Round Valley trolling with dipsy divers

[MediocreHunter]

Hello all,

I am new to trolling. I got a 14ft aluminum v-hull with a 9.9 and electric trolling motor (transom-mounted, 55lbs thrust) late last year. I have two trolling setups (Okumas with line counters), both set up with dipsys. Both dipsys are size 1, black. I have both rigged with 50# braid, then the dipsy, then a snubber, then about 6ft of fluoro leader, then a dodger, then about 2ft more of fluoro, then my lure (flutter spoon, jerkbait, etc). 

So far, I have been trolling at 1.2 to 1.7 mph in the deepest parts of the lake. I run as deep as I can for lakers and try to hit right at or above the thermocline for browns and rainbows. I have a fish finder (Garmin Stryker 4) to determine speed, depth, mark fish, etc. 

But, I have not caught anything. I suspect that I am running at the wrong depth. 

I am looking for general tips and tricks, but I am also looking for specific knowledge of how to calculate the depth that my dipsys run. The chart on the package is designed for 20# mono, and obviously braid is much thinner, and I don't know how much that impacts my depth. Also, the chart only goes to 70 feet for the size 1 and I am trying to run deeper. I have ordered the size 3 (magnum) dipsys but have not fished them yet. 

I am also interested in vertical jigging and have had no luck at that either, so any tips are welcome. 

I am specifically looking for advice about dispys. I may eventually get downriggers and/or have a few leadcore setups, but that is not my plan for now. Also, I intend to get a bow mounted trolling motor, just not at the moment. 

Thank you in advance. 

[SPEARFISH]

Try some shiners or herring.  Everything eats them.

[barrike]

Go to one of the Round Valley Trout Association meetings.  They are every third Thursday of the month at the Clinton firehouse.  You will find a bunch of good guys with LOTS of knowledge that they are willing to share.  You can also reach out to them on their Facebook page.

Edited July 30 by barrike

[JHbowhunter]

I land 45 lb stripers on 15 and 20# braid - why use 50# on freshwater fish? Talk about overkill.  I think u could easily land any trout in that lake with 6# braid and what a difference that would make.  Leaders should be 6-8# flouro.  

[hammer4reel]

19 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

I land 45 lb stripers on 15 and 20# braid - why use 50# on freshwater fish? Talk about overkill.  I think u could easily land any trout in that lake with 6# braid and what a difference that would make.  Leaders should be 6-8# flouro.  

50 pound is def overkill . 6 # leader is too light .

while it’s been 2 decades since the bigger fish are caught with regularity there are still some big fish caught .

15# braid , with 10 or 12# leader would give you a better chance at landing one of those trophies .

and still keep it light enough for the smaller fish 

[JHbowhunter]

RV is gin clear.  Lightest flouro leader possible and long.  I always err on the light side when it comes to trout for more action. Also a lake has no current to help a trout fight like a river. Trout are not the best fighters either. No reason not to go light as possible. If u hook a giant - skill takes over. You can land it 

[hammer4reel]

2 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

RV is gin clear.  Lightest flouro leader possible and long.  I always err on the light side when it comes to trout for more action. Also a lake has no current to help a trout fight like a river. Trout are not the best fighters either. No reason not to go light as possible. If u hook a giant - skill takes over. You can land it 

Only a fool goes to try and catch fish over 20 pounds with a reel set at 1 1/2# of drag .

fight  a good fish on that light a drag from 90’ or deeper its a dead fish .

 

[MediocreHunter]

6 hours ago, SPEARFISH said:

Try some shiners or herring.  Everything eats them.

Thanks for the tip. I have fished them suspended from a bobber but never done put them deep enough for lakers. How do you fish them?

[MediocreHunter]

3 hours ago, barrike said:

Go to one of the Round Valley Trout Association meetings.  They are every third Thursday of the month at the Clinton firehouse.  You will find a bunch of good guys with LOTS of knowledge that they are willing to share.  You can also reach out to them on their Facebook page.

That's definitely a good idea, and I will probably do that one day. For this moment in time, evenings are hard because I have very young children with early bedtimes. 

[MediocreHunter]

2 hours ago, JHbowhunter said:

I land 45 lb stripers on 15 and 20# braid - why use 50# on freshwater fish? Talk about overkill.  I think u could easily land any trout in that lake with 6# braid and what a difference that would make.  Leaders should be 6-8# flouro.  

I appreciate the suggestion. I use 50# braid because that's what the other folks suggested I use when specifically using dipsys for lakers. Have you used dipsy divers? If not, perhaps your suggestions are misplaced. 

[MediocreHunter]

1 hour ago, hammer4reel said:

50 pound is def overkill . 6 # leader is too light .

while it’s been 2 decades since the bigger fish are caught with regularity there are still some big fish caught .

15# braid , with 10 or 12# leader would give you a better chance at landing one of those trophies .

and still keep it light enough for the smaller fish 

Thank you, I really appreciate this suggestion. 

[Nomad]

Drift with herring 30 feet down for trout.  Just off bottom for lakers. 18 inches of 10 lb floro, sliding sinker, and one of those ball bearing line holders that allow you to drift herring with an open bail.  When I used to fish there, there were huge browns. I don’t know if  they’re in there anymore though.  Finding someplace that sells herring might be a problem.

[hammer4reel]

23 minutes ago, Nomad said:

Drift with herring 30 feet down for trout.  Just off bottom for lakers. 18 inches of 10 lb floro, sliding sinker, and one of those ball bearing line holders that allow you to drift herring with an open bail.  When I used to fish there, there were huge browns. I don’t know if  they’re in there anymore though.  Finding someplace that sells herring might be a problem.

`brown trout fishery there before they started stocking lakers was world class .

im surprised they don’t try an reintroduce herring there again .

since the levels were brought way down for the dam repairs . A lot of new dirty water was brought in to refill it .

would think their would now be enough to have herring survive another 15 years .

when herring was plentiful and seen every night , fish grew quick .

also had hoped the kamaloops had taken off .how cool that could have been .

[JHbowhunter]

2 hours ago, MediocreHunter said:

I appreciate the suggestion. I use 50# braid because that's what the other folks suggested I use when specifically using dipsys for lakers. Have you used dipsy divers? If not, perhaps your suggestions are misplaced. 

I use same size dipsy in Delaware River on 8-10# braid and 8lb flouro leader for shad.  In heavy current. And shad pull a lot harder than trout.   

[hammer4reel]

7 minutes ago, JHbowhunter said:

I use same size dipsy in Delaware River on 8-10# braid and 8lb flouro leader for shad.  In heavy current. And shad pull a lot harder than trout.   

He is looking to catch much bigger trout than the ones you target lol