Planer Board ?

[dan hufferd]

There are years that trolling seems to work well, this year seems to be one. This is not my favorite way to fish but hey if it works I'm in.

I have seen a couple folks on Stockton pulling planer boards, questions..

Do they work well?

How do they work at night on the flats?

Do you need heavier gear to pull them?

Do you have a favorite brand? 

Feel free to add any pertinent info.

Thanks all.

[bfishn]

They do work. They're also a real PITA, so the degree that they help is tempered by loss of effectiveness of your downlines or longlines. My experience was always by myself, but if you have a little room to roam and a nimble first mate, it could be different. Nowdays there's only one situation where I readily break them out. When the surface temps allow shallow dawn/dusk/nightime activity, I'll pull a shallow stickbait in a hand-held rod with a board to run the bait thru fish I'd surely spook by running over them with a boat. When they're 15 ft or deeper, boards just get you more baits in more places, which can jack up your numbers if you can handle it. I've run 2 downlines, 2 longlines, and 2 boards all at once by myself. That setup can turn south on you pretty quick if you actually get into fish, or a little too near an unknown brushpile.

[mikeak]

To be honest I have better luck with Dipsy divers and quit fooling with the boards years ago. I know they have some newer ones that might be better. I usually troll two behind and 1 off each side and vary the depth and amount of line out. I also use tadpoles and find them easy to use and effective,but they don't get you an offset from the boat

 

[oghfm]

Dan I pull redirig planer boards and floats on the flats and believe getting the lure in quieter water helps.  These boards and floats release with walleye and channel but are iffy w/ crappie.  They slide back to a bead placed above the swivel, then a 3 to 4 ft leader back to the bait, this prevents the planer or float from knocking the hook out of the fishes mouth.  These are light planers and I just use 8 lb test.  I can run a planer out each side  and a float out each side for 4 total, with slightly wide turns.  Would  enjoy getting together some time if you want to see them work without having to make an investment first.  I fish the Ruark area but will fish about anywhere .  OGHFM

[dan hufferd]

9 hours ago, oghfm said:

Dan I pull redirig planer boards and floats on the flats and believe getting the lure in quieter water helps.  These boards and floats release with walleye and channel but are iffy w/ crappie.  They slide back to a bead placed above the swivel, then a 3 to 4 ft leader back to the bait, this prevents the planer or float from knocking the hook out of the fishes mouth.  These are light planers and I just use 8 lb test.  I can run a planer out each side  and a float out each side for 4 total, with slightly wide turns.  Would  enjoy getting together some time if you want to see them work without having to make an investment first.  I fish the Ruark area but will fish about anywhere .  OGHFM

Thank you very much ! I will stay touch.

[Gary Stanton]

Hey Dan,

I have used Offshore Tackle Boards for years.    They work great for suspended fish out deep so they aren't spooked by the boat or for shallow fish where you don't want to run your boat.    I use 10lb Trilene XL on Scheels XTREME Trolling rods with Daiwa 27LC Line Counter Reels.    

I like the mono because it has more stretch and shock absorbing ability than braid with boards.   It allows me to get more lines in the water with fewer tangles.    I don't have the board "release" when a fish hits.    Just reel in slow and keep pressure on the fish while you unclip the board.    

[streamer]

I will troll them when I have an extra "experienced" hand in the boat.  I ran 2 offshore tackle boards with tattle flags on Saturday.  They are handy when you find shallow fish that'll spook with a boat over them!

[oghfm]

BTW Dan, caught my personal best eye last Monday trolling a Berkley Flicker Rig w/ the two hooks removed and a VMC version of the slow death hook.  It has a built in swivel. 25 incher, thought I had a channel, nearly brown trousered myself.

[dan hufferd]

1 hour ago, oghfm said:

BTW Dan, caught my personal best eye last Monday trolling a Berkley Flicker Rig w/ the two hooks removed and a VMC version of the slow death hook.  It has a built in swivel. 25 incher, thought I had a channel, nearly brown trousered myself.

Ha ! Never heard of that before, I guess you are putting a nightcrawler on the crankbait?

[dan hufferd]

4 hours ago, Gary Stanton said:

Hey Dan,

I have used Offshore Tackle Boards for years.    They work great for suspended fish out deep so they aren't spooked by the boat or for shallow fish where you don't want to run your boat.    I use 10lb Trilene XL on Scheels XTREME Trolling rods with Daiwa 27LC Line Counter Reels.    

I like the mono because it has more stretch and shock absorbing ability than braid with boards.   It allows me to get more lines in the water with fewer tangles.    I don't have the board "release" when a fish hits.    Just reel in slow and keep pressure on the fish while you unclip the board.    

Thank you very much !