What are your thoughts on Side Planers?

[SkunkedAgain]

Hey guys I'd really like to set up a good side planer system on my boat.  I tried it on my old boat, but haven't gotten it in place on the new boat.  I really liked the idea of the mast and a big solid out rigger float and then running the fishing lines down the main wire and using a release off the main line, but my home made stuff was not very good and I'd like to get something better, but I'm also not wanting to spend a fortune to do it...  What do you guys use? Anyone doing home made side planers that are legit? (My previous homemade one worked, but it would skip out of the water sometimes and lose it's bite) I really didn't like the side planers that are on your fishing line for the same reason I don't like leadcore, I hate something stealing the fight of the fish... Kind of just looking for good Mast and side planer ideas that I can incorporate on my boat for when I need to get a line away from the boat..  Thanks Jeff

[MSM1970]

this is what I come up with once, it work ok but you had to hand line it in and out, i built a different one, don't have pics of it, same thing other than i bought 2 cheap trolling reals, put brad on them, it lets the out easy lust loosen the drag, easy to real in, use a release that slides down the line, so far it work ok, 1.5 mph max, need to work on better side planers, I've seen plans on hear, maybe some one show them again,

[BearLakeFishGuy]

I love using them and they WORK!
With that said, I have tried three different brand boards. Offshore, Church, and BassPro Shops brand. Offshore work, but I feel their standard board (OR12) are too large and their mini-boards (OR38) are too small. However, the worst feature of Offshore is their crappy releases. The pads are tiny and its difficult to get them adjusted properly. The BassPro boards are junk. The plastic on the release arm snaps off and they don't sell replacement parts like Offshore or Church. The Church boards are really nice and I like them the best. My favorite size is the TX12 or you can upsize to their "walleye board" which is the same size as the Offshore brand OR12. The Church boards have adjustable keel weights so you can get the board to run "flat" in the water instead of with the nose sticking up like the other boards which minimizes "skipping" along the surface. The Church releases are better, in my opinion, than either of the other two brands, but, they still aren't perfect. The best feature is they have a spring-loaded pin built into the end of the board that I really like, since it allows the front release to let go and then the board to slide down your main line when you get a strike and you don't have to unclip the board from your line like you do on Offshore or BassPro boards. I've lost too many fish unclipping over the years and its really difficult when you are by yourself and don't have someone to unclip your board from the line. But, you can set the Church boards up just like the Offshore if you prefer the unclipping method. I run a large plastic bead/barrel swivel combo about 6' in front of my lure so the board doesn't slide all the way down the line to the lure. Yes, you still have to reel in the board with your fish, but it is a lot less than fighting in a big keel weight or having to unclip the board from your line in order to reel in the fish.

The mast is really nice, but it takes up room on the boat and the boards take up a lot of room too and there is the cost of the big planer boards and where to store them in your garage!. If all you did was troll for salmon on the Great Lakes, then I would have the mast set up. But I am a multi-species angler and like that I can store my boards inside a small compartment on my boat when not using them.

[BYUHunter]

In my opinion, they are usually more trouble than they are worth. I will only use them in May for shallow Kokanee.

The reality is, and I've confirmed this countless times with Livescope, is that Trout and most warm-water species are just not very boat-shy. I have watched fish on Livescope chase and attack my gear literally in the prop-wash of my kicker.

With that said, Kokanee are fairly boat-shy, and you can watch them dive and evade on the Livescope. Planers have a benefit in this case.

With all of that said, there's also a time and a place for planers, and Willard Bay when the Walleye are in, or Soldier Creek when everyone is stacked up trying to find Kokanee, is not it. It isn't very space conscious, and you will get crossed up and tangled in the crowds.

[Redrebel]

I am still saving for my otter boats. They are expensive, but I absolutely hate pulling in a fish with something attached to the line. I am thinking I can easily set up the Mast line. Downrigger’s take up space as well so what would a small rod ahead of my trolling line be any difference? Just my assumptions. I haven’t got it set up yet.

