Nessmuk

30# mono would be a better choice IMHO ( fleas)..... it would be fine in the spring but the fleas seem to hang on into the fall. ........ and if youe going to use flasher/fly $15 to $20 worth of hardware would make me a bit antys with only 20#. Buy rod/reel that you can just remove the mono and replace with wire when you feel you want to up-grade...........mono is way more forgiving that wire....... I started with mono and still use it early on , it works but you will have to play with the release on a dipsy to get it JUST right so it will release with 200+' out or do a lot of work bringing it back in. I run slidedivers on my mono rigs not dipsydiver.......... why don't you want to make a downrigger IF you could.......... I use downrigger 90% of my fishing time on the water.......

I decided that since 20# is what the dipsy instructions mention and give a depth table for it would be a good starting point. I'll probably just drag a Sutton spoon or similar around w/o flasher or any fly.

I am a machinist/patternmaker and have small lathe and mill but decided against building a DR as the more I read about using the dipsy the more I am attracted.

For this fall I hope to try dragging a few ounces of lead and a spoon or spinner and see if I can catch anything. I saw this on you tube and a post in this thread.

May try Canadice if there is a nice day and I am able to get my boat in the water. I looked at the boat launch there today and it isn't very nice being rocky and very shallow quite a way out.

Hope to get a fish finder tomarrow.

Lots of good info. Sk8man's suggestion to make sure your boat can take the gear is a good one. I can't run wire or large dipseys until I upgrade the rod holders on my boat.

While wire is the way to go during the summer just think about the fishing you want to do. If you want to troll all summer it's probably worth the investment. For guys on a budget there are cheaper things to do though. I troll until the fleas get bad, generally the end of June or so. Then starting again in the fall. During high summer I jig for lakers mostly, but bass are an option. Not sure if I'm getting this out right but my point is, fishing in general is expensive and trolling doubly so, so pick your spending carefully.

Personally I'd say start small, especially if you're on a budget. Wire will get you down 100' but you don't need to be there until late spring. (Or maybe right now but the lake is cooling fast.) Braid is all you need unless you're set on trolling July-Sept. It all depends on you I guess is my real point, figure out when and what you'll be fishing for. You can catch plenty of fish all year without expensive trolling gear, you just have to switch species at times. And don't buy junk! Quality counts. But if you know you'll be trolling deep in August, disregard everything I just wrote. (Except about quality.)

Hermit,

Thanks for your post! I'm pretty much under the weather with allergies June/July/Aug and find the summer heat/humidity tough to take. Late summer evenings I'd rather pitch poppers with a flyrod and harrass some bass. Then in September start trolling until it starts to get too cold to bear.

Most of my trolling will be spring and fall. I've decided to go with 20# mono and a standard dipsy for the time being. I figure if the dipsy was originally intended to be used with mono it should work ok. I'm not really all that enthused about dealing with wire and think mono will work OK. I just need to find a dipsy rod/reel and decide on color for the dipsy.

I have two cheapo die cast rod holders that came with the boat and will try them first. I plan on making some "improvements" to the boat and will install a fishfinder first. Biggest problem is that the boat is too small! The more I fish from it the more I realize that! Gotta live with it for now though.

Jack

Whatever Dipsy set-up you choose, make sure you go with wire. You will really enjoy fighting a fish on the wire and you won't have to worry about the "lovely" fleas!

I just finished reading an article about those nasty little crustaceons that will probably change the FL fisheries.

So...... Does using wire trash guides on cheaper rods like uglystik ?

Thanks to everyone for their posts. Once I have the boat set up with a FF and a rod/reel/dipsy I'll have questions in another thread about lures! I appreciate everyones input! Jack

I would give up my riggers long before my dipsy rods could be pried from my hands. For every fish I catch on a rigger, probly catch 8 on dipsy. And...not trying to discourage you...but...trolling on a tight budget...hahahahahaha!!!!!! As was said before...welcome to buying more stuff! Hehehe.

Kyle

[ Post made via Android ]

When I was actively flyfishing I spent a lot on tackle at first. More and more as time went by I used less and less tackle. I got to the point where I could fish the local streams with 2-3 flyboxes of flys and one rod always catching trout. It boiled down to learning and time spent on the water. Now my eyesight is such that I can't see size 18-24 hook eyes in low light levels to tie onto the tippet so I decided to try the lakes where much bigger tackle is easier on old eyes and I still flyfish for warmwater species.

I can't afford collecting gadgets and toys not to mention that it doesn't interest me much. For me learning about trolling is most important and being the poor and cheap old bugger I am I'll probubly catch fish on a small collection of tackle.

I think the dipsy will probably fill my needs at this point in time. Now I need to figure out what rod/reel will work best.

I run the mag dipsy and standard dipsy. The mag will go over 120" deep which you need to do at many times of the year. Never fished the lakes you are going to targeting so not sure how deep you need to go. Last 4 years 80% of my fish have come off dipsy rods but I fish mostly for lakers. Do not need to go as deep for bows or browns. Wes

Wes,

The more I read both here and on the web the more I am thinking dipsy is the way to go. I am wondering if one of the modern low stretch lines would substitute for wire?

Which rig is more versatile, lead core or dipsy?

Dipsy diver setup with a small diver as well as the standard diver. Lead core won't get deep enough mid summer and on.

Wayne,

Thanks! I love answers to questions that also explain why. What sort of rod line would you suggest?

Jack

Which rig is more versatile, lead core or dipsy?

Dipsy wire rod might be cheapest way for controlled depth trolling. I got used rod setups for 35 bucks each from a charter captain. They upgrade often and you can find some deals. Watch the LOU classifieds or go to one of the flea markets in the spring.Pulling copper by hand has worked for over 100 years. This requires some sort of device to keep the wire stored. They used converted Victrola boxs in the day. Wes

Hadn't heard of a dipsy wire rod! I googled it and assume you are talking about using a dipsy diver (new to me!) on wire? Sounds like it may be a good idea. Thanks Wes!

I'm new to this forum and found it while looking for info on trolling/Finger Lakes. I live in Rochester and am primarily interested in Hemlock/Canadice. I've mostly done worm dunkin in lakes and fly fishing streams so this trolling thing is all new to me.

I'm on a very limited budget. Just bought a used 12' boat and 6hp motor and am now thinking about how to go about getting ready to troll. I plan on buying a Humminbird 561 which is a stretch for me but I assume that a fishfinder is pretty necessary.

Which method of trolling?

I have looked at down riggers and the cost is more than I can afford now. I probably could build a DR but am not sure if a DR it is the best method? One thing that concerns me is spooking fish with the boat almost overhead of a fish?

Pulling copper seems mysterious to me as how does one know what depth you are fishing?

Lead core interests me most but again the cost of a high capacity reel and proper rod isn't going to happen soon. Can lead core be fished as a hand line as in pulling copper? How accurate is depth based on how many colors are down?

Any insight as to how to get started in trolling would be appreciated.

Jack