By Mike Frisch and the Fishing the Midwest Team
Planer boards are fishing “tools” that can add to a fishing day’s successes. Boards, as they are often called, work by letting out some type of lure, often a crankbait, attaching the board and then letting out more line which takes the board and lure off to the boat’s side. This presentation option is very popular in states where multiple lines per angler are allowed because it allows anglers to spread lines and cover lots of water searching for active walleyes. Minnesota’s one line per angler law keeps some anglers from using boards and, that is probably a mistake.
On a fishing trip a while back, for example, three of us were trolling the basin of a central Minnesota lake with crankbaits catching an occasional walleye. Our catch rate went up quickly when we attached lures to planer boards and let the boards out 75- to 100- feet to the boat’s sides. Why? Probably because we were covering more water and putting our baits in front of more fish with each trolling pass.
Later in the day, our sonar unit began showing fish up higher in the water column. We adjusted by letting less line out which kept our Hornet crankbaits higher in the water column and, again, our catch rate went up, particularly on the two baits fished behind boards. Why? Probably because the boat’s presence was spooking or pushing the fish up high in the water column off to the boat’s sides putting them in perfect position for the approaching boards and the crankbaits trolled behind them.
That particular fishing trip we used Off Shore OR12 planer boards with Tattle Flags. We simply let out the amount of line out we wanted, attached the board to the line by simply putting the line in two pinch clips and, then set the board in the water and let more line out. The board’s design took the board and our bait attached to it out away from the boat.
The board moved smoothly across the water with the Tattle Flag riding high when suddenly the flag would go down, “tattling“ on a walleye that had our bait! A slow, steady retrieve to a partner who removed the board and then more retrieve often lead to walleye gold.
A key component of this style fishing is, in fact, in the retrieve. First, no hook set is needed because a fish that bites a crankbait usually hooks themself and additional pressure only serves to increase the odds the hook pulls out. A slow, steady retrieve also minimizes additional pressure. When the board comes to the boat, a partner removes the board while holding the line and the landing angler reels to the line in his partner’s hand. This process keeps the line tight minimizing slack line and lost fish. Another important part of the fish landing process is the use of the right rods. Long rods with moderate action do a good job of keeping walleyes hooked. We’ve been using the Speed Stick trolling rods with good success the past several years.
The Tattle Flags are important because they not only make it easy for anglers to know when a walleye is hooked, but they also alert anglers to the presence of smaller fish or weeds which can sometimes be drug for long periods of time without an angler even knowing when not using flags. Not only do they add to the efficiency and catch, but using Tattle Flags is fun because it’s almost mesmerizing to lock in on a flag and then suddenly be snapped into action when you see a “flag down!”
Flag down means fish on and the landing fun begins. If you want to experience more fish landing excitement this summer, give planer boards a try as they can increase your catch and fun rates. As always, good luck on the water and remember to include a youngster in your next outdoors adventure!
Mike Frisch hosts the popular Fishing the Midwest TV series. Visit www.fishingthemidwest to see more fishing tips and view recent TV episodes as well!
Photo – Walleyes like the one held here are susceptible to crankbaits fished on planer boards.
