Big boards or in-line boards?

[Dave B]

I have a fairly nice setup of a planer board mast and the big Riviera planer boards. I've fished often with Offshore inline boards and I'm now considering buying a set of four (two port, two starboards). My questions: which do you feel are better? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Should I just spend my $150 on something else? I like to troll for walleyes on places like Saginaw Bay and Holloway Resevoir. I also like to troll for salmon, etc. on Lake Huron and Lake Michigan.

[JimRK]

Both methods have an advantage. A couple of us fisherpeople in Wisc. will use either one depending on conditions. If we are fishing big water fishing deep, either will work. If we are fishing high in the water column or shallow water, we use the inline boards. You can run your lure 10 - 30ft behind the board and then let the board out as far away as necessary.
Let the conditions and water clarity guide you as when to use either method. I like using the big boards on Lake Winnebago when the wind is up and we are running 3 lines on each side of the boat - easier for my buddy and I to control.
If you can afford it - use both. Makes you and your boat that much more versatile.
Happy Fishing

[Gillman911]

I have gravitated to the the point of using Offshore boards 100 % of the time. With inline boards you know the exact distance of line out from the surface to your lure which is critical to the depth your lures are running. Winnebago is my home body of water and they work fine in all conditions. I almost always troll with the wind especially if its rough. Thats my 2 cents worth. Good luck.