I haven't ever put much time into fishing diver and bait but I'd like to start getting dialed in on it. So, I've got some questions for you diver and bait gurus.

1.) At what point does a Jet diver become the better choice over the Hot n tot style divers? Obviously depth can play a role in diver choice but I'd assume the small size 10' jet diver could do the same work as the regular size hot n tot diver depending on flow, line angle, and line diameter.

2.) Does the action of the diver enforce your choice on which to run? Maybe in more dirty water the erratic action of a hot n tot is the way to go versus the jet diver?

Now lets talk leaders and droppers...

1.) When would you and when would you not set your diver on a sliding dropper rig?

2.) Say I'd like to fish diver and bait for summer runs...what lb test for leader, and how long should it be? I've heard 5'-6'. Also, would a 1/0 or 2/0 be good with like a size 6 stinger hung back?

3.) Say I'm going to fish diver and bait for kings. What's the prefered leader and hook set up for that?

That's all the questions I have for now. I figured this could be a good topic to have on here. Any info would be great. I'd love to learn this.

Thanks,

Drew

Good point there 2many. We're talking hatchery fish with this.

I may not be as dialed as some others here with more experience, but so far what has worked for me is:



Hot 'n Tots in regular or Mag. I like black.
Brads version of the above. Black again.
Mudbugs in black of course.
Jet divers in black as well.


Your best options.
The Hot'n Tots are best suited for shallower water.
Deeper holes your better off with the Mudbug or Jet Diver.
Wiggle warts are best used as a plug, IMO.



-As for the debate on using them when nates around, I'd personally concern myself over water temp. more then technique, but that is just me.

I always run my divers on a slider, the style/size is going to depend on the amnt of current. I like mud bugs vs hot n tots, jets work well with lees current.
For kings, I put my diver on a 6" dropper, run a 5-6' leader 3 beads and a spin glo the same color as my beads...usually a 2/0 or 3/0 hook and a cocktail....6' deep or less=mud bug.... 6' or more= jet
If your dropper is heavier than your leader, you will very rarely lose a diver.....when/if you hang up...free spool and the diver will float to the surface allowing you to get it back and usually keep all your gear.

Jet diver's=Salmon fishing.Deeper.6-15'
Hot-n-tots=Steelhead fishing.More action. 3-8'
Good luck,
SZ

Like said above "No divers for native steelhead's"

Serious question as I don't know any better, but do you find THAT big of difference as say side drifting with bait? Sorry to get off topic I just don't understand the difference myself. Thanks for your time.

I've never really had a steelhead completely sh!t hole a side drifted bait. Maybe with the different presentation they hit it differently. I could see that it would be easy for them to inhale a bait behind a diver though. they have much more time to think about it.

Maybe the hook size and how many points one is using should also be taken into account?

When we use diver and bait its with a single red Owner Cutting Point in 3/0 with no barb. (personal preference)

When I see someone side drifting they are usually using what appears to be two #2 hooks, making me think smaller hooks means they will get eaten deeper...that is where my question stems from.

This ^^^

Although I like Mud Bug better than Hot-N-Tot.
Hot-N-Tot is a searcher, moving back and forth a bit which translates to an unsteady motion at the rod tip.

Mud Bug is a straight, reliable runner which produces a steady drum beat at the rod tip.

Do not like jets at all.
Would rather back bounce for sammins.
Also they give poor feed back at the rod tip.
Whereas with a Mud Bug, I know immediately when it's fouled.

Generally would use live sand shrimp with "two hooks tied solid".
The lower hook would be one size larger than the upper....(you feed them head first).
Size your hooks according to the size of your sand shrimp.
The larger, lower hook goes in under the "rib cage" and out his mouth.
The smaller, upper hook goes in under the "belly segments" and finishes so that the eye of the hook is flush or slightly above the "flippers".
Use the egg loop on the upper hook to gather the flippers.

Stack 3-ish very small beads (clearance for spinning bobbers) and then the drift bobber of your choice above.
I would use a small Spin-N-Glow.

This rig acts like a float rig when being deployed.
Don't take your eyes off the plug as it floats down into position.

