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I am currently trolling with Church boards the TX-22's and I like them. Remember, I am new to trolling compared to you guys. With that being said, can someone tell me why some people run big boards and some people run inline planers?? I have always been curious! I chose the inlines because of the cost of the initial set up.
Please reply as I am really wanting to learn!
The most obvious reason in my opinion is the ability to run more rods at one time. Running more than 6 at a time on in lines is very difficult, but you can run up to 18 on big boards. Also when the fish is hooked on big boards you fight the fish the whole time and not the board.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steuben1
These are few things I can think of, I'm sure others can add
-big boards are better in heavier waves, no ski overs you get with little boards
-you can run twice as many lines per side with big boards
-like said, you fight the fish the whole time with big boards
-little trash fish are easier to see and clear the line to rebait on big boards
-you can run any kind of lure with any kind of weight or diver on big board
-running big boards with a good bungee system stabilizes the boat in heavier weather
-it takes less time to teach new people how to run the big board system
-trying to run lightly pulling lures in gusting winds is more difficult with big boards as they tend to want to wrap the fishing line around the tow line
-little boards are quicker to deploy and pick up
I'll add that the Skipper9 system of running big boards, in my opinion, is unbeatable for running a lot of people and catching a lot of fish quickly. You bring the fish to the boat when you're ready for them and as fast as the crew can work.
Greg
I fish with 2 people and run just 4 boards. This is working just fine. With more people, you may want to uses the trolling rigs rather than inline boards.
It seems that we all started out trolling the inline boards and graduated to the big boards. I agree with everything greg put. usaully you start using bigger boards when you start having more people than poles you can use with inlines. also 40 and 50 jets dont pull to good with inline boards. if you only fish with 2-3 people continue to use your inlines for a while till your ready to upgrade. Ive been threw 3 boats now and 3 different trolling systems in the last 6 years. Remember change costs money!!!LOL.
My 2 cents, Like mentioned, Big boards for running a lot of rods. But running 8 inlines and 2 down rods ( 10 rods total) really isn't a problem. A good friend of mine on his Islander runs 6 inlines per side most everyday on Sag Bay. Plus the down rods. (14 rods total) He mainly runs harnesses.
If you plan to run a lot of harnesses and using inline weights and running slower speeds where big boards can be more difficult to run unless you have a taller boat ( the main line stays out of the water much better) inline boards are the way to go.
Jets are kind of required for pulling harnesses as they have a dive curve where inline weights are speed sensitive, with jets speed does not affect your depth. Also your actual diving depth using big boards and inline weights is affected by the amount of line out of the water. Not a lot, but can be a factor.
If you set up your inlines to release the front clip, you never fight the board and the released board swings to the rear of the boat. Tattle flags when set up correctly can tell you when you have just a few weeds on your lure.
Now if your going to want to mainly troll with a lot of rods/people, run cranks or spoons for the most part. Big boards would be my choice. But 80+ % of my fishing involves pulling meat. So I stay with inline boards that I have modified to work for me.
Throwing in my 2 cents for what it's worth: I learned to troll using big boards and multiple rods on several kind mentors' boats. After I was able to get my own boat I started using big boards but switched to straight line jets & dipsey divers. I have rigged up so I can run 6 dipseys and 2 jets, but usually only have 2/3 people and run 2/4 dipseys & 2 jets. Really simple for once a year guests and the grandkids. Just drop the bait and let it unreel to the proper depth. No line hookups to small boards or clipping lines to big board tow lines. Whatever works best for your situation is the thing to use. Good luck to everyone this year.
What size dipsey's do you run?
It is of my opinion that to run the big boards in an efficient manner you need at least 3 people. 1 person must be dedicated to boat handling when going into a head wind unless you have an auto pilot. Small boards can be brought in and then you can make a run back to your starting position and start over without trolling into the wind unless it is absolutely a necessity. Sure you can bring in the big boards and do the same thing but with a much greater effort.
I can run 4 small boards per side if needed and they don't require the space to store that big boards do. I am talking boats that have a limited amount of storage space available and not the big 27 ft.or larger boats with 10 ft. beams. To me 4 people & 8 lines would be about max to run small boards. But with the newer stern planers by Church Tackle you could run an additional 2 lines similar to flat lines but further back off the back corners making a total of 10 lines managable, that is if you have room for 4 people plus the driver comfortably, but once again boat size limits you to the number of people and lines.
So for me it is small boards everywhere with either jet 40s or the newer tru-trip 40s. I have never had a problem with them behind the small boards and they have worked just fine. Dipseys are out when I fish over the reefs as they like to sink on the inside when making turns allowing them to contact and snag in the rocks so to keep equipment to a minimum I have eliminated dipseys from my boat. Inline wts are also effective but like dipseys can and do sink when slowing down or making turns allowing them to contact and snag the bottom if the leads are greater than the water depth, so for me it is the floating divers, with the preference going to the tru-trip 40s. But I would add that I only fish in the western basin.
my 2 cents, I run a 16' starcraft 50 hp and love the big boards and love the small boards. depends on the day. I have run both and the bigger boards are easier to see junk fish on. the inline's are easier to manage turns and pick up and run. It is nice to just fight the fish and not the board with the big boards. I made my own big boards out of cedar and have no problem with storing them. I fish most of the time with just 2 of us in the boat. would just be happy, happy, happy to be fishing now instead of wishing i was fishing.
I've always wondered... Have any of you tried to run a dipsey with a 6 foot leader with a harness? Sometimes it seems like a pain to get the exact depth you want using snap weights. Or does anyone have a system that works best for you? In the past I have let out 20 ft. Of line, clipped on a 1 oz snap weight and gone from there. But sometimes it's tough knowing exactly how deep I'm running. Always thought of the dipsey method but never tried it.
I run them dehind dipsys all the time. Works great.I run them with jets, dipsys, and weights.Quote:
Originally Posted by Eyebanger22
Ok thanks. I think I'm going to try running them off a jet and a side planer on the outside and running them off a dipsy on the inside and see if it works out easier. At most we run 6 rods. We run the jets with spoons all the time and do pretty well. When we can stay away from the white bass.
I run big boards and mainly only use weights for reefrunners. Will use on harnesses some. Trutrip 40 and dipsys are my main diving devices. Fast and easy to run when running 14+ rods at a time.
Harnesses by themselves have no diving qualities so with the Wt. 20ft ahead of the harness you should be able to tell how deep the wt is but the harness will be forced up by the water pushing it upward. If you change to inline Wt. system you will have a better knowledge as to where your harness is because it will be only the length of your leader away from your weight. The snap wt system works best with crank baits because most cranks have some diving ability keeping it in the targeted zone. But that diving ability has to be considered also when using the snap Wt. system as it will add depth to the known depth of the snap Wt. you are using.
I use size one (1) dipsey with ring and set at #3 & #1.5 when using 2 on a side; Set at#3, #2, #1 when using 3 on a side. With 2 people I use #3 setting and straight line 40' jet on a side. With 3 people #3 & #1.5 settings and straight line 40' jet on a side. More trash fish than tangles. Make a long arc when turning. Catch several 'eyes on the inside when turning since the dipseys fall/slow down and make a different presentation. I don't troll over/near reefs.
What's the minimum speed that dipseys work well? I tried them for a while last year and I think I was going too slow. They didn't want to side plane very well. Thanks.
I try to run 1.7 to 1.9 knots.
Jeff,
When you make your big boards and I know you will give me a call and I will drive up and we can make two sets..:D
Aaron