Jet divers/small dipsey's

[RD9]

We fish out of Olcott several weekends a year and went up last year twice In April. Caught plenty of Kings both times. Around the 20 th of April we struggled in the morning and then proceeded to catch 9 kings on small dipsey's targeting twenty feet down, over 80 ft. I know last April was uncommonly warm, but in late April to early May Is it common to find them that high in the water column. When they are up in the top 35 what system do you prefer to target these fish. When this occurs on Erie in June we run 4 jets off the boads, two small dipsey's off the sides and two riggers or lead straight back (total of eight

[Gill-T]

5-7 colors of leadcore.  Esp. if there is a little chop on the water.  If the lake is rolling from the east and cool water is pushing in, you may have to go as high as a 2 color.

[RD9]

Do you run the lead off the boards and how do the spin doctors work off the lead?

[Gill-T]

I run four different colors....2 per side off planer boards. A couple of dipsys and three riggers for the usual 9 rods per three people aboard. Spoons or plugs off the lead. Flashers off the wires.

Edited March 22, 2013 by Gill-T

[RD9]

Thanks for the reply. We have been running the same spread concept using jets on the board for walleye. Have thought about setting up rods with with lead in five, seven and ten colors. Maybe even three for early season for both walleye an salmon. The lead set ups just catch more fish especially when the bite is tough. You agree and what is the reason? Depth should all be the same with jet/dipsey's off the boards as with leadcore.

[Gill-T]

I the case of Jet Divers, they can be an attractant themselves.  A fish could come charging in see the jet and turn away or get negative before it sees the trailing bait.  In the spring there are a lot of single injured/shocked fish swimming around as easy pickin's.  You can witness the carnage off the piers in the spring as browns are actively sipping injured emerald shinners swimming on the surface.  A bait presented alone all by itself is deadly this time of year.  Leadcore presents only the bait to look at....stealth/natural presentation.