Planer Boards

[Mangosteen]

Anyone use planer boards for trolling. I just built a triple style for the starboard side for any rainbows spooked by the motor when trolling. What do people use for rigging the planer board rope connection to the line. Shower hangers? I built mine Chesapeake Bay style.

http://www.downtimecharters.com/Idea...-plans2010.pdf

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Mangosteen

Anyone use planer boards for trolling. I just built a triple style for the starboard side for any rainbows spooked by the motor when trolling. What do people use for rigging the planer board rope connection to the line. Shower hangers? I built mine Chesapeake Bay style.

http://www.downtimecharters.com/Idea...-plans2010.pdf

I use lightweight paracord for the line and a Scotty Planner board release - see link.

https://www.amazon.com/SCOTTY-Power-.../dp/B001YS6STE

[bobalong]

I use in line planers now, but when I used the board planers I had a large fly reel mounted to a mast in the boat with heavy braid for the board itself, and a downrigger release for the line off the back of the board.

Just curious as to why you are using the board planers, are you planning on running an extra line or two of the one board line. In lines are so much easier to use IMO.

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by bobalong

I use in line planers now, but when I used the board planers I had a large fly reel mounted to a mast in the boat with heavy braid for the board itself, and a downrigger release for the line off the back of the board.

Just curious as to why you are using the board planers, are you planning on running an extra line or two of the one board line. In lines are so much easier to use IMO.

Need to get the lures off to the side as our lines are sometimes 200 yards out for the sensitive big Rainbow Trout this time of year near surface. As the boat goes down its path trolling at 4 km per hour the fish scoot off to the side. By having a planer board off to the sides you stand a better chance of a hook up with larger rainbows.
What is an " in line " planer?

Does it pull the hook about a hundred feet off to the side of the boat?

[huntsfurfish]

Originally Posted by Mangosteen

Need to get the lures off to the side as our lines are sometimes 200 yards out for the sensitive big Rainbow Trout this time of year near surface. As the boat goes down its path trolling at 4 km per hour the fish scoot off to the side. By having a planer board off to the sides you stand a better chance of a hook up with larger rainbows.
What is an " in line " planer?

Does it pull the hook about a hundred feet off to the side of the boat?

If this is your main target then the mast system and boards should serve you well.

[huntsfurfish]

Inlines attach to your fishing line. Mast boards attach to separate line.

I have inlines of various makes (Offshore and Church Tackle + a couple others) and sizes from the TX6 to TX44's. TX44s will pull Dypsys or up to about 1 pound weight.

Also have Riviera double, Walker double and Big Jon Otterboats for my Berts 6' dual reel planer board mast.
Bought a bunch of releases for this year and made some too(hope they work).

[wildwoods]

Ok someone please clear something up. I would like to start using planers this year in our shallow alberta lakes. Seems like a solid idea. Do you have a separate line running to the planer and a release? It looks like that big ole planer(in the videos I've watched) is attached to The main line therefore having to reel it in with the fish. Is this true?

[bobalong]

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Ok someone please clear something up. I would like to start using planers this year in our shallow alberta lakes. Seems like a solid idea. Do you have a separate line running to the planer and a release? It looks like that big ole planer(in the videos I've watched) is attached to The main line therefore having to reel it in with the fish. Is this true?

I used to run a separate line for the board with a release on the back with the fishing line through it. Fish bit, line released, and once the fish was caught and landed I then retrieved the board to re-clip the fishing line. Sort of the same idea as a downrigger, one line to the ball, and the fishing line through the release. Retrieve the ball to re-set the line after fish is caught.

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by bobalong

I used to run a separate line for the board with a release on the back with the fishing line through it. Fish bit, line released, and once the fish was caught and landed I then retrieved the board to re-clip the fishing line. Sort of the same idea as a downrigger, one line to the ball, and the fishing line through the release. Retrieve the ball to re-set the line after fish is caught.

Some just use extra shower curtain clips and release pins. Just keep sending them down the planer rope so no need to retrieve the board each time. They just pile up on the end near the board.

My board was only 40 bucks to build. Cheap and based on the Chesapeake bay style for tougher conditions.

[EZM]

Originally Posted by bobalong

I used to run a separate line for the board with a release on the back with the fishing line through it. Fish bit, line released, and once the fish was caught and landed I then retrieved the board to re-clip the fishing line. Sort of the same idea as a downrigger, one line to the ball, and the fishing line through the release. Retrieve the ball to re-set the line after fish is caught.

