slide diver question

[Kokeking]

I'm a west coast guy and like the idea of using a slide diver. However when fishing for salmon in alaska I typically use a hoochie behind a 10 or 11 inch dodger. I use the same setup fishing for large bull trout near my home in central oregon but use down riggers that I don't have access to in AK.   After catching my limit of kokanee (landlocked sockeye) last week I tried out  the large slide diver without the larger ring with my typical setup.  I found that as soon as I reached coho salmon trolling speed 2.5 mph the slide diver turned upside down and returned to the surface.  Does the dodger create too much drag for the diver to work correctly at that speed? Will the addition of large ring make it work?  I don't have the same problem with dipsy divers. Really would like to have a longer setback from the diver than is possible with the dipsy diver.

[jdh]

Try it with the large ring.  What offset setting/number are you using?  The more it's set to pull to the side, the more likely it'll flip over.

[Kokeking]

51 minutes ago, jdh said:

Try it with the large ring.  What offset setting/number are you using?  The more it's set to pull to the side, the more likely it'll flip over.

Setting was straight behind. Just received large ring. Waiting for good weather that is not in the forecast for the next week to try out the large ring.

[FBD]

I know deep diving stick baits can overpower small divers.  I would think the ring can only help…

[youp50]

I might have what you need.  A few years back I bought a couple of 10 ounce washers from John King.  He has since retired and I do not know if the folks that bought him out have the weights.

 

A longer screw and the washer, take the diver apart and install the washer and use the longer screw.  They do get you deep!

 

I hate tangled lines, with a passion.  They went deep and got into my downriggers.  I think they tangled on a turn.  They put a damper on a few trips.  Took them off and put them away, forgot about them.  I found them last week and was contemplating selling them or melting them down.   I do not wish to sell a problem.  If you were to use them when you do not have riggers down they may be exactly what you need.

 

I love my slide divers, but I fish Lake Superior, and run bare spoons on them.   The State and the Feds have decided Salmon are an invasive species in this the most pristine great lake.  (There is a reason they are known as Do Nothing Right).  Salmon compete with our lake trouts.  So I generally take what is offered and that's grey trout.  At least most of them are superior table fare.   

 

I have the Notification on and should get back if you are interested.

[youp50]

I just looked at Kings Tackle.  They are called diver diggers.  They want 10 a piece, They will work for what you want.  I have no interest in the old or new tackle company, all you get is what I know.  Bouncing rods to you.

[sherman51]

On 2/12/2026 at 3:37 PM, Kokeking said:

I'm a west coast guy and like the idea of using a slide diver. However when fishing for salmon in alaska I typically use a hoochie behind a 10 or 11 inch dodger. I use the same setup fishing for large bull trout near my home in central oregon but use downriggers that I don't have access to in AK.   After catching my limit of kokanee (landlocked sockeye) last week I tried out  the large slide diver without the larger ring with my typical setup.  I found that as soon as I reached coho salmon trolling speed 2.5 mph the slide diver turned upside down and returned to the surface.  Does the dodger create too much drag for the diver to work correctly at that speed? Will the addition of large ring make it work?  I don't have the same problem with dipsy divers. Really would like to have a longer setback from the diver than is possible with the dipsy diver.

THE best thing to try is getting the 7-oz weight from Slide Diver online sales. But if you putting toon much drag on them, they won't work, but the heavier weight could help. I use them with the standard weight with the small ring, fishing for walleye on the central basin of Lake Erie, and even a deep diving crank will overpower them. Spoons and shallow diving cranks would be your best options. I pulled crawler harnesses for many years, then the spoon bite got good, and I switched to spoons. I have used shallow cranks without having any problems, and with the harnesses, my speed is 1.8 to 2.0, but with spoons and shallow cranks, it's 2.8 to 3.2.

 

I have thought hard about switching to the heavier weights to reduce the line I have to let out to get down to 50' to 60' deep. But I would have to learn how to fish them all over again.

[Kokeking]

Dumb guy confession 

well I checked out my slide diver and viewed the diagram for the proper rigging an discovered that I needed to turn the base around so the weight was in the forward position. Amazing how it worked properly when rigged correctly! With my standard Alaska dodger and spinner it pulled the rig down to 30 feet with a 60 ft setback at 2.5 mph with the diver set to go straight back. One problem is that the diver slipped back at that speed so I need to followup on some of the suggestions I have read on  this forum.