Tad Poles, Dipsy, Inline wts vs TT divers

I have never used the Tad Pole divers of any size. The reason being that their original advertised dive curve was considerably more than that of the Tru-Trip 40 diver. So with me being a shorter the line closer to the cooler type of guy I just never used them. I do not know if there has been any recalculations in their dive curves or not. But if not, the longer leads required to reach the same depths is not better for me. I am not saying the Tad Poles, inline wts or dipsys are not good choices and TT divers are a better choice but I am saying they just do not fit in with my style of fishing as good as the TT divers do.

The 2nd reason is that I fish a lot in the rocky reef areas of the western basin and do not like the thought of getting hung up in the rocks and losing tackle/equipment while slowing down or stopping (I fish solo frequently) to land a fish or even while making turns. That is also the reason I no longer use the inline wt programs or for that matter dipsy divers. Remember that when ever the lead from inline boards to diver exceeds the depth of the water then the weighted divers and inline Wts will sink and make contact with the bottom and possibly get snagged in the rocks when slowing down, turning and stopping to net fish.

I am sure that there are days that the added vertical swim (raising and lowering of the bait with changing speeds during turns and wave surge ) while using inline wts and/or Tad Poles would help in the catch rate being quicker than just the use of the TT divers. But then again I don’t have to carry the extra tackle or endure the mental anguish trying to decide which program to start with or change to during the course of the day.

you are better off with the tt divers giving your style of fishing. I think the inline weights and dipsies are better suited for the central basin. but that's just an opinion.

I have not tried the Tadpoles myself and probably won't.. I talked to Off Shore reps. at a couple of sports shows and also listened to
and read articles by another major promoter of them I have resisted in making a purchase. The last article on Tadpoles was with adding releases to improve them. WHAT !!!..I carry inline wts. and TT's if I cannot catch what is needed, it was not my day. I also use dipsy's at times and pull them when things go slow and fish seem to be at the bottom or just for sh't's and giggles.

Wakina, thanks, and may I quote you on a labels for the boat "shorter the line closer to the cooler" one pad'ner insist on using Jet 20's all day long.

Gene

Gene:

Quote away, that is why I post information.

I do it so people can use it if they want or disregard it if that suits their fancy. I have used the Jets in the past starting with the 10's and worked my way up in size from there to the 40's. The number of landed fish vs hooked fish increased. So, I just assumed it was due to the shorter line not giving Murphy's Law more time to work its magic.

Wakina.
After purchasing what is probably a lifetime supply of inline weights I ordered some TT40s yesterday. I'll give them a try next week when I'm up. One question: I your thread you said that you often fish solo. So do I and I'm new to trolling. It may seem like a silly question but do you fish both boards out of the same side of the boat or one on each side. It seems like you could keep an eye on both easier if they are on the same side. Thanks for allthe info you post here. You are among those I pay close attention to.

I fished solo for the first time this year and started out one on each side. I soon realized it was much easier to fish the same side!! Also it makes it easier to read the boards as they separate when a fish is on. Yes, same side!

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Originally Posted by Defernaut

Wakina.
After purchasing what is probably a lifetime supply of inline weights I ordered some TT40s yesterday. I'll give them a try next week when I'm up. One question: I your thread you said that you often fish solo. So do I and I'm new to trolling. It may seem like a silly question but do you fish both boards out of the same side of the boat or one on each side. It seems like you could keep an eye on both easier if they are on the same side. Thanks for allthe info you post here. You are among those I pay close attention to.

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I fish out both sides most often unless there are indications the water conditions with wind direction and/or underwater currents are more productive on one side of the boat vs the other. The fish will tell you! By watching how the boards move away from the boat can and will show you that something at and/or under the surface is causing one side or the other to give a different action to the baits being used.

Even while trolling with the wind, it may be that the wind is pushing your boat one way or the other ever so slightly so one side is actually moving slightly faster, deeper or shallower than the other side of the boat depending on your bait and depth control choice(inline,TT or dipsy). Some days it does not matter but others all or most all of the fish will come on the side that moves away at a nice V angle (slower side) while the other side lags behind (closer to the boat but back some with the same leads) just enough that you can see the difference in the angles that the boards are following on differing sides of the boat and that other side (lagging behind some) is not nearly as productive. Let the fish tell you, then on those days fish both rods out the more productive side. But there are exceptions so that is the reason I always start with a line on each side of the boat. I switch to the more productive side after the second fish!!!

Wakina do you attach your spoons off your TTs using snaps or snap swivels ?

I have tried it both ways and settled on the snap swivels with a 60" leader. I feel it allows the spoon more freedom of movement. The spoon has to be not only able to flutter but to flip over and flash both sides the top and the back without twisting the leader. I am sure that there are others who use just the snap.

Wakina...I am fairly new to trolling. I have put my TT's in "time out" and started running Tadpoles. The TT's seemed like they were not running straight, especially as they would get closer to the boat. Is this common and is there a way to tune them?

