Quote Originally Posted by Duayne View Post
So those Okuma rods have a little more backbone than standard downrigger rods? I notice between a half a second to just under a second and a half delay after my rod stands up before I see the rod bend back over again. The longer delay comes on the deeper runs of course. I am usually going at 2.8 MPH. The delay is a little less since going to braid, now that I think of it, and I do have better hook up rates. There is a difference with a strike between down riggers and slide divers. I used to see a much more profound pop with down riggers. It's much less pronounced with the slidediver light bite. I am thinking of forgoing the lightbite arm some this season so there is a little more force on the initial hit. It isn't like there is a huge ball to hide a striper that's decided to hitch a ride. Ha!

I am also using the 7 oz weight in my two deeper slide divers. This makes for a much sharper triangle than the lighter weight. I can pretty much count on one foot deep for every two feet I put out.
yes, they arent whippy like the downrigger rods, but they arent 2x4 lumber either. it was funny when i went on a sal mon fishing charter this last summer on lake michigan these rods were exactly what these guys were using with both the slide divers and the dipsys, but they were using pure downrigger whips on the downriggers. amazing how subtle differences in rod taper and load speeds "fit" different techniques...but hey if it works dont worry bout fixin it right?
i am so thankful you started fooling with these slide divers a few years ago, it got me started keeping them in the boat, and i can tell you they saved the day a couple times, when i just could not keep bait alive and active for any length of time while trying to turn and hit a school again.