Offshore Planer Boards

[Fastfreddy]

I recently just purchased a new set of boards with the tattle flag.

Can anyone tell me or snap a pic of where you have the spring located on the board/flag?

I obviously could figure it out with a little trial and error but thought I would ask here first.

Running bandits for cranks.

Thanks in advance...

FF

[DW72]

Would help if I could but I can't yet. I retrofitted 6 of my boards last year. The pull tension feels really good for the flag and it is easily adjustable. I thought it might be nice to help with not dragging a fish once in a while, especially at slow speeds.

But....mine don't work as the line slips through the rear red release.
So, it doesn't keep the slack between it and the front release. I'm using 15# mono.

I'm thinking it may be because my boards are 4-5 years old so the pads in the rear releases may be worn smooth? I'm going to put new pads on the during this off-season and see.

Anyone else experience this?

[itsbob]

DW72 if you don't have slack line between front and rear release the table flag will not pull down when you have a fish on.If the line pulls through the release while trolling that slack line will be pulled tight.You have to replace the pads or whole release.I just replaced all our rear red OR16 releases last month for that very reason.
As for the spring location,I don't use springs anymore.Many years ago went on a charter and he was using rubber bands.I switched to rubber bands and have not looked back.I use size 33 rubber bands I get at Staples.I loop one end of the rubber band through the forward hole in the arm of the board.Then I stretch the rubber band over the leading edge of board and loop it around the end of the wire hooked to the tattle flag.When I put out the boards to start fishing, I put out my lure then put the line on both releases and hold the board to see if the tension is correct on the tattle flag.If the flag is getting pulled down I adjust the tension by moving the rubber band to either side of leading edge to keep that flag up.Then I pull on the line to see how much tension it takes to pull the flag down and move the rubber band again to get tension just right.I will adjust that rubber band more if when board running,the flag droops down.The rubber bands wear out so I change them every other trip.

[DW72]

Hey Bob,

Yes, that is exactly what is happening to me. I use the loop trick up front on the orange OR19 and leave a good amount of slack between it and the rear red OR16.

Shortly after deployment the line pulls through the OR16 on the rear and eliminates the slack. I'll try all new pads first If that doesn't work, I'll just buy all new OR16's like you did.

Thank you for confirming!

-Don

[itsbob]

I did replace the pads on my releases many years ago.It is not easy to do.Did it once and never again.I buy new releases now

[Brian425]

I use the snapper releases on the back...


but you can just wrap the line around one jaw of the release to keep it from slipping. I used to do that before I bought the snapper releases.

Good luck!

[Brian425]

several holes in both the flag and the board for the spring...you will need to play around with them to get the tension just right depending on what bait you are running and current direction, trolling speed, etc. I try to get them set so they just barely stay vertical...that way you can see if you have a small fish on there.

Good luck!

[DW72]

Brian 425 is right on the money on springs. It'll vary based on a couple things and if u use snap weights too

I decided to buy new releases. The old pads were glued in and it got messy when I was digging them out as Bob stated.