Planer boards

[newhewes]

I am interested in planer boards. What is the best way to use them, fish them, favorite type, anything and everything. I saw a post from NO SLEEP in Canada and Kootenay Lake which is where I would be interested in using them but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Planer boards

Hello dsmith84<br />I make my planer boards for kootenay lake and <br />go annually, usually the first or second week of<br />April. What kind of information are you looking <br />for?

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Planer boards

I just reread your post and I will give you more<br />info shortly.

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

Thanks for the response, I will be looking forward to hearing from you. If you would rather use email let me know and I will post my address. I have checked into the travel time from here to the lake and it is about three and a half hours. Again thanks Dan

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

...are you looking at 'big' boards (multiple line/rod) or 'small' boards (single line/rod)?<br /><br />........??

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

I really don't know. I have read info on planer boards on the net but as you probably know there are a variety of sizes and types. What are the advantages of single boards vs double boards, longer one vs shorter ones, plastic vs wood, are the home made ones as good as the store bought ones? Also would like to know the advantage of having the board that ties directly to your line vs one that works off the side of your boat, if they will do that or do you have to have additional rigging to run the board off the side of the boat? As for multiple vs single, I don't really understand how you could run more than one line from a board without getting everything tangled up. Thanks

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

As for multiple vs single, I don't really understand how you could run more than one line from a board without getting everything tangled up.

LOL ... it gets tricky but, Its simple if you're aware of what's going on around you .. slow wide turns, staggering bait depths .....<br /><br />one sec /... I think I've got something here to better explain ..plus it'll save me a little time.. lol

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Planer boards

we have plastic ones - mainly becuase it was easier and quicker to just to buy them then make them. <br /><br />But if you are handy with wood then they are easy to make.<br /><br />Downsides<br />they are only good for certain types of fishing mainly surface fishing. You can only get the lures down as deep as the lure can go. Verus down rigger fishing where you can go deep.<br /><br />and<br /><br />You need a lot of room where there is no else fishing because you are out 20 feet on each side.<br /><br />Traffic<br />We had some success with them during fall salmon fishing, but then only when there was no one else around. When traffic picks up you have to pull them in.<br /><br />Pluses <br />They are not that hard to put out<br />doubles the number lures out<br />easier than putting doubles on the downrigger line<br /><br />we have a 17 foot center mount mckee and we mounted the pole to the front of the boat.

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

I have read where people are putting out the boards anywhere from 20 to 150' out which would lead me to think that there can't be many people fishing the same way, which then leads to how successful are people using boards? Do you attach the board to the line and if not then every time your line comes loose from the clip do you have to reel in the planer board? If the board is attached to a pole, as stated above, what size line do you have to have to hold the board?

 

[tomatolord]

Re: Planer boards

No you dont have to reel in the board every time, you can put the loop and sort of twitch it along as far as you want out.<br /><br />You have 2 lengths to deal with<br />1 - lure to clip<br />2 - clip to reel - so that controls how far out the line the lure is<br /><br />I can check the line size but it was a braided nylon line, not fishing line.<br /><br />we did not put that many lines out, only 2 on each outrigger at most.<br /><br />It was a lot of work if you caught a fish on the outer most line, you had to reel all the inner lines in, plus there was a lot of slack you had to make up.<br /><br />The other theory was that the line was very far from the boat so the engine noise was not an issue.<br /><br />But if you went fishing during the week, on a fishing trip say, it was not hard to use them as most people were at work!<br /><br />I would see the a$$h o l e charter captains use them in busy times to keep other boats away from them.<br /><br />But those boards gave us an extra 4 lures in the water and we did catch fish on them.<br /><br />We only have a 17foot boat so it was hard to have more than 3 rods in the water at once without the planer boards

 

[jtexas]

Re: Planer boards

Hell/pet, the poor man's downrigger: <br /><br />

<br /><br />Hellbender with hooks removed, a 3/4 oz. weight added to the front, and a four-foot leader with a #13 pet spoon. Goes down to around 17-20 feet with 80 feet of line out at 2 to 3 MPH. Drag it through a school of fish & gets bit every time.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

ok .. couldn't find what I wanted so I did this up on microsoft 'paint' .. pardon it being rough.<br />

<br /><br />showing a 6 rod/line layout using dual planer boards like these

where you are connecting sliding releases to the main cord/line of the board (black line from the boat to the boards (pink)).<br /><br />refering to the sketch - the letters I have in the boat from left to right are:<br /> I (inside)<br /> M (middle)<br /> O (outside)<br /><br /> meaning, from nearest the boat being inside to furthest away being outside.<br /><br />The theory behind this set-up and layout:<br /><br />- longer leads (off the planer line/cord)and deaper running baits or presentations to the outside.<br /><br />WHY?<br /><br />When a fish strikes and the fishing line is pulled from the release, having the longer lead and deeper presentation on the outside will be less likely to hang up the shorter leads running shallow presentations - remember, you're moving forward pulling these things.<br /><br />- ALSO - <br /><br />When turning, or cornering (change in direction).. the outside lines will speed up on the turn and the added drag on the board will make it track further back than when holding a steady course. <br /><br />The opposite is true of the inside board and lines.. it will track further ahead due to less drag.<br /><br />While Turning <br />- WIDE, EASY, or 'sweeping' turns are required to keep the baits moving and out of each other... in the turn keep watching the tension on the planer lines it's impotant!!<br /><br />- if the inside line is too slack or the board is ahead of you than your speed is too slow or your turn is too sharp <br /><br />- if the outside board is actually 'behind' the boat that tells you your speed is too fast or turn too sharp. <br /><br />there is a relationship between the two boards .. they will tell you if you're doing something wrong.<br /><br />a he// of a lot easier to read than a woman!!

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

Thanks for the info. So when you hook a fish and the line is released then do you have to reel everything including the planer board and hook everything back up?

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

not at all dsmith84 .. what happens after the release is tripped the release slides down to either the planer board or in the case of it being the middle or inside line being 'tripped ' (as we call it) the release will slide down the planner line/cord to the next release and stop.<br /><br />sometimes there is not enough tension in the planner line/cord for it to slide effortlessly to the next stopping point but, that won't matter too much.<br /><br />say you land the fish and you're hustling to get the 'hot' bait back in the water .. <br /><br />depending on which line you got the fish on, say it was the middle rod/line.. all you do is reel in the closest (most inside) line.<br /><br /> **note** - you do not have to trip the release... it should slide right up the planner line when retriving line onto your rod and reel.<br /><br />Now, depending on which line was where and how you had your lead set back from the planner line/cord -- this is where line counters come in handy .. or count level winds.<br /> <br />- attain your lead that got the fish. <br /><br />- then attach the release to the fishing line. <br /><br />- then attach the release to the planner line/cord in the sequence (I,M,O) and set all back into their positions.<br /><br /><br />I'll post another picasso attempt to show a few more things in a bit.<br /><br />making sense so far ?? if not say so .. there are a few other things I need to mention but I'll get those up here with the next 'abstract' .... lol

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

Barlow, thanks and so far so good. Do you make your own boards or do you purchase them? Dan

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

Edit .. forgot to add a few things <br /><br />see below

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

I have made duals out of cedar with stainless and brass hardware but, got tired of the up-keep..<br /><br />If you have more time than money go that route but if you're not keen on putzin' around with that crap as i got sick of .. buy them.<br /><br />Offshore Tackle Co. produces the Riviera brand dual boards (pic above) which are an ok set.<br /><br />Myself, I bought the Cannon brand boards.. they seem more sturdy and practical.. <br /><br />it's 12 to one, a dozen to another.. they both work fine.<br /><br />as for in-line boards ... I like Yellow Birds.<br /><br />I've had more experience with them.<br /><br />PLUS .. when fishing a shallow presentation .. lets say running your baits over and aside a weedline for Walleyes, the Yellow Birds don't 'kick' or disturb as much wateron the surface that might spook fish...<br /><br />but, there again .. it's 12 to one, a dozen to another ..<br /><br />Its really just a personal preferance.

 

[Barlow]

Re: Planer boards

<br /><br />On the right is a dual board set-up. Notice in relation to that first diagram how the rods are positioned.<br /><br />This will really depend on how your boat is rigged for this and the position and quantity of your rod holders, the mast system or independantly mounted board reel location.<br /><br />O - outside rod is positioned high and forward making sure the rod tip is adequately lower than the board line and still above the middle and inside rod tips.<br /><br />So when turning, the board line doesn't get hung up on the rod (bad thing) and when the release is tripped, the line is able to clear over the middle and inside rod tips and swing freely over the top of the other lines still in the water..<br /><br />Apply this to the M (middle) and I (inside) lines<br />respectfully.<br /><br />same concept applies to in-line boards as shown on the left.

 

[NOSLEEP]

Re: Planer boards

My apologies dsmith84 I have been very busy<br />lately. Looks like you have received lots of good<br />advise.<br />I'll assume you are targeting the Gerrard<br />rainbows in Kootenay lake, as that is what I am<br />after when I am there.<br />I like the larger planner boards for the action<br />they provide to the fly. I make mine from 2x6<br />boards. They are ruffly 28" in length and secured<br />together with 1/4" readyrod approximately 16"<br />apart, and offset about 2" with the ends cut at<br />45deg angles. I usually run them out about 75'<br />on each side of the boat. I use small elastic <br />bands as releases for my fishing line.<br />Most of the larger rainbows are taken on the<br />south side of Balfour and kootenay bay near the<br />power lines. <br />long lines seem to have the best results. Large<br />flies made from polarbear and yak hair with<br />gold bodies are productive. The best water<br />conditions are wind and waves, these give the best<br />action to the planer boards as they rise and fall<br />in the waves. There is also yellow fin Rainbow and <br />Bull trout also known as Dolly varden.I dont<br />spend any time looking for kookeny Salmon , there<br />just not large enough to get my attention. <br />You might also want to troll around Fry creek <br />near the north end of the lake past Kaslo as I <br />Have had luck there as well. Hope this helps.

 

[newhewes]

Re: Planer boards

First I would like to thank everyone for the information, it has cleared up most things at least for the moment. No Sleep, I am interested in fishing the Kootenay Lake, actually I am interested in just fishing, and I have read that bucktail flies and big lures are fairly successful. Are the flies preferred to lures and how successful are people in catching these fish. Is the lake fairly productive for fishing in general, or is this a lake that you can spend a lot of time on and not catch a fish? Again, thanks to all.