I have always fished the small jet divers for springers and steelhead (in smaller tributaries). I have always seen people use hot-n-tots, so I went and bought 3 small ones and 3 large ones.

What are the divers depth with a sandshrimp and small spin-n-glow, how much line should I let out ? What depth of water should I use the large one in ?

Also how many people have teeth marks on their divers (how often do fish hit the diver) ? I got the brads diver in flat black, I thought the fish would least likely hit that one

Any information on fishing hot-n-tot divers for springers/steelhead would be greatly apperciated .....Ross

I am by no means an expert on fishing with bait divers, so take this for what it is worth. I'd fish the regular Hot-n-Tot in your classic steelhead holding riffles. Maybe up to 8-10' deep. Anything deeper than that, I'd run the Mags. Actually, getting past 15 feet, I'd run a 20' diving jet diver.


Black is a very visible and contrasting color underwater. Ideally, it's not the color you'd want to use. If you want to read up on colors, I'd recommend "What Fish See". But, a black diver doesn't hurt anything, reglardless of what people say. I don't think fish hit the divers that often.

Gear down as the water gets clearer and lower. There are times when we're running 8lb leaders and a #1 hook with a small shrimp tail and small spin-n-glow for springers. Fish accordingly.

Thanks for the help

I know black catches fish. I caught three springers this year on black plugs , I have caught more fish on the other colored divers (chrome w/ red back, green w/ black back, blue w/ black back) then I have with black lures.....Ross

Worked for me for years:
Medium divers. painted flat black (hooks removed, tied directly to the main line, five feet of leader to a Patriot Missile Spin N Glow (Mylar Wings), Sandshrimp tail.

I too have caught many fish on black or dark purple plugs, but I've never had a false take down with this rig, and my divers have no teeth marks over the years.

Do you use one or two hooks with the shrimp tail? Will eggs, prawns, pink worms work also? thanks in advance.....Ross

I leave a tail hook on the Hot n Tot, and have hooked a couple of fish on it over the years.

One hook, for either a tail or the entire shrimp. All of the above *can* and *do* work. Just sorta depends on the whens/whats/wheres, etc.

Got some nice springers on the Columbia on a small diver (Jet, not Hot-n-Tot) and eggs recently. I could have easily used a Mag Hot-N-Tot, but didn't feel like it.