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Here’s what we got for you today:

Why you don’t always need downriggers to troll effectively at depth 🌊
Yet another reason why you should ‘bonk’ your fish to dispatch them safely and effectively 💀
Crawfish boilin’ 101 🦞
Scroll To The Bottom - we have an unreal referral program and offer rewards for ONLY 1 referral 💸

🎣 How to Rig a Diver for Trolling

If you’re trolling and want to reach fish holding deeper in the water column, a diver is your best friend. Think of it like a parachute in reverse—it pulls your lure down instead of letting it drift up. Here’s how to rig it right.

Choose the Right Diver

Start with a quality diver like a Luhr Jensen Deep Six or a Dipsy Diver. These are designed with a lead or planing surface that digs into the water when pulled behind your boat. You’ll need a strong mainline—20–30 lb mono or braid works well.

Rigging the Setup

Tie your mainline directly to the ring or swivel on the top side of the diver. Most divers have an adjustable trip mechanism that releases when a fish strikes. Set this depending on your trolling speed—faster speeds require tighter settings.

Then attach a leader to the back end of the diver:

4 to 6 feet of fluorocarbon (12–20 lb)
End it with a lure: spoons, crankbaits, or hoochies all work depending on target species

A diagram from FishUSA on how to rig a Dipsy Diver.

Trolling Technique

Troll at 1.5 to 3 mph. The amount of line you let out determines your depth—more line means a deeper dive. A line counter reel or trolling app helps track this.

If you’re using a directional diver like a Dipsy, remember it will plane to one side. Stagger your rods accordingly if running multiple lines.

🎯 Pro Tip

Rub scent gel or paste directly onto your diver. It leaves a scent trail in the water, drawing in curious fish—even if they miss the lure. Just be sure to reapply every 30–60 minutes, especially after a catch.

🎣 IN THE FIELD

A 17-year-old was bitten by a rattlesnake while fishing in remote North Carolina and had to be airlifted out for emergency antivenom treatment. Always have an emergency plan when fishing in remote areas—help might be farther than you think.
A study has shown that rainbow trout endure intense pain—averaging around 10 minutes and sometimes up to 25—when killed by air asphyxiation after catch. We always “bonk” our catch to quickly put them out of their misery and preserve meat quality.
A great in-depth review of how Dipsy Divers work: