Hot Rod Slide Diver Lite Bite Mods
Posted: Sun Mar 04, 2012 9:32 am
I have used the Slide Diver for I think maybe a little over 2 seasons now. I have enjoyed the learning curve, was privileged to spend an hour in person with Randy Owen, and have caught other fish like walleyes on the diver - it is effective for other gamefish besides the salmon/steel/brown/laker program we most often discuss here. It IS an ingenious device! 
I have probably used the Lite Bite on almost every fishing trip in the last year at some point. Although Randy gave us a couple sets of the heavier weights while we were chatting, I have never used them, thinking that being a little lighter will let it plane out to the side more than having heavier weight and almost always run it on about 2-1/2. But again, I have never tested the weight theory and I really haven't deployed the Lite Bite for much over 30 feet.
With so much use, my slide diver had started to show signs of wear. The tension on the release arm became temperamental, the little surgical rubber tube that holds the which protects the 30# Power Pro as it passes through the diver back to the rod had disintegrated a couple of times, and the second piece of surgical rubber tube that clamps the line was needing replacement.
Being a Yankee and a hot rodder and having a little Dutch lineage compelled me to fix the thing rather than replace it. The release actually is super-smooth now with so much wear and I didn't want to lose that benefit. So I performed four duties that really tuned it up.
First, I smoothed all the nicks, scratches and sharp edges that have come from unintended depth testing.
Braid is good stuff but once worn or nicked...
Next, I bent the trip arm back into proper shape and smoothed up the plastic clamping piece which was a little burred and tightened the screw about 1/16-turn.
Third, I coated the rubber tube which locks the line under the forward arm with a high-grade "liquid electrical tape" I got at the hardware store. (Once dry, this stuff is tough and should extend the life of the little piece of tube for quite some time.)
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The last item is the big item: I had no replacements left for the spring-retaining rubber tube. So I placed the spring about where it should be, taped the lower end to the Slide Diver body to hold it in place, and then applied four coats of the liquid electrical tape to where the spring passes through the arm. This has been in service since last summer and as you can see from the photo, shows no sign of failing and never needs adjustment. This is a mod I would even apply to a new Diver now that I have done it- the spring NEVER loses its position even in transport.
I have probably used the Lite Bite on almost every fishing trip in the last year at some point. Although Randy gave us a couple sets of the heavier weights while we were chatting, I have never used them, thinking that being a little lighter will let it plane out to the side more than having heavier weight and almost always run it on about 2-1/2. But again, I have never tested the weight theory and I really haven't deployed the Lite Bite for much over 30 feet.
With so much use, my slide diver had started to show signs of wear. The tension on the release arm became temperamental, the little surgical rubber tube that holds the which protects the 30# Power Pro as it passes through the diver back to the rod had disintegrated a couple of times, and the second piece of surgical rubber tube that clamps the line was needing replacement.
Being a Yankee and a hot rodder and having a little Dutch lineage compelled me to fix the thing rather than replace it. The release actually is super-smooth now with so much wear and I didn't want to lose that benefit. So I performed four duties that really tuned it up.
First, I smoothed all the nicks, scratches and sharp edges that have come from unintended depth testing.
Braid is good stuff but once worn or nicked... Next, I bent the trip arm back into proper shape and smoothed up the plastic clamping piece which was a little burred and tightened the screw about 1/16-turn.
Third, I coated the rubber tube which locks the line under the forward arm with a high-grade "liquid electrical tape" I got at the hardware store. (Once dry, this stuff is tough and should extend the life of the little piece of tube for quite some time.)
[img]I%20have%20pictures%20but%20there%20isn't%20a%20button%20to%20upload%20from%20my%20computer%20today?[/img]
The last item is the big item: I had no replacements left for the spring-retaining rubber tube. So I placed the spring about where it should be, taped the lower end to the Slide Diver body to hold it in place, and then applied four coats of the liquid electrical tape to where the spring passes through the arm. This has been in service since last summer and as you can see from the photo, shows no sign of failing and never needs adjustment. This is a mod I would even apply to a new Diver now that I have done it- the spring NEVER loses its position even in transport.