Planer Boards

[PAkev]

I want to get a set of planer boards but don't know too much about them except for the basic mechanics of how it gets your bait away from the boats propwash when trolling.<br /><br />How are these put out and retrieved? I see planer board masts are available but was thinking of rigging these with a heavy duty swivel to a heavy action trolling rod on about 50 lb. /test line. I'm hoping this would make things more modular so that I can set them up and put them away as needed.<br /><br />Helpful thoughts appreciated<br />Kevin

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Planer Boards

What are you fishing for? There are many different types of boards available. I fish Lake Michigan and I use both types. Inline offshore boards and the larger dual boards depending on the situation. Churches walleye boards are the inline type I use and when the fish strikes it pulls the line from a release and the board slides down the line as you fight the fish. The larger dual boards have a tow line and the release is attached to the towline and let out the distance from the boat on the fishing line. When the fish strikes it releases the line from the release and your just fighting the fish with no board attached. The pro's to inline boards is they are not affected as much by rougher conditions 2' waves the drawback is that you must contend with the board as your bringing in the fish. Dual boards don't handle as well in rougher water but when the line releases all you have is a fish to reel in and not the board.

 

[jeff13601]

Re: Planer Boards

I fish the eastern basin of lake ontario. I have used everything from yellow birds to Otter boats. The otter boats are my favorite. Hardly any draw and they wont swamp and tip over. Do yourself a favor and get a set of masts and otter boats. Its gonna run you around four hundred but then you have them

 

[PAkev]

Re: Planer Boards

I am mainly fishing for walleye and stripers off the planer boards. I actually purchased two this weekend and will hopefully try them out tomorrow in a beta test. I purchaed a port side from churches and a starboard side from offshore tackle. I will keep the one I like and return the other for the same brand on the opposite side. Both were identical in price and have pro and con features. I like the adjustable keel and pin release feature on the churches but the offshore tackle releases seem to be a little more substantial and the flag can be a visible alert to other approaching boaters. I'll post my findings within the next few days.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Planer Boards

I got out today and tried both planer boards. I think I am going to keep the churches. It seems to run a little truer and less complicated than the offshore tackle board.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer Boards

In-line boards for walleyes = yellow birds here -- less surface commotion when in shallow and if you want/need tattle flags.. you can rig 'em <br /><br />.. ya might want to give 'em a shot

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Planer Boards

after you get used to using them you will be able to run three or four on each side. set them up in a pattern with the closest boards to the front and the farther out the farther back they will lead. This sort of pattern would somewhat resemble a V pattern as say a flock of geese. You chose good boards. They will do the trick! You can run lead core, bottom bouncers, deep divers, all sorts of setups on these boards.

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Planer Boards

Originally posted by Barlow:<br /> In-line boards for walleyes = yellow birds here -- less surface commotion when in shallow and if you want/need tattle flags.. you can rig 'em <br /><br />.. ya might want to give 'em a shot

Where do you find these? Looking in my Cabelas book and only see the Church and Off Shore brands. Thanks.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer Boards

not too sure in Kansas, Rockchalk.. they're all over around here.. <br /><br />

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer Boards

www.yellowbirdproducts.com <br /><br />

Originally posted by DangerDan:<br /> after you get used to using them you will be able to run three or four on each side. set them up in a pattern with the closest boards to the front and the farther out the farther back they will lead. This sort of pattern would somewhat resemble a V pattern as say a flock of geese. You chose good boards. They will do the trick! You can run lead core, bottom bouncers, deep divers, all sorts of setups on these boards.

actually you've got it backwards.. use to using 'em eh? <br /><br />closest boards to the back.<br /><br />The further away from the boat - go forward - with rod tips getting progressively higher so when one trips its able to sweep over and behind the closer boards and baits.<br /><br />do it the opposite way and you've got a cluster #@CK in the works.. not to mention turning <br /><br />

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Planer Boards

Thanks for the link Barlow. Found on ebay for about $20.00. Sounds like a less expensive version of the other two options named. I will look around for them. Maybe Bass Pro?

 

[DangerDan]

Re: Planer Boards

If you let the boards out one at the time progressively staggering them forward you would end up with the pattern described in the previous post.

 

[PAkev]

Re: Planer Boards

Here in PA we're only allowed 2 rods in the water per person so unless I'm fishing with someone else, I'll be sticking to one port and one starboard planer. <br /><br />I also looked at the yellowbird system and found it quite affordable but with the styrofoam construction it seems like they would require more frequent replacement, therefore negating overall value when spending money the second time around.

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Planer Boards

Do the Church and Off Shore type release your line or do you reel the board in with the fish?

 

[roscoe]

Re: Planer Boards

Yellow birds, $12.99,<br /><br /> http://www.basspro.com/servlet/cata...varTarget=browse&cmid=PP_P1_2&cmCat=CROSSSELL

 

[PAkev]

Re: Planer Boards

I fished a walleye tournament last night and was talking to a guy using the yellowbirds and indicates he is happy with them. However, he said before he even put them in the water, he replaced the yellowbird releases with something more line friendly.<br /><br />A package of 4 releases costs around 10 bucks.

 

[Rockchalk]

Re: Planer Boards

Thanks to this thread (and Barlow) I picked up a pair. I found the "Yellow Birds" at Cabela’s for $24.00/pr. We fished them yesterday. Conditions were tough at best. We had stiff winds and muddy conditions after two days of heavy rain. Didn’t catch anything on them but they worked well even in the wavy conditions. I can see how under better conditions they would be productive. We will definitely be working on dialing them in. Nice info guys!

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Planer Boards

We fish with the planers on big water lakes - ontario for instance - <br /><br />They really can put out the lures - we usually had two lines per planer - one at the end and one in the middle.<br /><br />At peak we could get 8 lines in the water on a 17foot boat.<br /><br />2 on each down rigger and 2 on each planer.<br /><br />The upside is you fishing for various fish at all times downriggers were deep and outriggers not so deep.<br /><br />downside was in turning you had to take huge turns<br />and<br />when you caught a fish you had a lot of lines to pull in!

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer Boards

Originally posted by tomatolord:<br /> We fish with the planers on big water lakes - ontario for instance - <br /><br />They really can put out the lures - we usually had two lines per planer - one at the end and one in the middle.<br /><br />At peak we could get 8 lines in the water on a 17foot boat.<br /><br />2 on each down rigger and 2 on each planer.<br /><br />The upside is you fishing for various fish at all times downriggers were deep and outriggers not so deep.<br /><br />downside was in turning you had to take huge turns<br />and<br />when you caught a fish you had a lot of lines to pull in!

must be refering to dual boards.. talkin' 'bout in-lines here<br /><br />

downriggers were deep and outriggers not so deep.<br />

you've got outriggers on a 17' boat? hmmm.. gotta be talkin' about the dual boards <br /> <br />Heres a little "mis-hap" from when the driver of the boat is more concerned with his beer then he is with the 15 lines he's draggin' while making a turn <br /><br /><br />

<br /><br />just a bit too sharp

 

[miloman]

Re: Planer Boards

pretty much sums it all up