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Originally Posted by ErieEric

Wakina...I am fairly new to trolling. I have put my TT's in "time out" and started running Tadpoles. The TT's seemed like they were not running straight, especially as they would get closer to the boat. Is this common and is there a way to tune them?

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I think what you're seeing is the affect of the prop wash on the diver. I've never seen a tru-trip not run straight. I stack them down my tow line pretty tight and never have much of an issue, unless I get a sideways running white bass on.

I think walleye2go nailed it, along with the fact that the angle from rod tip to diver is becoming sharper and at an increased speed as the retrieval process adds more speed both of which adds more force to the face of the diver causing it to veer left or right to relieve that downward pressure. I have been using the TT divers since they first became available and have never had a problem with them in any way.

I also know that TT divers are a piece of equipment that I do not discard regularly so my experience with them is limited to the few that I have. The Old school Jet Divers were another thing though with several filling with water and some never pulling straight right out of their packaging but never with the TT divers. The hardest thing about using the TT divers would be getting the tripping device set right so they stay set with only the lure attached but trip with the hook up of even a small junk fish.

In summary, I think what you are witnessing is the combined mechanics of Trolling speed, Prop Wash, added speed from the retrieval process, the decreasing angle from rod tip to diver and the added forces those things apply to the divers face that are causing your concern.

I had to edit this because I did not answer your question directly with the original reply. That answer would be that yes, I do witness the zig and the zag behaviour as the divers get closer to the boat and that aspect of the diver does/has not concerned me. The zig-zaging is most pronounced with the diver tripped as the angles of force from water resistance can change with the diver in the free swim/tripped position. A diver that is not tripped will move one way or the other and kind of stay on that course and just keep bearing in that direction until it breaks the surface.

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Originally Posted by ErieEric

Wakina...I am fairly new to trolling. I have put my TT's in "time out" and started running Tadpoles. The TT's seemed like they were not running straight, especially as they would get closer to the boat. Is this common and is there a way to tune them?

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If you gentlemen don't mind...
May seem like a stupid question, but when using the dive curve charts, what are you basing your line counter on? At the water level, tip of the rod, or at the actual reel? I realize duplication is the key to line counters, but I also fish solo most of the time. If I remember correctly, on a TT40, 65' of line out runs you down to approx. 26'. When solo, rods are direct to the TT and placed in rod holder, Obvious rod tip about 6-8' above waterline. Every once in a while I have a couple buddies with me and I can run the big boards...obviously clips are closer to the waterline. Probably over thinking this as usual...

Thank you

Dive curve is based on line that is physically in the water. So you have to compensate for any line you have out of the water. If you want 65ft back and rod tip is 8ft above water. You will need to add the 8ft to your 65ft lead.

The depth that is referred to would be from the water line to the diver and not the rod tip to diver, unless the rod tip is positioned at surface level. You must take into consideration how much line it takes from the rod tip to get to the surface level. Height of the rod tip is irrelevant! The only meaningful measurement is the line back from surface level as that is where the divers action and the dive curve originates from.

There is one simple and effective way to determine exactly when you have the desired amount of line out from your rod tip to water line besides just estimating the distance. Get yourslf a package of small rubber bands, small enough to pass thru the rod guides and the level wind device on your trolling rig. Half hitch a small rubber band to the line at the desired amount of line out. In your example you wanted 65' of line out to reach 26'. So just leave out the line from your reel until you get to 65' and then half hitch the small rubber band to your fishing line at the rod tip and leave out your line until the rubber band is just at the surface level +/- an inch or 2 so long as you can see it at the surface. That is the easiest way that I have found to get the desired results you are looking for. Upon retreival just wind it back thru the guides and onto the reel leaving it in place for the next fish So you can double check your total line out. Once you have determined the total distance you can read your line counter numbers and just set lines back that distance. Example would be 65' for dive curve and 24' from rod tip to the water level making the total 89' reading on your linecounter with rod in the rod holder. You can just leave out 89' each time and be reasonably assured that you are about 26ft down.

Thank you gentlemen!

Great info as always Wakina, I'll remember the river band suggestion in the future as well because I've often quarreled with the difference between the boards off the back of the boat and those off of the inlines. Big trouble, you have the most immigrant part of all already figured out: It's not how much longer is let out on each reel, it's duplicating the depth that's working.

Very informative thread, carry on.

Thanks for the info guys...guess I will take the TT's out of the penalty box and give them another try.

I am still very new to trolling techniques. I started about 4 years ago. I generally fish solo until the weather warms...then my wife goes as well. Anyway...I have often wonder how to duplicate the "back" depths you here on Ch.79. I know most of the charters are using big boards (Skipper, Eric, etc.), but have always wondered about the base for the dive curves. Guess it was not as dumb of a question as I thought. Should have asked it 4 years ago! With Wakina's input...I realize I am fishing much higher in the water column than I thought. Will adjust next trip out, which will be father's day with my little girl. Good luck to all. As always, thank you again for the help!!!