I had just completed a walleye fishing seminar on the use of planer boards. As the crowd broke up, folks started milling around the stage, looking over my tackle and asking question. Between the questions I overheard an older woman say to her husband, "planer boards seem like a lot of trouble just to catch a fish."
Unfortunately, this lady missed the whole point of my seminar. Planer board trolling isn't the easiest way to catch a walleye, but this growing technique is one of the best for finding and patterning walleye I've encountered.
There are less complicated ways to catch a walleye dinner, but none that are as consistent or as likely to produce trophy fish as trolling crankbaits, spoons, spinners, and other lure combinations behind planer boards.
I readily admit that planer board trolling is my favorite way to fish. However, I firmly believe that personal preferences aside, this style of trolling is the fastest route to a limit of walleye most anglers will ever experience.
Those who take the time to master the basics of planer board trolling will find themselves catching more fish than they dreamed possible. I teach trolling by first convincing my students that trolling is a mechanical skill anyone can learn.
Unfortunately, I can't say the same for most other walleye fishing presentations. Those who have tried vertical jigging in a river, slip sinker rigging a fast sloping breakline, or casting jigs to weeds and flooded timber, know that these techniques require more than a little practice to master.
The problem with these and other walleye angling techniques is the angler must be able to feel the bite before he or she can enjoy success. Although it may sound like an incredible understatement, teaching a novice how to tell the difference between the subtle bite of a walleye and the feel of his lure dragging bottom is something only time and experience can teach. I'm sorry to report that most anglers lose interest in these types of fishing before they learn enough to become successful.
Trolling on the other hand is a straightforward kind of fishing. Those who can read directions and follow them are prime candidates to become trolling experts.
The first step towards trolling success is outfitting yourself properly. Rods, reels, monofilament, lures, and, of course, planer boards all play an important part a successful trolling pattern.
Rods, Reels, and Line
Rods and reel outfits should be balanced and matched. All my trolling rods are identical; all the reels match; and the same pound test line fills every reel to capacity. This simple step allows for the consistency needed to duplicate a successful trolling pattern.
Rods for walleye planer board trolling need not be expensive. Forget about graphite and boron and set your sights on fiberglass or graphite/fiberglass combinations. Not only do these rods cost less than graphite rods, but they offer the strength and action best suited to trolling.
I use eight-foot Quantum XL downrigger rods for walleye trolling. These rods have a soft action that acts like a shock absorber when fighting powerful fish, and enough backbone to handle deep diving lures, weight systems, and in-line planer boards.
Other excellent trolling rods include the seven-foot St. Croix light-action downrigger, seven and eight foot Shakespere Ugly Sticks, and Browning's Crankin' Power Rods.
Reels should be levelwind or baitcaster style and capable of holding 200 yards of 12-pound test monofilament. Line counter reels like the Daiwa 27LC are invaluable for metering and duplicating lead lengths. Unfortunately these outstanding reels cost about $90 each. The price of convenience is worth it for my money, but anglers on a budget may use reels without this digital line counter feature.
Affordable and quality trolling reels include the Quantum QD1420, Shimano Triton TSM100FS, and Silstar SLC500. These reels should be loaded with premium 10- to 14-pound-test monofilament. I recommend Stren's Crankin' Line. A copolymer formulated to have less stretch than other monofilaments, this line delivers better hooksets and fewer lost fish especially when trolling with long lead lengths.
Lures, Lures, Lures
Any troller who has been at his craft for a few years will have accumulated a wide assortment of crankbaits and spoons. Fortunately, the beginner can enjoy success with a modest selection of the classics.
Choose an assortment of shallow-, medium-, and deep-diving model crankbaits. The size of the diving lip will give you a rough idea how deep each lure dives at a glance. To determine exactly how deep each lure dives on various lead lengths, I'd recommend purchasing a copy of Crankbaits In-Depth by Dr. Steven Holt, Tom Irwin, and myself. (Editor's Note: For ordering information check out Crankbaits In-Depth Publications in the "Shops" area of our All Outdoors website.)
In the shallow-diving category a few Luhr Jensen Speed Traps, Storm ThunderSticks, Rapala Husky No. 13, and Rebel Minnows are a good start.
