chowder

A dipsy setup will work well on the lakers, probably better than downriggers some of the time. Musky is right though, take it one step at a time, I started trolling last spring and it can be overwhelming. Even though it's more oriented to Lake Ontario, I found Keating's book on "Great Lakes Trolling for Salmon and Trout" to be very helpful, it will give you an overview of most of the techniques used in the Finger lakes(you can order it from Amazon). The Finger lakes forum on this site will have more specific info for you some of the time. After reading/ chatting some more you will have a better handle on the whole picture but I do think you might be on the right track with the dipsy rig. I think I would go with an 8'6" rod, it's easier to handle. I would go with the 47 size reel because it can be used for practically every trolling application- and things will change for you as you get into this! You might want to experiment with spooling up w/ 30# super braid. I would only get the largest size diver , the magnum divers can go from deep to shallow depending on how much line you have out(Walkers are probably the best deal). Lakers really like the Flasher/ Fly combo behind a diver. Start simple with a few spin doctor flashers in white, mtn dew, and chartreuse and some Atomic flies in white, green, etc, get flies with the "tournament rigging". Although the dipsy rig is less $ than a rigger + rod & reel, you will still need a heavy duty rod holder (Bert's, Traxtech, etc) because the diver exerts a tremendous amount of strain on the rod and rod holder. Trolling speed is usually not as critical with lakers as it with some other species but you will need to find a way to monitor speed and be able to repeat what works. This can vary from watching the action of the flasher at the surface and relating it to a throttle setting to employing some serious electronic wizardry. For better or for worse, you will probably find yourself considering at a "wire line" dipsy setup after playing around with the superbraid for a while. Wire line dipsy setups just really turn on the lakers ! The main reason I even say this is to encourage you to get stuff (rods & reels) that can evolve with you as evolve- I am not saying you have to eat the whole enchilada, just start out with stuff that can be used different ways especially when they don't cost much more. It's recreation, enjoy it!

I thought that part of the attractiveness of the 600' was the long setback which enables the fish to "see" a single bait isolated from the rest of the spread. When you crank the copper down with a weight or dive bomb don't you lose some of that effect? (Just curious- not much experience with this copper stuff!)

Can't seem to find anybody selling these smaller DWs. Anybody know much about these spoons or where I could get a few?

Bill, will an inline hold 600'? I was told that 300' was it, did not mean to misinform, but the 300' was pulling that church board pretty good! Maybe I am using the wrong boards?

The 600' is a monster + you will not be able to use it on a board (the 300' is nice that way), just started messing with them late last summer and you might want to start out thinking in terms of getting both a 300' and a 600', so don't go hog wild on rod & reel for one and not be able to get the other. Just a thought.

For planer/surface duty I use the Eagle Claw 8'6" "LIGHT" rod with the 17 or 27 LC reel spooled with 10 (last year I used 12 and 15, and I think it hurt me), these rods are inexpensive but rugged and have an awesome action for smaller browns. I have used these with both inlines and dual boards, they were a bit soupy when we tried 2 colors on them off the inlines and I switched those reels to a pair of Cabelas med.light rods. I use the Eagle claw setups to troll using inlines for walleye,pickerel and small mouths in my canoe outfitted with an electric trolling motor and they are great for that too!

Rollie, just curious where the map was off and by how much? Also, what unit are running the map on? Thanks-Andy

Orvis Clearwater II, 10' 8wt & mid arbor reel+backing& line puts you in biz for about as cheap as it gets, maybe a little heavy for steelhead but would work for salmon as well, I think the promo on the reels gets you an extra spool for the reel till the end of the month.

Did anybody else notice that Engel's deep Kings spread featured in GLA showed the outside divers as the deep pair? What's up with that?

Welcome aboard! Ice out? What's that? Ask Ray(last post above) about hard water fishing!

I got a reservation from Dan, will probably leave wicked early from Cortland, if anybody is interested in sharing the drive, PM me, not sure about the thing on Sunday; could somebody tell me what that's like? Thanks -Andy

Hey Tim, Check the new DW line up for this year. I came up with two "gobie" patterns last year that DW has added to the line. One has the yellow and brown you're looking for and was a terrific BT producer for some guys on the East end last year and was absolutely DYNAMITE on the Lake Erie walleyes. I wish I could say it produced lots of browns for me but we just didn't see any at the Oak last year. The other is a green/brown/gold pattern that also produced well. See ya at the swap meet! Paul Free Spirit Do you guys know who carries the "4 DW" size Dreamweaver spoons, they are 3 1/2", most ads I see do not list em.

Ray, I posted on Sanders to see if somebody could check clearance. I must say I went back & forth thru there for 4 days in August and always took my rods out of the 45 deg. rigger holders in my little 16', water is lower now but if you look at the boats in that little marina they are all pretty low profile.

Constant change is here to stay- but don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!

The Okuma Blue Diamond wire line rods do have a nice action for FLX sized fish. On a similar note the 7'6" Blue Diamond rigger rod is pretty sweet too!

Ray, I am on the eastern edge of Cortland county, could get to Seneca fairly easy, never fished it but I would like to, we go to Cayuga a lot.

Ray, do you keep your Islander in a heated shop? I don't think my 97' 4.0 would be very happy trying to start right now. I do get up at 3:30 every day though if you need a 3rd, ice fishing just isn't keeping the monkey off my back!

I am not an expert on this, but like Tim , I always use smaller spoons on my cheaters.

I toss my sliders in after I am at depth with the ball, but before I tighten down the reel, that way the slider runs down to the belly in the main line. Tighten up the line and your all set! Watch your wire dipsy lines when you bring in a double on one of these, be prepared to let them drift behind the boat under tension if they get frisky and start popping out of the water(something about being hooked so close together seems to make them do this more!)If one gets on the other side of the wire things get interesting in a hurry...

Rob, I think I got it; 1. Put the liberator or add a line on the main line before you tie on the swivel that goes to the leader & terminal snap (maybe this liberator can be added after, I can't tell from looking at the picture) 2.let out 10-12' of line with the small spoon on the end of it and put the line in the release. 3. hold onto the liberator or add a line at the water level and drop the ball 5' down 4. secure the liberator to the main line ( does a add a line get pinched to the dr cable? it looks like the leader from the liberator to the larger spoon can be snapped to the liberator at this time and you drop this cheater line in. 5. drop the ball to desired depth or temp range. The liberator has the advantage of not involving the dr cable which the add a line needs to clip to to fix the depth of the large spoon- Do I have it or am I still missing something?

I am confused about this setup; is your offshore planer release what you are calling a "Add- a- line release", if so then what is the clinch pad attached to and where is the "6' leader " with the larger spoon coming from - a 2cd rod, or is it a slider on the main line?

Split, pm an address or just post me to talk grilling . I do have a larger size gas grill (+ a stash of venison hot Italian sausages as a consolation prize for the last place finisher - see how I take care of myself!)

Yankee, I buzzed up to Fat Nancy's & got the skinny on centre pins and made my donation to the industry. Just curious how long it took till you could cast it somewhat? Planning to go out with a guide after I get a bit of a handle on this thing!

Did you go with the center pin or a spinning float set up? Trying to decide myself!

I don't think people should be allowed to use floats or center pin setups or downriggers, or dipsy rods or down speed monitors or sonar or boats or even any intelligence at all to catch fish! I mean where's the sport in any of that?