WHOA THERE ... You might just be doing it wrong ..... and hence .... the pain in the butt it would be to use the way you described it.

You don't need to retrieve the planner board and pull it in. Once a fish takes your main line and separates/snaps off the release the release which is on a curtain ring thingy it (the ring and release) just slides all the way down to the board (and stays there until the end of the day.

That's why they sell multi packs of releases.

When you are finished fighting and landing that fish you put on a new release and send her down the planner board line.

At the end of the day, if you land 4 fish and miss 3 that trip your release, you will have 7 rings/releases waiting for you at the board at the end of the day.

You only put your board out once (at the beginning of the day) and only pull it in once (at the end of the day).

If you are pulling and yanking it in and out every time that would be lots of work.

In my opinion ....

Big planner boards are far less work compared to inline boards, can be sent out further, ride closer to the side of the boat compared to back, can take bigger waves, can pull bigger lures, are easier to use all day (read above) and are capable of running multiple fishing lines down one planner board line (stacking).

They also don't need to be removed while a fish is on the line, or alternately, set up to run down the line to a stop which may interfere with the fish or the fight.

Given an option - using full sized boards has all the advantages. That's probably why most guys that use boards a lot, use big boards.

Here's a bucket of 50 of them .....

https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...Fd64wAodJkwPuw

[bobalong]

[QUOTE=EZM;3521970]WHOA THERE ... You might just be doing it wrong ..... and hence .... the pain in the butt it would be to use the way you described it.

You don't need to retrieve the planner board and pull it in. Once a fish takes your main line and separates/snaps off the release the release which is on a curtain ring thingy it (the ring and release) just slides all the way down to the board (and stays there until the end of the day.

That's why they sell multi packs of releases.

When you are finished fighting and landing that fish you put on a new release and send her down the planner board line.

At the end of the day, if you land 4 fish and miss 3 that trip your release, you will have 7 rings/releases waiting for you at the board at the end of the day.

You only put your board out once (at the beginning of the day) and only pull it in once (at the end of the day).

If you are pulling and yanking it in and out every time that would be lots of work.

In my opinion ....

Big planner boards are far less work compared to inline boards, can be sent out further, ride closer to the side of the boat compared to back, can take bigger waves, can pull bigger lures, are easier to use all day (read above) and are capable of running multiple fishing lines down one planner board line (stacking).

They also don't need to be removed while a fish is on the line, or alternately, set up to run down the line to a stop which may interfere with the fish or the fight.

Given an option - using full sized boards has all the advantages. That's probably why most guys that use boards a lot, use big boards.

Here's a bucket of 50 of them .....



Doing it wrong.......retrieving it 6 or 7 times is a lot of work? lol carry on

[EZM]

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Ok someone please clear something up. I would like to start using planers this year in our shallow alberta lakes. Seems like a solid idea. Do you have a separate line running to the planer and a release? It looks like that big ole planer(in the videos I've watched) is attached to The main line therefore having to reel it in with the fish. Is this true?

Depends on the type of board you are using and what you want to pull behind it.

Inline planners attach directly to your fishing line and are easy to use. They do a reasonably good job on calm waters trolling a lure that doesn't drag to hard (like a deep running large crank). No other lines needed.

Here's an example .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkqEisYjAeg


The big side planners require the boards to be tied off to the boat - they obviously pull allot harder, can be used in heavier choppy waters and have virtually no limitations on what you troll behind them. They also allow you to run multiple fishing lines off one planner set up. They also require the use of a hanger/ring and a release.

Here's what this set up looks like and how it works ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m40YavTnpw

[wildwoods]

Originally Posted by EZM

Depends on the type of board you are using and what you want to pull behind it.

Inline planners attach directly to your fishing line and are easy to use. They do a reasonably good job on calm waters trolling a lure that doesn't drag to hard (like a deep running large crank). No other lines needed.

Here's an example .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkqEisYjAeg


The big side planners require the boards to be tied off to the boat - they obviously pull allot harder, can be used in heavier choppy waters and have virtually no limitations on what you troll behind them. They also allow you to run multiple fishing lines off one planner set up. They also require the use of a hanger/ring and a release.

