Cheater line?

[hntrfshr]

After following the FLW Green Bay tournament, I've heard a lot of people talking about a "cheater line." Does this line clip on the main line between the snap weight and the board? If someone could explain how this works, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[hntrfshr]

After following the FLW Green Bay tournament, I've heard a lot of people talking about a "cheater line." Does this line clip on the main line between the snap weight and the board? If someone could explain how this works, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[Eric Schuelke]

There are a few ways you can do it. One way is to use a three way swivel. It will be hard to do this with two crawler harnesses. Tie a crank on the bottom, usually a deep diver, with the amount of droppper you want, and tie a crank on the top, usually a shallow diver, or you can tie a crawler harness. Let out the line and clip on your board.

Another way is to use a off shore clip. Again I use a crank and crawler harness on this one. Let out the line with the crank on it. Depending on how deep you want the harness to run is where you clip the other line on. I ususally go about 10-20 feet from the crank. Tie on the off shore clip to about a ten foot lead to the harness..Let out the line and clip on your board.

The way they were doing it, I think, is. use an offshore clip again, tie on the amount of line you want out. Tie it to the harness and the offshore clip with your weight on it. Let out line with a crawler harness on it, clip your offshore board on. Start letting the board out, away from the boat. After about 20-30ft, you want to clip on the other harness (cheater line) and continue letting the board out. When you do get a fish on the cheater line, you will have to fight the fish by hand.

[Eric Schuelke]

There are a few ways you can do it. One way is to use a three way swivel. It will be hard to do this with two crawler harnesses. Tie a crank on the bottom, usually a deep diver, with the amount of droppper you want, and tie a crank on the top, usually a shallow diver, or you can tie a crawler harness. Let out the line and clip on your board.

Another way is to use a off shore clip. Again I use a crank and crawler harness on this one. Let out the line with the crank on it. Depending on how deep you want the harness to run is where you clip the other line on. I ususally go about 10-20 feet from the crank. Tie on the off shore clip to about a ten foot lead to the harness..Let out the line and clip on your board.

The way they were doing it, I think, is. use an offshore clip again, tie on the amount of line you want out. Tie it to the harness and the offshore clip with your weight on it. Let out line with a crawler harness on it, clip your offshore board on. Start letting the board out, away from the boat. After about 20-30ft, you want to clip on the other harness (cheater line) and continue letting the board out. When you do get a fish on the cheater line, you will have to fight the fish by hand.

[hgmeyer]

There are several ways to rig it... Eric's two are widely used. You can also use a dropper knot and a snap to add the line...

Whatever method you use, remember that in tournaments where you may use three baits but only two rods... The cheater must stay connected to the main line until it is in the boat (the bait/luse) or you must fully retrieve a single line (usually the same side inside board) or you will have too many rods (you, the boat, etc) out if you unclip the line.

Since I use it above (after) the outside board with a very large snap swivel attached to a dropper knot on the line... I always fully retrieve the inside board and it's bait before I reel up the chester to the boat and unsnap it... then snap it to a "ring" on the back cleat and hand line it in... Some guys use the small electric cord reels as a reel, and it does work... just remember there is no drag so heavy line is probably a good idea... I use 20lb power pro...

[hgmeyer]

There are several ways to rig it... Eric's two are widely used. You can also use a dropper knot and a snap to add the line...

Whatever method you use, remember that in tournaments where you may use three baits but only two rods... The cheater must stay connected to the main line until it is in the boat (the bait/luse) or you must fully retrieve a single line (usually the same side inside board) or you will have too many rods (you, the boat, etc) out if you unclip the line.

Since I use it above (after) the outside board with a very large snap swivel attached to a dropper knot on the line... I always fully retrieve the inside board and it's bait before I reel up the chester to the boat and unsnap it... then snap it to a "ring" on the back cleat and hand line it in... Some guys use the small electric cord reels as a reel, and it does work... just remember there is no drag so heavy line is probably a good idea... I use 20lb power pro...

[GUEST..]

So if I am understanding this correctly, the cheater line goes on AFTER the board? Also, how is the extra line tied to the main line?

Thanks.

[hgmeyer]

First, some people put the "cheater" below (before) the board when they run a combination of a deep diving crank bait and a shallow running bait (one above the other in the water column). If, you want to run two boards and a third crawler harness, then you run the cheater from above the outside board ( an emample, let out your harness 30 feet then the board, then let out 30 feet of line and attach your cheater of thirty feet of line with a harness attached, then let that out another sixty feet now run out your second rod line thity feet, attach the board and let it out thirty feet... You now have three harnesses back thirty feet and spaced thirty feet apart)

There are several ways that cheaters are attached. Some people use a three way swivel (almost only ever done with lines below the planer board). Others use snap weight clips. I use clips and also use a dropper knot and a very big crosslock on a swivel. THe drop knot will reel right up onto the reel and is more secure than the snap weight clip. When I use the cheater (if I have to abide by the two rods / three baits rule ) I always completely reel in the inside board before I detach the cheater and hand line it in... I am working on a short rod that the cheater line can be attached to that will reel in a large snap swivel and can be done quickly ... not there yet.

