Planer Board Advice & Weekend Report

[Eyezcrazy]

I'm not sure what diver you are using but I run TT40's.....they pull the rear end of the board down pretty good and if I am pulling a junk fish I can tell because the board will run more level or at least it will not pull down as hard on the back end.
It takes a little experience to really read the boards but once you get the hang of it you will notice the subtle differences that tell you there is a fish on.

[Jiga-Byte]

I'm not sure what diver you are using but I run TT40's.....they pull the rear end of the board down pretty good and if I am pulling a junk fish I can tell because the board will run more level or at least it will not pull down as hard on the back end.
It takes a little experience to really read the boards but once you get the hang of it you will notice the subtle differences that tell you there is a fish on.

Yes, I'm also running the TT40's. On the Churches board, I adjusted the keel weight to help level out the board. Do you do the same? or recommend not to?

[Eyezcrazy]

Yes, I'm also running the TT40's. On the Churches board, I adjusted the keel weight to help level out the board. Do you do the same? or recommend not to?

I have never adjusted the weight to level out the board. I'm not sure if that would make it easier or harder to read. I guess I'm used to seeing mine run low in the back and know there is a fish on when it's not.

[ebijack]

IMHO If your running inlines or jets or mini disks. Running the boards to close to each other can get you tangles. Besides your trying to find if the fish want the presentation close to the boat ( they are not spooking) or far away from the (very spooky). If your outside board/boards are the main one getting bit, move all the boards further away from the boat. If the inside are getting bit, bring the boards in closer. It's all about covering water, find out what/how the eye's want and then give them plenty of it.

[Dr.Ed]

The closer the boards are together the easier it is to tell when a junk fish has joined your party. Done right it is easy to see a subtle pullback. With a little effort you can avoid tangled lines and hopefully bring more good fish to the boat. Another thing I keep forgetting to mention is a long handled net. (7'-8' is a must) Keep the retrieve out of the prop wash and bring the fish to the net. Don't reach for the fish. And you are right. The farthest board out from the boat is always the longest. See you guys on Friday.....

[wakina]

I'm not sure what diver you are using but I run TT40's.....they pull the rear end of the board down pretty good and if I am pulling a junk fish I can tell because the board will run more level or at least it will not pull down as hard on the back end.
It takes a little experience to really read the boards but once you get the hang of it you will notice the subtle differences that tell you there is a fish on.

Yes you are right, once that diver trips the board drops down in the front making it obvious something has changed. As Eyezcrazy stated the more experience you get the easier reading them it becomes.

[imrsmk]

The more time you have, the easier it will get. I still have trouble sometimes, particularly when the chop picks up. As already mentioned, if you keep everything the same (rods, boards, lures) on each side, you can compare the pattern of the boards and the pull of the rods on one side with the other side. When one is off, then you probably have something pulling it back a little.

John

[Dr.Ed]

I run Church Walleye boards, a pair off each side, about 90' to 100' out, running then in tandum about 6' apart, with the same presentation on each board. As long as you maintain a fairly straight line, it is not hard to see when one of the boards has a little extra weight on it as the separation will be quite obvious. On my boat the saying goes "When in doubt, check it out."

[Jiga-Byte]

I rub Church Walleye boards, a pair off each side, about 90' to 100' out, running then in tandum about 6' apart, with the same presentation on each board. As long as you maintain a fairly straight line, it is not hard to see when one of the boards has a little extra weight on it as the separation will be quite obvious. On my boat the saying goes "When in doubt, check it out."

Ed, I've been letting the outside boards out further from the boat. Typically 120 back on the outside board, and then 90 on the inside board. Same as you mentioned (a pair each side). Should I not be doing that? Should they both be let out the same amount of line? Pardon my ignorance, this is my first year running boards.