Anyone want to talk planner boards

[Stump bumper]

I am looking at planner boards for live bait fishing this winter. I have fished with people and have seen the difference when you get the bait away from the boat and also it it is so much easier to troll more lines without tangling. The main question is how small and cheap can I go?

[J-Doc]

(Silent observer eating popcorn and waiting to learn)

[Quillback]

(Silent observer eating popcorn and waiting to learn)

LOl.

Don't know much about them, but in the past did look into it a bit.  Bunch of videos out there, it doesn't look complicated. 

Ought to be fun in the summer when there are lots of jet skiers out there..

[Dan the fisherman]

Stump, I use yellow bird planners. I get them at hook line. Think they're like 20 bucks. I don't striper fish without them.  I bought mine 4 years ago and still going strong. I have to buy some O rings for them once a year but other than that they're good. 

[Stump bumper]

Stump, I use yellow bird planners. I get them at hook line. Think they're like 20 bucks. I don't striper fish without them. 

I have seen some green ones mini planner boards form opti tackle for $12.99, just wondering the difference. Seems like the smaller the easier to get out of the way when handling a big fish by yourself. I have never used anything that small and never used boards alone so I am waiting advice before ending with four sets.

[Dan the fisherman]

I'm not totally sure about smaller ones.  I only have experience with the mid size ones (yellow birds) But I always fish alone and never had an issue landing a single fish, it gets tricky when u have 2+ fish on though. I imagine the bigger ones would get  further  From boat though. Not totally sure.   planners never really get in my way.  But again it does get crazy when u get  multiple  fish. 

[Stump bumper]

Dan would see a draw back to the smaller ones, maybe large bait pulling them under? Do you unhook the board from the line before landing a big fish or after you net the fish? Do you use flags? Are flags that important?

 

 

[PigSooner]

(Silent observer eating popcorn and waiting to learn)

x2...  I was doing some research earlier in the year, but never pulled the trigger. Was also considering making some myself, looks like they should be easy to make.

[nomolites]

I would recommend tattle flags if you fish crank baits as it can be difficult to tell if you are dragging a crappie or small bass in any kind of chop.  I have Offshores and Yellow Birds; prefer the Offshores but they are more costly.  Boards can either be rigged to slip on the line after the strike(when chasing large fish like striper) or stay on until they are cranked to the boat and removed before landing the fish - this helps prevent tangling when running multiple lines but there is not much sport to it.  When rigging boards to slide on the line I tie a large swivel 6-10 feet above the bait to keep the board from sliding all the way down when landing fish.

The mini boards are mainly for crappie or panfish where you are running small baits at lower speeds; not really what you want for striper rigging or larger crank baits.

 

Mike

 

 

[1969Larson]

No need for flags if you're paying attention.  I use the yellow birds but they will melt and deform if you leave them in the heat.