Trolling Question

[ebijack]

If I'm fishing 4 rods will I get enough spread if I flat line (no boards) a line out of each side of the boat and run one more each side with boards?

Like mentioned, flat lines can and do catch fish. But you will catch more fish using boards in the long run. Your odds go up as you increase your spread...most days. You are covering more water with each pass.
Also you'd be better off running 2 boards on one side instead of one board each side. Unless your real good at reading boards, you will miss more fish by not being able seeing them "play" with the bait where you would normally force feed the bait and get a hook up. Or drag around a small fish. If that makes sense.
Run one rod on the other side, rod 90 degrees to the boat, the other rod, with a bouncer off that corner.
IMHO, this time of year/water temp, pulling meat would be the bait of choice if you can troll slow enough. And for the price of 2 crankbaits, you can build a box of harness parts.

[Mxclutch]

I run 3 boards per But as the spoon bite begins I love to run 2 straight lines off the sides with jets. Some days the out catch the boards if the fish are deep..

More lures over more boards>.... Get the boards! It will allow you to cover more water in a pass...