Here's what this set up looks like and how it works ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m40YavTnpw

Thanks. That's what I thought. Those yellow Off Shore ones looks like good stuff. I've been looking at buying a couple to try out. Getting outside the prop wash is ideal. I've always wanted something like that but never studied it much.

Would you say you catch more with a planer while trolling?

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Thanks. That's what I thought. Those yellow Off Shore ones looks like good stuff. I've been looking at buying a couple to try out. Getting outside the prop wash is ideal. I've always wanted something like that but never studied it much.

Would you say you catch more with a planer while trolling?

I see the online board does not release from the line. In that case if you hook up with a ten or 15 pound fighting Rainbow do you have a chance with that extra weight?

Or does it disconnect? Like a downrigger?

[EZM]

Originally Posted by wildwoods

Would you say you catch more with a planer while trolling?

There are many days, particularly when targeting rainbows, where NOTHING ELSE will catch a fish.

So yes, 100%, you will catch more fish having another option to how you present your offering.

I've had to send my planners out like 100 feet out or more just to avoid the shy rainbows when they are near surface on a clam day and seem to spook easily.

I've also had to send out 200-300 feet of line out behind my boards (PLUS the 100 feet or more that send them out sideways) just to catch these fish on some days.

I have the small boards on my boat at all times. They are also awesome to bomb drag the shallows with a surface spinning blade looking for big pike in early season.

[ontario gunner]

Originally Posted by EZM

Inline planners attach directly to your fishing line and are easy to use. They do a reasonably good job on calm waters trolling a lure that doesn't drag to hard (like a deep running large crank). No other lines needed.

Here's an example .....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkqEisYjAeg

I run offshore inline planer board in up to 2-3' waves,, just have too troll with the waves. We also pull extreme deep diving crank baits with them (reef runner 800s, deep taildancers and hottlipps, even jet divers sometimes) just have too adjust tension on your clips or upgrade your clips. There are also inline boards now made by offshore and church's that are made too pull musky baits and dipsy divers for salmon. Personally I don't see any reason too use the big boards anymore,, the inlines can do it all

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by EZM

I use lightweight paracord for the line and a Scotty Planner board release - see link.

https://www.amazon.com/SCOTTY-Power-.../dp/B001YS6STE

Ended up buying some 5 mm static mountain climbing line good for 1035 pounds. While there I noticed the dog bone straps for four bucks so will try a couple of those with the normal downrigger style clothespin release attached to the dog bone. The dog bone slides like on ice down that mountain climbing line.

I bought a couple just to try out. That way when one releases I don't need to pull the board in. Just send another one down the line from a prestrung set up held back by a brass connect by the roof of the boat.

[Mangosteen]

33 meters line. 1.5 mph. 30 deg off starboard. Now to catch.

[wildwoods]

Originally Posted by Mangosteen

33 meters line. 1.5 mph. 30 deg off starboard. Now to catch.

Great pic. Looks like Mara lake?

[EZM]

Originally Posted by Mangosteen

33 meters line. 1.5 mph. 30 deg off starboard. Now to catch.

I'm jealous - you better show us some fish so we can live vicariously through you !!!

If you are not getting bites, and looking for Rainbows - speed it up. 1.5mph is great for lakers, usually slow for bows - but you might get a few bulls.

[Mangosteen]

Nothing biting today here on Skaha. Put a flag on the planer board. Well at least the new pup is enjoying being on the lake.

[Mangosteen]

Originally Posted by EZM

I'm jealous - you better show us some fish so we can live vicariously through you !!!

If you are not getting bites, and looking for Rainbows - speed it up. 1.5mph is great for lakers, usually slow for bows - but you might get a few bulls.

This last week the colder water on the surface that used to be at 38.1 deg F warmed up above 39.2 deg and sunk towards the bottom of the lake so the spring turnover has initiated. Funny how any water warmer than 39.2 degrees is actually denser than the colder water below 39.2 degrees F.

Lake is in turmoil for the moment so rotten fishing.

Now to wait about a week for that thermocline layering to develop and troll with the board. With only one board out I do not notice much pulling to one side as the rope is attached about two feet behind the driver up high on a very very deep vee twenty footer.
Multiple sends down the line is the way to go. I use the dogbones from a mountain climbing shop for that. No metal. Smooth slide. Never retrieve the board.

The triple panel planing board was so easy to make and the site on the first post is from rough water country on the eastern seaboard.

I just used plywood. 3/4 inch thick.