Excellent choices in medium divers include the 1/2-ounce Power Dive Minnow, 1/4-ounce Hot Lips Express, 5/16-ounce Fingerling Hi-Catch, 1/4-ounce Storm Hot N' Tot, 1/2-ounce Hot Shot, No. 6 Shad Rap, Wally Diver CD5, and Rebel Fastrac FT20.
In the deep-diving department you can't beat the Luhr Jensen 3/4-ounce Power Dive Minnow, Deep Storm ThunderStick, Bomber 26A, Rebel Spoonbill, and 3/8- ounce Storm Rattle Tot.
Select these lures in an assortment of chrome-on-blue, chrome-on-black, gold-on-black, firetiger, shad, crawfish, and rainbow trout color patterns.
Spoons don't have the diving characteristics of crankbaits. These lures must be fished using weight on the line to sink the bait below the surface while trolling. The best lure weighting system is also simple to use. Off Shore Tackle's snap weights are lead weights ranging from 1/2 ounce to three ounces attached to a small pinch pad style line release. The line release has rubber pads and a strong spring to hold the weight securely on the line.
Using snap weights is simple. Let out your lure a desired distance behind the boat (normally 20 to 50 feet) and attach a snap weight onto the line. When more line is let out, the snap weight will pull the lure below the surface. The more weight that's used the deeper the lure will run.
When a fish is hooked, the angler reels until the snap weight is within reach. A partner pinches the weight off the line and in seconds the fight continues as normal.
Snap weights can be used as flatlines or with in-line and double-ski planer boards. Thin wobbling spoons like the Luhr Jensen Diamond King and Flutter Spoon, Wolverine Streak, and Silver Leaf are excellent choices for walleye trolling.
In-Line Planer Boards
Walleye anglers can choose from in-line or catamaran-style planer boards. In-line boards are small and attach directly onto the fishing line. Catamaran style boards are larger and connect to the boat via a tether line and planer board mast usually mounted near the bow of the boat. Both side planer systems have advantages and specific applications.
In-line boards have skyrocketed in popularity during the last few years. It's easy to see why in-line skis have caught on and why they are the fastest growing portion of the planer board scene.
Cost is a major advantage of in-line boards. Ranging in price from $12 to $40 each, the cost of four or six in-line skis is roughly half what a catamaran ski system runs.
Price aside, in-line skis bring some unique advantages to the world of planer board trolling. The small size of in-line skis makes them easy to stow on small boats with limited storage. Even more important, the small size of in-line skis can actually give lures more action.
In-line skis are attached to the line after the lure is set a desired distance behind the boat. When more line is let out the side planer works its way to the side of the boat. On calm water in-line boards can be run up to 100 feet to the side, and from 50 to 75 feet to the side on rough days.
In-line skis ride the waves like little jet skis hopping in and out of the water. As the waves surge against the forward motion of the boat the boards are jerked forward and then allowed to pause briefly.
This stop-and-go motion causes the trailing crankbait or spoon to have a start-and-stop action of its own that can be deadly on walleye. The lure action produced with in-line skis is similar to that achieved when an angler holds his rod and pumps the lure.
In-line boards are especially valuable for novice anglers who have difficulty telling when a fish is hooked. Fish hooked on an in-line ski system pull the board backwards in the water. The weight of even a small fish like a perch or white bass will cause the board to run differently, tipping the angler that something is wrong and that line should be checked.
Fighting fish hooked on in-line boards is vastly different that those hooked on catamaran style skis. With in-line skis, the board and fish are reeled in together, the board removed when it nears the boat and the fight continued until the fish comes to net.
This whole system could be a pain in the neck if it weren't for the Off Shore Tackle Side-Planer. Designed with pinch-pad-style line releases that securely hold the board onto the line, putting boards on the line and later removing them takes a matter of seconds.
I run my Side-Planers using an OR16 (red snap weight) release on the tow arm of the board and a OR14 (black heavy tension) release attached to the back of the board. Attaching the line to the board at two contact points causes it to track (run to the side) better than other boards and insures that the board won't pop off the line while fishing in heavy seas.