A sand shrimp rigged this way is fairly durable.

Yak-Fresh,

Usually I go even smaller on the hooks when side drifting. Dual size 4's. Even with the small hooks I tend to not hook them deep.

Thanks everyone for the diver and bait input. hoping to put it all together soon.

That's such a myth.......

I've caught hundreds of steelhead on diver and bait and you could count on 1 hand how many have swallowed it.

The trick is a single 3/0 or4/0 owner cutting point.......

Keith

Honestly, you catch more fish that swallow it side drifting than you do back trolling....

Two reasons... Smaller hooks for side drifting (smaller offerings) and and free flowing presentation. A steelhead grabs and engulfs a bait as it's free flowing by them, not all swallow it but a much higher percentage do. Whereas with the bait trailer they usually grab and turn with it before swallowing hence corner of the mouth upwards of 80% of the time....

Drew,

I am also just dipping into the diver deal... I've had more confidence in a teeny spin glo & sand shrimp than any combo with eggs (for steelhead that is). I've had mixed success with divers/eggs for salmon, the places I thought they would work trememdous (like the Hump) I've had a few bumps. Places that I thought diver/eggs were a maybe (like the Icicle) I've done very well.

Wild Steelhead? Yeah, if it's mid-February and I'm on the Coast (I mean come on, where else would someone from Seattle fish? Wink wink), I wouldn't be using bait divers, but if it's peak hatchery season, screw it... I'm using divers.

2many is spot on...you want to KILL fish? Diver and bait um...All the fish I caught today where deep throats.. As are most

Remember last year Drew? Your bait don't catch SH!T....


Especially when presented by you... you got schooled son!

hahaha. welp, in my defense I was fishing on the bow so the fish were hitting the other two baits before mine was even in the picture. and for the record. My baits did catch fish that day. Remember you started using my eggs and hooking fish? Bahahahaha. Plus I got that one on yarnie and shrimp by the radio hole. so nanner, nanner. Suck it brown boy.

What bait are you talking about and using....

I'm telling ya, from experience believe it or not...

Size 4/0 owner cutting point, sandshrimp and spinglo and you rarely hook them deep.

If your talking about summer steelhead or springers in 50+ degree water, yeah they're a bit more active and more likely to be "feeding"... Water temp plays a huge role in how a fish ingests it's offering...


But with winter natives which I assumed drew was asking about, they're a pretty lethargic fish...

Just sayin.

Keith

What do you know?

2many IS right, but that wont get ya too far on this board.

Dammmmmit! I forget?

As far as running diver and baits for salmon or steel, when I do this I have one thing on my mind...killin fish.

In the Fall I use mostly Jet divers in sizes 10 and 20 but will go bigger if the water dictates..most area's I fish are relatively shallow so no need to go above a 20. I run these on a mainline slider and run about a 6ft leader to my bait which most of the time is on 40 pound leaders to a team of 3/0-4/0 hooks.

Most diver Steelhead fishing I do is with Brads divers either the Standards or Mags..leaders vary in length but four or five foot works on whatever pound test you like. My hooks sizes are matched to the size bait I'm using..1/0 seems to be good.

One thing to keep in mind to help ya get more fish...don't have a low holer in the boat..keep all the line the same distance out...team work pays big in diver fishing.

I'm with Phil on this one, but I dont bait and dive for native steelies, mortality is to high, cuz they will inhale my eggs, this is a very effective way to fish though. I only use #10 jet divers for salmon, and brad divers for hatchery steelies, like Phil says keep the distance the same as much as possible, and you'll get paid!!!!!!!!!!!

i used diver and bait targeting springers from the end of april until now

0 native steelhead out of 9 deep throated it. over a dozen springers did and 1 hatchery summer run did.

depending on the river, but jet divers can be very bad for backing down a run with a lot of big rocks(they hang up easy). i only ever use 20s or brads, 95% of the time i use a jet diver i am on anchor unless its a big deep slow salmon hole that i know is snag free.

i have my rods rigged where i can swap out leaders and/or divers in a matter of seconds... so i can switch which divers are needed from spot to spot