[krb]

After fishing the FLW, I saw a couple of methods used. The easiest to use was to have about a 30' lead with spinner on one end & off-shore clip on the other. We would let out the inside board about 25' from boat, attach the clip & put the harness back on the cheater line, then let out board to desired distance. if a fish came on the "cheater line" we would bring board in enough to crab line & hand over hand fish in (not taking clip off until spinner is in boat). If the fish was on the board you had to bring in board same way, grab cheater line, pull into boat, then unclip.

The other method I saw was a "slider", this was similar to the first in that you had a 30' +/- lead with a snap swivel. Aattach the clip then the swivel to the baord line & let out line. If you got a fish on the cheater, you did the same as first option. If on the board, reel up to clip, unhook & let line slid down to board.

It seemed much easier to get the line out of the way if a fish was on the board. Seen some put a bobber right below the snap to help see the bites better. Did seem to help.

[hgmeyer]

I like the bobber idea... I have been tying a piece of orange tape to the clip or swivel....

[GUEST.]

If attaching the cheater to the line with a clip, what would keep a big fish from pulling the snap weight off of the main line?

[KRB]

By using the newer clips with the pins & having the line behind the pins did keep thefish on. Belieive me, we tested that on a couple of huge Shepheads.

[hgmeyer]

Yes, it does seem that the "pins" really hold the line... The line "might" slide... but if it is behind the pins it will not pull off/out.

[GUEST.]

I really appreciate all of the help. One last question.......I am assuming that the cheater line in being run with little, or no weight? Also, where can I find some of the new clips with the pins?

Thank you.

[KRB]

Ran the cheaters with 1/2 - 1.5 oz in line or even a split shot caught fish (depends on where the fish are). I think you can buy the clips at most tackle shops in 2 packs or in the shap weight kits. I'm not sure but I think all the clips sold now have the pin (may be wrong on this but).

[Juls_OH]

The OR-16 (red release) has the pin in the center. Not all releases have pins. The 16 is the one you want. Like mentioned previously, most stores that sell Off Shore in-line planer boards, or Snap-Weight kits, will have these clips in packages of twos.

Juls

[hgmeyer]

Juls,

Sorry, I'm not trying to hijack the thread... But, every time I thought about saying hello to you in person last week at the FLW event.. I got distracted or you disappeared... So, at least I got to put a face with the handle here...

[Juls_OH]

Well, gosh darn it HG!!! I wish you would have! Then I could have put a face to your handle too. I would have loved to meet you!

Maybe next time, eh? Since you know who I am now, it's up to you to come to me, since I have no idea what you look like. OK? ;)

Juls

[eye lunker]

This is good information but i would caution some poeple on using just a snap weight to hold slider or cheater on to main line.I dont think you will have much arguemet from getting a ticket if dnr see you disconnect that line from main line and pull in a fish. They person who showed me this and how to do it was from saginaw and he stressed do not disconnect the cheaterline it has to be reeled in all connected as one. If i am wrong someone tell me cause it would make it easier for me to run that setup.

[hgmeyer]

Eye Lunker... Whether you are limited by law or tournament regulations to two rods, only... You must keep the line attached by the clip or snap, or whatever until the bait on that line is in the boat or you must reel in another bait completely. I prefer to clear another rod... As I stated above, I reel in the inside board first, whenever I bring in the cheater... In that way I stay within the two rods per angler rule. And, I have more room and less "gear" to tangle. I generally clear the inside board anyway, at least to the back of the transom of the opposite side so it is only a small amount of extra effort to pull off the board and bring the line all the way in. Small price to pay for that almost 50% more bait in the water time a third line gives you. As long as you keep pressure on the fish time isn't an issue.

And, if I can figure my quick attach to a short rod and reel idea I may have that solved and improved.

Here's a link to the loop knot, "drop loop" knot http://www.netknots.com/html/dropper_loop.html

[Dan Palmer]

I also seen the line run through the eye on the off shore clip and then tie on a simple snap and clip it behind the clip, then if clip doesnt hold the snap will allow the line to slide down to other presentation. Dan Palmer

[Extra Line]

Dumb rule, IMHO, especially in WI, where 3 rods are allowed per angler. Actually caught a few fish on it, though. But not everybody kept the line attached 100% of the time. Seen a few wrap and clip to a rod holder, some merely moved it across the boat to the last rod's line there. Basically, an unenforceable rule, so why have it? I don't think it adds a thing to the competitiveness of the event. Rules were perfectly clear, but lots chose to do it like last year.

I suggest they just go with the state's regulations.