Big boards VS Small boards

[CrazyEye]

First... Thank you to everyone that shares info on this board. I look forward to contributing anytime I can, now that I have actually created an account!!

I understand each set-up is a little different but this is where I have landed after having the opportunity to fish on multiple boats with different set-ups and also running and tweaking my own set-up on an 18' Tracker Pro Guide 175.

My general rule of thumb is based on targeted trolling speed, but number of people, conditions and bait choice can have an impact as well. I'll run big boards with 2 or more people. If it is a little bumpier and the big boards just aren't pulling well, I will switch to inline boards to see if I can get more consistency. If my plan is to pull jets or tru-trips I'll be using big boards, but those are baits usually pulled at higher speeds so the speed already made that decision. All other baits I will pull with either; cranks, weight assisted cranks, etc...I use the same set of rods/reels for both and have settled on 30# power pro mainline with 4' 20# fluorocarbon leader.

• Greater than 1.7mph = big boards
• Less than or equal 1.7mph = in-line boards
  

Higher speeds = harder pull = tighter tow line = better pulling big boards.

Big Boards:

• Pros
  
  
  • run harder pulling set-ups easier; jets, tru-trips
  • only the fish to fight once band is popped out of clip
  • no board to unclip
  
  
• Cons
  
  
  • each boat set-up is a little different so a little more time tweaking
  • can't 'park' a set-up into the spread
  • slow speed trolling
  
  

In-line Boards:

• Pros
  
  
  • potential faster set-up and tear down
  • ability to 'park' a set-up into the spread
  • slow speed trolling
  
  
• Cons
  
  
  • always a board to unclip in some capacity, whether you 'trip' board or not
  • a challenge running hard pulling set-ups
    
    
  
  

Big Board set-up:

In my experience the boom height has less impact on the effectiveness of the set-up than how hard the boards pull. I started out with the notion that boom height was primary and had a 6' boom coming out of the front seat pedestal on my set-up. This set-up had a loose pull-down string on each side that allowed fisherman to pull the tow line down to them when they were ready to attach a clip. The higher town line allowed for more bounce and potential slack in the tow-line and every time you pulled it down it caused slack on the let-up. Anyone that has pulled big boards can attest that slack in the tow-line is the enemy. Tough to see fish, jumpy boards, inconsistent bait presentation, more tangles.

I had the chance to run a set-up that maintained a very tight pull-down string anchored at the aft base of the rod tree, that kept the tow-line within arm's reach to attach clips. This also lowered the tow-line and maintained a constant pressure. After seeing this and witnessing how well it ran, I went home and tweaked my set-up to match plus adding weight and balancing my boards. My boards are now balanced at 4lb 11oz each. (This is much smaller than the big boards that most charters run but it matches my set-up and can easily pull 4 lines per side with jets/tru-trips attached.) The update to my set-up included 1) a newly installed cleat to aft base of rod tree 2) tight pull-down string attached to tow-line with carabiner 3) heavier balanced boards 4) addition of snubbers to end of tow-line connected to boards.

After running on the lake a few times with much greater consistency and success, I wanted to consider lowering my boom height to avoid issues with channel bridges, travel and any slop it may be adding. I have since lowered my boom to 3', still installed in front seat pedestal and added a second carabiner to refine the travel path of the tow-line to avoid contact with everything; windshield, radio antenna, rod trees, etc... This set-up runs as close to perfect on my boat as it can. I ran it almost daily for over a week in May and could not be more pleased. The lower boom pulls awesome, is quieter and to be honest to looks better. I ran this set-up directly into 3 footers on my last trip out and faced no issues. To round out the set-up I use rubber bands looped (half-hitch) once or twice to the braid and clipped about half-way into release pads. A vertical rod tree set-up with identical rods will serve as a great 'fish-on' indicator.

In-Line Board set-up:

I have the following Off-Shore set-up:

• OR-12 Boards
• OR-12 Tattle Flag
• OR-16 Pro Snap Weight Clip for both the front and back clip
  
  
  • this is where many folks differ on preference for tripping boards, I chose this set-up for using braid and also the likelihood of losing board is very low
    
    
  
  

This is only my personal experience and not necessarily the answer for everyone. Hopefully someone finds it helpful.