Dipsey Diver wire frequencies ! Do they matter? After giving this a lot of thought, I’ve come to the conclusion that they do. We will discuss this concept in this post.
Line Diameter Matters
Wire line for dipsey diver applications come in several diameters, pound test, and brand names. We prefer bulk 10,000 foot spools. More specifically, in our applications, we use 20 and 30lb. test brown colored Mason. The lighter pound test is thinner in diameter than the 30lb. These line sizes matter for two reasons. First, is that the thinner the line is, the easier it breaks. Secondly, the thinner the line, the higher the vibration pitch it emits.
Why Use Heavier Wire
The heavier the wire, typically, the stronger pound test it is. This leads to less break-offs and lost tackle. It also emits a lower frequency. The lower the frequency, the farther and wider it transmits through the water column. On some days, this can really draw the fish into your spread. Notice I specifically said, on “some days”! For most of our Lake Ontario fishing charters, this is what we run!
Lite Line Wire
Lite line wire dipsy divers also have their days. As you may have surmised, liter, thinner wire, emits a higher frequency than thicker wire. Think of it like guitar strings. The higher frequency dissipates quicker than lower frequencies. For some reason, larger adult kings seem to favor the higher pitch! My guess is that its more pleasing to their lateral lines which pick up vibrations and disturbances in the water. The thinner the wire, the deeper the dipseys will dive because the smaller diameter line cuts through the water better with less resistance. So why not just run lite wire all of the time?
Lite Line Problems
Running lite line can have its problems. There is no forgiveness. The least little knick , bend , or line compromise, and it will break. There are ways to lessen the chances of it breaking, most important of them, is to use a roller rod. We prefer the Shimano Telora roller rods. Daiwa and Okuma also offer roller rod models. It is also very important to check your 20 lb wire before the beginning of every outing for pig tails. Pigtails must be removed to limit the chances of break-offs due to the wire being compromised from uneven stretch. (which causes the pigtails)!
Which One Is Best
Dipsey diver wire frequencies do play an important part in catching king salmon. Most days, 30 lb wire will get the job done. It’s more forgiving with much less chances for break-offs. But, it has its limitations to how far it can dive below the surface with regular size dipseys. All else being equal, 20lb wire dives 20 ft deeper than 30lb wire with 300 ft out. This can be corrected using mag rings or mag divers with 30 lb wire. 30lb wire also gets you farther away from the boat to achieve the same depth as 20lb wire.
Why Not Have Both
If I could only choose one, it would be a 30lb wire set-up! It can be run without a roller rod and is much more forgiving, pig tails included. But if you are able, having both 20 and 30lb set ups on board is certainly a plus. There are several of my fellow Captains’ mates that run 20 lb wire more often than not. Knowing who they are comes in handy when their divers are firing and mine are not! It’s a great time to have 20lb wires on board when this is the case.
If you have any questions , feel free to contact us at 413-346-7675 or via our contact form with any of the questions you may have . We will be happy to answer them. If you would like to book a trip please call 413-346-7675 or feel free to use our contact form as well!