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Posts: 133
Location: WV | what do i need for planer board trolling. what kinda baits can i troll of boards. (just assumed some baits are to Big). just checking what works for you guys so i can get the right tools from the start. thanks |
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Posts: 133
Location: WV | will about all the planer boards offered handle musky baits? |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | As far as using boards for trolling, they are definitely not all alike, and depending on what type of system, you can run just about any bait out there. You can run bigger baits off of the mast set ups as those boards are larger, and you run your baits down the mast line verses using an inline board. That's about my extent of knowledge for the mast systems, so if you are looking to run that type of set up, hopefully someone with more experience in that system will chime in.
As far as inline boards go, most tend to run either the On-Shore or Walleye boards. I personally run both, and like both of them. You'll need to upsize the clips on the front of the Off shore boards to an OR-18 and I use the OR-16 releases in the back (or a snap in some cases). The 18s will make sure your line is not slipping due to the drag of the baits, and the 16's make sure your line doesn't pop out of the release in the back (there's a pin on the inside of the clip).
Outside of that, you really won't need much more to get you started as far as the boards and set up are concerned.
As far as baits, I have run anything up to 14" jakes on these, but you tend to see the board pull back a bit with harder pulling baits. Due to this, I tend to run 10" jakes at the most on my board rods due to this. Basically, if the bait pulls too hard, you're going to see a decrease in how far off to the side of the boat your boards go, which will bring them in closer to your other baits. Might be okay, may be a cluster waiting to happen.
There are some new boards the Lake Michigan guys are pulling here called Zboards. I haven't gotten to use any yet, but they are designed to be adjustable as needed to account for more or less drag, and still keep your boards running where you want them in the spread. I know for the guys running leadcore, they like them, and I am picking some up this spring to try them out for some bigger baits to see how they run. More to come this year as I can try them out.
Hopefully that gets you started. Feel free to ask more questions and I'm sure I'll respond as well as others. |
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Posts: 774
Location: South East Wisconsin | Zboards are great! OR-16 red clip for the rear, Big Jon Otter release. Best system IMO. |
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Posts: 742
Location: Grand Rapids MN | Church Tackle now makes a Magnum in-line board for heavy tackle situations. I believe its called the TX-44. Worth checking out and no need to replace clips. Both Church and Offshore make great boards. |
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Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | I don't do a whole lot of trolling but I bought some Offshore boards last year. They've worked well (no complaints at all about how they function), but I gotta say that I'm always worried about storing them. Stuff gets tight in storage areas and I just wish they were a bit tougher. I'm afraid I'll end up breaking the attachment for the clip, that I'll beat the crap out of the styrofoam, or loose another darn dainty little screw. Of course they're not terribly expensive, but I'm a bit surprised that someone hasn't designed a beefier version for people like me who don't always treat equipment nicely. Rod's and electronics are enough for me to practice kindness toward. Everything else in the boat should be ready to take a licking. I looked at some Church boards and they didn't appear any tougher. Of course, I've talked to several guys who've been running the same boards forever, so maybe it's just me. |
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Posts: 3240
Location: Racine, Wi | Both boards are tough for sure as I'm not easy on them when I store them or when I'm using them. I've had both brands out on Lake Michigan and other inland lakes, banging through ice etc, then throwing them in the storage and piling other things on them. Haven't had one break yet and they have logged quite a few years in the boat, so I wouldn't be too concerned there. They are more tough then you think.
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