Rod Setup with big boards

[The Smalleye]

Could some of you board trollers help me learn the proper setup for trolling with a mast and boards .When you setup your rods onto the rod holders does your outside line, or in other words the one line closest to your boards get setup on the rod holder closest to the front of the boat. Any other help with this would help me, I have fished with others trolling with big boards but did not pay good atention to the tricks of seting them up so they do not tangle into one big mess. I just sent a order in for a mast from Bass Pro Shops and I made my own boards from plans I got from W.C. posting so Iam new and not educated on the art of board of a mast. "ANY HELP WELCOME"

[Den]

One easy way to remember which place to put the rods "the Farthest out, to the Front of the boat" i hope this helps. this is the same as you had it, but different words. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Gunslinger Gary-Detroit,MI]

Yes you are correct about your rigging the farthest out goes first so if you get a fish-on you can snap it loose and it goes back without tangling your other inside lines.Always bring your fish in the stern area so that you clear your other lines and or lures out.

[The Smalleye]

Den when you get a release on the outer line can you just let the middle line out and move it to the first rod holder and continue fishing. Also is there any tips on the releases going into the other releases after you get a fish or is this not a problem in most cases.

[FISH TRAP]

Smalleye,

Another suggestion not mentioned would be to set your rod holders
at different angles. The front one could be set at straight up, the
next with a slight (maybe 10 - 15 degree angle) and the next with an
additional 10 - 15 degree angle. I have run up to four rods per side
with this set up with little or no problems. Hope this helps you on
your set up.

Screamin' drags and wet net,

Fish Trap

[FreeByrd]

Smalleye,
You've got the right idea, as you catch fish, just let out more line and move the rods to the open holder. Releases sliding into other releases are not usually a problem. In fact if you get to the point where you've got lots of releases balled up against a particular rod that has not fired - you probably want to bring it in and either reset the lead length to something that has produced on others, or change the lure.
Other tip and biggest thing with big board esp when you get a release on one of the outside boards is PATIENCE. Just keep tension on the rod until it comes around to the back of the boat. Start reeling too early and you will get into other lines. Also you don't want to vary your lead lengths or your lures you are running too much on one side. If you do anything drastic on rods set next to each other you will end up with tangles. Again when varying leads, lures (deep/shallow), etc to develop a pattern PATIENCE is critical.
I've made all the big board mistakes over the years learning the hard way - you are going to end up with some tangles at some point. Post or email with any specific questions as you start experimenting. The post about different angles on your holders is a good one.
Good Luck,
Steve Carlson
steve199132@yahoo.com

[CarpetBagger]

Smalleye,
Im no expert but my system works great. 1st off if you have line counters. Make sure your runnin the same or similar diameter line. If you have one with thin braid and the other with heavy thicker mono, some line counters can give u a different reading as to how far back those lines are. Best bet is to get out the old tape measure and see wat kind of a reading your gettin on ur counters. The daiwas are pretty much right on.

Now for me wat i do is run small dipsy's, jet divers, or snap weights off the boards. I try to balance things out by using either all of the same stuff on each side. When you i go to put them out ill run them back around 200' usually 225'. Run every1 identical that way you dont end up with a short line eventually making its way through the rotation to an outside line (ull have a mess). Make sure u get ur board well away from the boat so u can easily stack 3 lines on it with atleast 15'+ in between releases, this way when u get a hit or knock off the extra line in between the releases allow your line to swing past all of the lines before it and out the back of the boat then FISH ON!!

Glad i can least talk on here im diein to get to up to camp!!
CB