Using a Dipsy Diver for Kokanee Salmon Fishing

The dipsy diver is an effective way to fish for kokanee salmon. This article will tell you how they work, when to use them, and how to rig them for kokanee salmon fishing.

The Dipsy Diver for Kokanee Fishing

A Dipsy Diver is tool in your tackle box that can get your kokanee rig down where the fish hang out without needing to fish with a downrigger. This is great for guys who are trying to chase salmon on a budget, or for guys that already have a downrigger, but want to have more lines in the water.

How Does a Dipsy Diver Work?

A Dipsy Diver works by using angles against the flow of the water. It works in a similar way to a kite in the air. By harnessing the proper aerodynamics, a kite is lifted into the air. Similarly, a Dipsy Diver uses angles to harness the flow of the water from trolling, using proper aerodynamics, or rather hydro-dynamics, to send the Diver and the attached rig down into the water. A Jet Diver works in a similar manner, though the Dipsy Diver is a bit more versatile, and is our preferred of the two.

Because of how the Dipsy Diver is made, it sends your rig down at a specific angle and then its just a math equation for determining how much line to let out to achieve different depths. There are several different sizes and “depths” to the dipsy divers, and luckily, they come with instructions so you can focus on fishing, not the math.

Additionally, the dipsy diver had a metal mechanism that can disengage the “kite-like” aerodynamics once a fish bites the line. That way you’re then only fighting the fish, not the diver. There’s a great demonstration in the video below.

How to Rig a Dipsy Diver to Catch Kokanee

When fishing for Kokanee we recommend using either the 20, 35, or 50 foot Dipsy Diver. In order to pick which one you should buy, it helps to know your local lake and kokanee patterns. Where I live, I fish a lot of high elevation mountain lakes. We go with a 35 foot dipsy diver. With minor adjustments to the amount of line out, we’re able to get into the kokanee salmon with little difficulty.

First you attach the line from your pole to the swivel on the top or the front of the dipsy diver. Then you attach about a 4 foot piece of line. Then you attach your kokanee rig of choice to the swivel on the rear of the dipsy diver. Lastly, you then set what direction you want to send the dipsy diver. For instance, you can decide if you want it to go straight back, or far left, or far right. This allows you to have more lines going out the back of your boat, and to be more in control of your lines.

South Bend Sporting Goods Dipsy Diver Fire/White Bottom