Planner Boars and Rods......More Questions !!!!

[RickK]

Plan on purchasing a set of Off Shore In-Line Planner Boards, two St Croix GT80MH2 8 foot 2 pc. Med Heavy Pro Glass trolling rods, and two SG27LCW Daiwa reels. I would like to try Fire Line but from the info I received I will have to use a heavier release on the planner boards, the OR-18 around $11.00 each. Am I right in assuming that I will need a total of 4 releases. Also will the St. Croix rods I am thinking about be two heavy of an action. Would I be better off with their 2 pc. 8.5 Med. Downrigger Rod. I would like a rod that I can feel the fish fight not just a winch to reel them in. Another question is the additional $$$ I will spend just to use the Fire Line worth it.After reading all the posts about trying to calibrate the reels with Backing and Fire Line, and worrying about having the proper rod with enough flex.Sometimes I think I would just be better off with a decent 8 or 8.5 med action Downrigger or Steelhead rod and spooling my reels with a good quality 10# mono Line. Seems like I would save money and aggravation.

What is Your Opinion ?????
Rick

[Moose]

Well, I'll tell you what I bought. Went to Gander Mountain and bought their GUIDE SERIES plannerboard rods $39.00.For the Fireline I was told to just wrap the line around the release once.

[ETT]

Fireline or any superbraid allows lures to run deeper and the finer line has less restriction on the lures action and thereby increases it by around 30% (quite noticable). The down side is YOU WILL LOOSE MORE FISH. Now there are days when you'l get 3 times the hook-ups on fireline and on those days, who cares if a few rip off. But when you don't need it or want it why hastle with it. If you're serious and want to have whatever it takes, you need both, but if you don't fish early (March and April) or late (Nov. & Dec.) you want need fireline very often.

You'll only need 1 snapper release for each board, but you should have an OR 16 (now called OR 19) for the back of each one also.

Sorry to be so complicated but you need to know.

[Big_Al]

If your specifically interested in St. Croix rods for small planers, check out the GT80M. It is a 1 piece, telescopic rod that retracts to about 6'5". This is their small planer specific rod. Works well long lining also. Coupled with the sg27 line counters, these are nice combos. I purchased 2 last fall and was very pleased with them.

Al

[luvtotroll]

For rods, I would go with the medium action St. Croix. The MH are a little heavy. I had four and sold them because of that. Since then I have also gone to the Gander Guide Series trolling rod. These rods have a nice soft tip but good back bone. Action similar to a good jigging rod. The price is much better.

For the planer boards you can use the clips that come with the boards, but I would buy the red OR-16 clips with the pin in the middle of the pad. You can then just wrap the Fireline around the clip and it will not slip or come out. If this does not work for you then you can buy the Or-18 clips.

As for Fireline. I would base that desicon on where you fish normally. If you need to get down to the bottom most of the time then Fireline is great for that. If you are in an area that has a lot of big fish, you are going to loose some. Also make sure you drags are loose when in the rod holders and tell people in your boat to not set the hook hard and fight the fish easy.
Fireline is a great product but it definately has its applications.
Let me know how and where you normally fish and I can give you more info on Firelione will help or hurt.

Scott

[perchjerker]

Cant say that I know more than any of the responders, but I will give you my 2 cents on the fireline question.

I use mono for my boards, I dont need the sensivity, I like the strech of mono, and the line diameter and depth issue doesnt bother me, I fish mostly in 25 ft or less in the shallow Michigna waters of the western basin. I use the fire line for my jigging only. Thats where it really shines for me. Have less problems with the releases on mono, and its easier to use my trolling bible, too.

[SUPERTROLLER]

RickK, you are probably better off going with the mono this year. You've got enough things to learn without worrying if Fireline is a problem or fits your needs. One thing I saw that nobody else suggested was about attaching the line to your releases on the boards. Make a loop in the line and give it several quick twists, open the jaws of the release and clamp it on the twisted area of the line. This allows the line to release more smoothly and will not damage the release pads as quickly as just allowing the mono to saw on the rubber release pads. Line also holds better in rough water. WHEN the rubber release pads become worn with a groove you can then decide whether to replace the pads or get new releases. This will be the time to decide if you want the Snapper (OR18) releases as a replacement and want to switch to Fireline.

I have used Fireline for 5 or 6 years and the ONE big advantage I like is that on my long lines I can tell immediately when I get weeds or junk on my lures. I spend a lot less time trolling around the lake with my lures fouled and more time fishing productively. You can also pull in a planer board and without unhooking it, feel if the lure is still fluttering at the end of your line. That being said, I think I'm going to try mono again this summer for a while just to see how much I miss Fireline. (I anticipate Fireline by July!)

[Backwater Eddy]

I like the new SUMO perch avitar Perchjerker.

:)

Backwater Eddy ~ ~><sUMo> ~ ><>

http://home.talkcity.com/ResortRd/backwtr1/index.html

[perchjerker]

LOL thanks Eddy. I try real hard to keep my image up!!
Not much else to do watching it snow on the second day of spring!