By far the most popular in-line board on the market, over 90 percent of the walleye tournament professionals use and recommend the Off Shore Side-Planer.
Catamaran Trolling Boards
Despite a growing following among in-line board users, many anglers still prefer the traditional double board, catamaran-style trolling skis. A ski system tailor-made for big boats and big water, catamaran systems excel when anglers what to run eight, 10, or more lines at a time.
Between two and three feet long, catamaran style boards attach to the boat using a strong tether cord and a planer mast mounted near the bow of the boat. Individual fishing lines are set behind the boat, then the line is clipped into a pinch-pad-style line release which is in turn snapped over the tether cord. As more monofilament is let off from the fishing reel, the line release and trailing lure are pulled out to the side of the boat.
When a fish strikes, the line pulls free from the release and the angler fights his fish without fighting the board. Lines are quickly reset as fish come to net, making a fish harvesting system that must be seen to be fully appreciated.
This system requires several anglers to keep everything running smoothly. Someone has to handle to wheel at all times to prevent the boat from making tight turns that would tangle the trailing lines. Another angler takes turns fighting fish, a third works the landing net, and a forth body resets lines.
Obviously this system works best on larger boats that can handle half a dozen anglers comfortably. Catamaran-style planer boards have some important advantages. Besides being able to handle multiple lines, they troll smoothly at faster speeds and handle rougher water than in-line boards.
When purchasing a catamaran ski system, the angler will need a set of double boards, a planer board mast complete with a tether line retrieval system, and a couple dozen planer board releases.
Riveria, Big Jon, Cannon, and Prince/Super Ski all produce excellent planer board trolling systems. Shop for double skis that are collapsible. This simple feature prevents the boards from taking up so much valuable space in the fishing boat.
I also prefer 100-pound-test monofilament (weed wacker line works great) for tether lines versus the more commonly available braided nylon line. Monofilament is slick and allows the releases to easily slide their way to the side.
The planer board mast can be screwed to the deck using a metal bracket or mounted with a special attachment that fits into the seat base of smaller boats.
Off Shore Tackle company is the undisputed leader in trolling line releases. Manufacturers of three different releases for double ski walleye trolling. The OR10 (yellow) release is adjustable for tension and works best on small- to medium-sized fish. The OR14 (black) is also adjustable and is best suited to larger fish or when the waves begin to get rough. The OR3 (white) features a larger pad than the OR10 and OR14 releases and is a favorite of anglers who troll at maximum speed in rough conditions.
Trolling Tips
When rigged with the right equipment, trolling planers for walleye is an enjoyable and productive fishing method. Good trollers depend heavily on their electronics to tip them off to the depths fish are holding at.
It's a good idea to set several lines/lures running at different depths when starting each day. Vary lead lengths and lures used until a productive pattern emerges. Once the fish communicate which lures and lead lengths are best, set up a trolling pattern that offers several lines set accordingly.
I routinely run a line or two within a few feet of the surface. Walleye suspended within 10 feet of the surface are difficult to mark on sonar because the fish move as the boat passes over them. The only practical way to locate these fish is to offer lures on planer boards.
When trolling open-water walleye expect the fishing to be hit-and-miss. Walleye often form small roaming schools that can be challenging to keep tabs on. A GPS unit with a navigation plotter screen like the Lowrance LMS 350-A is an excellent investment for the walleye troller.
Not only do these electronic aids provide for safe and dependable navigation in all weather conditions, they are invaluable for marking the location of fish found far from the nearest landmark.
Using a series of waypoints (permanent latitude/longitude coordinates) or event markers (electronic icons that show specific spots on the plotter screen) anglers can keep track of fish as they are caught, predict movements of fish, and even determine the rough size and shape of the school.
Permanent-mount models and less expensive hand-held GPS models are available to fit the angling budget of most families.
Summing It Up
In-line and catamaran-style planer boards accomplish the same goals only in different ways. Admittedly, fishing with side planers is a little extra work, but the benefits reaped from this style of fishing can't be topped. Give planer boarding a try and see for yourself why trolling has so many dedicated followers.
Copyright (c0 1996 Mark Romanack. All rights reserved.
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