Quote Originally Posted by Mapleshade View Post
Went out this evening NW of Kelleys up to the line. Around 43 fow. Marked fish mostly 20 to 33 feet. Trolling bandits with 2 Oz at 50 feet then 50 to 80 more feet behind in line boards. Just learning to troll with boards. 2 keepers and 2 little shavers. Problem was I had a hard time knowing when I had something on. Both keepers around 20”. I had 4 lines out with boards lined up best I could but I didn’t really see the boards act funny except during turns. I pulled in the boards from time to time to check and that’s when I realized I had fish on. I don’t have active flags and am thinking about adding those but have heard a few say they aren’t all that helpful.

Any guidance for this old beginner would be appreciated. IÂ’m interested in your experiences as I gain mine.

Thanks...
I have the tattle flags on my Offshore boards. If I am pulling bandits unassisted the flags work pretty good, or when using tadpoles with spoons or harnesses. But once I start pulling anything more that adds to the resistance, the slack required to make the flag work becomes tight and it wont work any way. I use 30lb Powerpro braid so it slips through pretty easy. To be honest really do not think they add that much. One thing I know for sure though. If you see your board get yanked back by a fish, even if it only tugs once, I always check it. Many times the fish will be there just cruising along. Sometimes they will be a nice fish too. Other times you can drag a dink around for a good long time. This is true with Dipseys and Trutrips also. Just check them a bunch. That what I do.

Kent