I have always trolled. From slow trolling with harnesses and F4 Flatfish to cranks and spoons. Bought my first walleye boat in 1980 and started "longlining" crankbaits with great success. In 1981 I found plans for redwood planer boards and a crude mast in a magazine. Can't remember which one. If I could I would have it bronzed. In 81, you got some weird looks pulling boards and I used them everywhere for everything but walleye is where they most valuable. For me, the fishing from the early 80's to early 90's was better than it is now. It didn't matter where you went. Throw the gear over the side, pick a direction, and catch until you were limited (10 fish). Been some peaks and valleys since and fishing is good right now and for the near future.

IMO the change from drifting to trolling has a lot to do with small board technology for small boats. The trend now seems to be in 16' to20' aluminum boats with limited space. Small boards allow you to run 3 rods per side a couple dipseys and maybe a center board with a bottom bouncer. This gets a max rod count for three people and is very manageable and most importantly way more efficient. You can cover more water and have more baits at different levels in the water column "hunting" for active fish. Small boards are also much cheaper to run. No mast, no dozens of releases, no big boards, clip catchers, snubbers, on and on.

This old fart is way to set in my ways. Been pulling big boards for 40 years and will continue until I can't set a rod anymore.