Running the D.D.S. – Double Diver Set

By: FishUSA Staff

October 2, 2019

Many trolling anglers overlook the power of a Double Diver Set (D.D.S.) on each side of the boat. Whether due to intimidation, prior frustration, or a lack of experience, the idea of running a 4-diver spread often seems complicated. But if you’re serious about maximizing your chances on the water, it’s time to consider how a D.D.S. setup can dramatically increase your catch rate.

Why Run a Double Diver Setup?

Divers as Attractors

When Less Is More

Tips to Prevent Tangles

Mastering the System

Should You Invest?

Conclusion

Let’s start with a basic question: if the diver bite is hot and you’re only running two divers, what’s left fishing when one rod hooks up? None. You’re down to zero active divers. With a 4-diver spread, even if two are out of play, you still have two more lines working. That’s more opportunity in the water—and more fish in the box.

Why Run a Double Diver Setup?

Here are several reasons why adding a D.D.S. setup to your trolling program can pay off:

Maximized Coverage: More divers in the water mean more chances to attract bites, especially when fish are aggressive.
Time Efficiency: Fishing deep takes time to set. Keeping more lines in the water while resetting others reduces downtime.
Presentation Variety: You can experiment with diver/flasher, diver/spoon, diver/harness, or diver/meat combinations to find what’s producing.
Targeting the Entire Water Column: Fish different species at various depths—steelhead higher, kings deeper, cohos in between.
Line Type Experimentation: Use mono divers further out and wire or braid divers closer in. This lets you reach shy fish far from the boat while targeting more active fish near the spread.
Tactical Differentiation: Run meat rigs on one side, spoons on the other. Observe which performs best that day.
Big Diver Separation: Use 124mm magnum divers on the inside, 107mm on the outside for better spread and fewer tangles in strong current zones like the Niagara Bar.
Staging King Strategy: Run mono divers high and wide (with 87mm divers), and short-lead 107mm wires deeper inside. This covers two depth zones for staging kings.
Dual Targeting: Use high mono divers for cohos and deep wire divers for kings. This tactic increases your odds in tournaments or tough conditions.

Divers as Attractors

Some days, divers outperform all other presentations. On boats like the Vision Quest, we’ve seen our diver program outfish downriggers and boards entirely. Divers act as attractors when paired with baits or lures and often draw strikes from curious or aggressive fish. Simply put, more time with more working lines = more fish.

When Less Is More

There are times when fewer divers are better. On calm days with high sun and clear water, the fish may be spooked by a crowded spread. In these scenarios, removing the inside divers allows your riggers or boards to shine. Another smart adjustment is to remove the rigger lines closest to the inside divers to help those inside divers fire more consistently when targeting a specific water column zone.

Tips to Prevent Tangles

The dreaded “Double Diver Tangle” (D.D.T.) can discourage even experienced anglers. But with a few proven tips and techniques, you can drastically reduce the chances of a mess:

Stagger Your Diver Settings: Run inside divers at a #1.5 setting and outside divers at #3–#3.5. This vertical and horizontal separation prevents overlap.
Use Magnum Divers Deep: Run 124mm divers on the inside when fishing deep or in heavy current. You can run four magnums if you’re targeting deep zones exclusively.
Deploy with Care: When setting the outside diver, move the inside rod inward toward the boat’s center until the outside diver is in position.
Back Deployment: Let the outside diver out straight behind the boat until it reaches about 75% of your planned distance. Then swing it into place over the inside diver.
Deploy on a Straight Course: Avoid setting divers during a turn or while fighting current. Keep the boat straight until all lines are set.
Use Longer Rods for Outside Divers: A 10' rod outside and a 9' rod inside improves spread and minimizes interference.
Offset Rod Holders: Slight adjustments to rod angle help prevent rods from tangling or obstructing each other.
Mono on the Outside: If mixing mono with braid or wire, keep the mono diver higher and further from the boat.
Save-A-Rod Tethers: Use an elastic tether from rod holder to reel handle to prevent a dropped rod and slow down overly aggressive grabs.

Mastering the System

The key to mastering the D.D.S. system is practice and teamwork. Designate a primary “diver setter” on your boat to improve consistency and reduce error. Having the same person deploy divers helps streamline the process, avoid tangles, and make better decisions during deployment. Over time, you’ll notice improved efficiency, fewer mistakes, and more fish in the net.

Should You Invest?

If this article has made you consider adding more diver rods, reels, and equipment, that’s because the benefits are real. Whether you’re a weekend angler, charter captain, or tournament pro, the results speak for themselves. Running four divers instead of two increases your opportunities every minute you’re on the water. When it comes to catching more fish—more is often better.

Of course, there are always exceptions. When the water is ultra-clear, the lake is flat, and the fish are shy, backing off your spread might be the smart move. A good angler knows when to adapt and simplify.

Conclusion

If you’ve never run a Double Diver Set, this season might be the perfect time to start. Like any technique, it takes practice to master, but once you do, it will become a regular and rewarding part of your trolling strategy. With better coverage, improved target flexibility, and more lines in the water, your catch rates will climb—and you’ll be fishing smarter, not just harder.

Ready to gear up for the D.D.S.? FishUSA carries everything you need to build out your diver program. From rods and reels to Dreamweaver divers and more, we’ve got you covered.

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