Rookie questions

[sslopok]

I am going to be running 2 downriggers and 2 braid dipsy setups off my 16.5 Lund. I have a few questions about using snap swivels/duolocks. When you guys attach the dipsy divers to the line, the flashers/dodgers, and the flies leader to the flasher, are you using snap swivels/ duolocks on everything to make it easy to change setups quickly? Or, do you tie directly?

I guess I really would like to hear a step by step of exactly how you have a rod all set up.

Thanks everyone!

[Paulywood]

Brandon, I have all of my flasher stuff lying right here so I'll snap a few pics of how I do it. Others might be different.

[sslopok]

even better thanks!

[adrenalin]

Tie braid directly to diver with 1 big bead ahead of diver.

Attach your snubber to the diver and tie a 5 foot leader to the snubber

Tie a swivel to the leader on the snubber

Attacher your flasher to that swivel

Tie a loop knot on your fly leader and hook it on the flasher

[Paulywood]

The pics didn't turn out great but I'll try to explain how I do it. First, use a good ball bearing snap. Spro, Sampo, Opti and Dreamweaver all make good ones. I have a large snap tied to the dipsey line. That goes on the side of the diver that releases. I have a clear Opti snubber attached to the rear of the diver. I don't always use them on braid divers but I do like them. After that I have pretied leaders with snaps on each end. I usually tie them up so that when the diver is at the rod tip the end of the leader is around the reel. You can make them longer or shorter but make sure you are able to get the fish to the boat to net. I put bead chains on the front of my flashers and attach the leader to that. You don't have to do the bead chains, I bought a bunch of them and put them on to help avoid line twist. As for fly leaders I just retied mine this morning and I made the ones for 8" flashers 26" long and the ones for the big 11" paddles 36" long. I tie these directly to the flasher. I keep 15-20 different flasher/fly combos together and use them throughout the year. I will change them up if needed but they are either proven combos or something that I want to run. I have extra flashers and flies on board if I find a hot setup I can duplicate it. Here are the pics:

[Nailer]

My diver rods have a bead and bb swivel with a big duolock snap. I like the big snaps for my old hands. The bead is nice for reeling the line tight to the rod when landing a fish.

Diver has a snubber and 8' of 40 pound mono, a bb swivel with a duolock. The fly has a overhand knot with a 26" or 36" length (26" for 8" flasher, 36" for 11' flasher).