12 feet. The mags do not work as good in shallow water as they tend to beat up the bottom to hard. Stay away from the rattleing 3 1/2 inchers.

[BUBBA911]

There are 3 sizes to the hot n tot. small for very shallow under 4', medium that work well to about 10 ' and magnum 's that work well to 15 or so feet.. use the middle size.. good luck with them, but be careful this time of year with bait and killing natives..

[Gone Fishin]

Go ahead and buy them now but, please don't use them this time of year on steelhead! Save 'em for next season's hatchery return or springers...They are too deadly on native fish.

[Bobberologist]

I like to run the Brads Divers its the same as the Hot-n-tot but sold without hooks for less$$.
You can also move the bill clip to the forward position for less depth.
I have found that a 4-ball bead chain on a duo-snap works real good to keep things straight.

[Wog]

Mojo,
As Stated it really depends on what type of water you are fishing. I prefer the Magnum Hot-n-Tots over the smaller size for most of the water I fish. If I am running divers in a shallow slot or tailout I will sometimes switch to the smaller size, but I have had success with the magnum size even in these areas. *(You have to be careful in these situations! Watch your rods at all times, making sure that you are not hung up.) I used to be brave and run the Magnum Hot-n-Tots just about anywhere, but now that they are scarce I tend to "Dive" on the side of caution.

[SeanD]

Do the new hot n' tots work as divers too? I thought they stopped selling the thin fins, and the new ones wont work the same as the old ones?

[Mojo]

Thanks for the info.

As for using them this time of year, the runs we fish are primarily hatchery fish. This far from the ocean things don't change late in the year like they do over near the coast.

Also I want to use them for running rubber worms not bait.