[Gone Forever]

I do not like inline planer boards. Only the dual type that you run the release clips on the planer line from.
Dubob has the best homemade I have seen. Mine are not as good but I don't know if he made his to fold up for storage like I made mine...
I like them in the spring when things are shallow and when I want to present closer to the shoreline than I want to run the boat.
As was mentioned, the biggest drawback is the total width of your pass. It can interfere with others or make maneuvering around others difficult.
Sometimes I only run right or left, as needed. Less work, narrower path.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thanks guys I was looking for using this for catfish on Cutler, so the crowd isn't an issue and I have noticed that the fish are boat shy, so that's why I've been dreaming up methods to make this happen. I also agree it will be a spring thing for me before the moss starts to grow... Appreciate all of your insights so far thanks and I'm hoping Bob does post that design again, I think I built mine out of substandard parts last time, so need to buy the right stuff this time... Thanks Jeff

[Jmorfish]

I also use side planers while trolling, as long as the wind/chop isn't too strong..then it's difficult to observe planer action/hits...I use in-line planers also, I believe tx-12, and the 8 is too small for my use...maybe I shouldn't give this advice, but to me the main reason that planers work so well ...in addition to covering more fishable area...is that on light wind/chop days, your lure/bait presentation is jigging itself with the up/down movement of the planer...this is why some days the planer rods will out-perform my down rigger rods..and with the in-line system I can occasionally manipulate the line by hand to give it even more action...But Beware..as was said, planers may cause problems with other boaters, especially on weekends and on our more popular waters...Guluk..

[BoatBallast]

I use planers all the time.  Whenever we are trolling, we have planers out (provided we have enough people). 

I think the mast idea is the only way to fly with planers.  Clipping them in-line on your rod/reel is a recipe for losing fish.  Every time you put your rod down or someone on the boat goes to take the clip off, you've got slack, and the fish is gone.  I hated that.

I made some planer board fishing rods.  They are about the size of a kite rod, 2-3 feet.  I put a line counter reel on them with 20lb fly line backing. 

I use the Offshore planers and basically take everything off of them.  I add a mini-Scotty planer board release to the back of the board and tie the backing to the front post on the planer, leaving enough slack to be loosely tied to the back eye on the planer board.

Then I treat the planer board rod just like a downrigger, but for the surface.  So I will let line out on my lure with my fishing rod and then attach it to the mini-Scotty release on the planer board.  Then, I let both the planer board and my fishing rod pay line out until I get to the distance I want to get from the boat.  I tighten the fishing rod down to just the point where it isn't pulling the planer board off its line.

Strike detection is easy.  The rod bounces like it is on fire when it gets a hit.  Very obvious.  And if the fish doesn't pull out of the mini-Scotty release, it's an easy tug on the rod, reel up any slack, and reel in a fish.  It actually works really well and minimal investment.  It's a portable planer board mast that takes up virtually no space in the boat.

[SkunkedAgain]

Thank you two as well, great information and kind of along the line that I've been trying on my old boat and want to make work on the new one... I'm trying to get a mast that plugs into the socket for the front seat and then have a reel or boat trailer wench to take the main line in and out... I think I'll probably just do one side at a time since it is so much more difficult to run on double wide when other boats are around... Thanks J

[dubob]

Check out my post from 2008: Make your own planer boards

Be sure to read the complete thread for pictures of the boards in use and clips used to attach the fishing line.

You're welcome.  

[RILEYFISH]

So i have used all the above and still working through some small quirks. I have built me some small masts that i have mounted on each side of my boat. I have built the same boards as Dubob has posted above and im working on getting the boards to pull through the water more smoothly without them acting like an anchor and pulling downward and diving. I have old trolling reels mounted to each mast with orange colored line so the idiots at Willard can see them, at least thats my thoughts and hopes. Im happy with the progress and about got them dialed in. I have a doz clips for each side to hook lines into and run them out. 

I think it depends on who is fishing with me each trip that decides what set up i use. In line boards have their place and are ok with new fishers, but the larger boards hooked into masts and run out requires a bit more patience and skill to work.

[joatmon]

I have used the Off shore and Scheels planer boards. I like them, but probably could learn more about using them. After losing a couple and having to retrieve, I added a snap swivel to the rear split ring and just have that clipped around the line.

I haven't used them as often chasing catfish at UL as I'm not sure their effectiveness with circle hooks. I did make some home made rear/stern "planer" boards last year (pool noodles and PVC pipe) and used them at UL. They give me a little better control and idea where my rear line and rig are behind the boat (I like to put that rear line wayyyyyyyy behind the boat) and I can use them with my canoe (I am dragging bottom anyhow). However, I'm not convinced they are worth the trouble.

I'm always tinkering with something gear wise. I'd probably be ahead if I focused more on fishing.