CHURCH OR OFFSHORE BOARDS

[manitobawalleye]

I am making the plunge and buying some boards. I would like opinions on which make I should buy, from people who have used both. I would probably use 1/2 doz. times a year, mostly pulling cranks. Off-Shore will run me $128 with tax for 2, or Church
will run me $68 with tax. They will be connected to Spiderline Fusion. I am familiar with Church, but are the flags worth the extra $60.
Thanks in advance.
manitobawalleye

[ETT]

It depends on how you fish, where you fish, and for what size fish. If you use smaller lures at any part of the season or spinners with crawlers, the flags are almost a must. If your around weeds, junk fish, trash in the water or you like to "tic" bottom, the flags will let you know when you've picked up something. If fish in the 13 -16inch range are present in your fishery, the flags will stop you from dragging them all over the lake.

I quess, said the other way unless you fish open water all the time, with big cranks for big fish the flags are very important.

They are designed to assist in "reading the boards" which, as a beginner, makes them that much more worthwhile for you.

90% of my fishing is on Erie, the other 10% is on Indian Lake (a small inland lake with saugeyes) the Off-shore boards with Tattle flags are adoptable enough for me to use them either place with perfect results.

The new Snapper releases are the other thing you need for Fussion. That's another 8 bucks per board. But you might as well be set up right the first time, and bypass the frustration section of learning to troll with boards.

If you don't have Precision Trolling by Mark Romanac.. GET IT. That's the fisrt 25 bucks any troller should spend.

Good luck

[Huck]

I fish Erie from Ice out to Ice up and use in line boards trolling many miles and lots of Eyes. I have used most all of the boards on the market and for the money you can't beat the Church boards. Take them out of the package tighten the clips down as tite as you can using braided line and go fishing. Once you learn to read the boards the flages are extra baggage and expense. You have to watch on here cause Offshore sponsors many tournys and pros which is good because they do make a good product.But for the money and the ease of using them Church is my choice, my Offshores are my spares now.My 2 cents HUCK

[Boatnut]

I second Huck's views. I bought offshore boards first time and Church the second time. Church's are much easier to hookup/unhook especially by yourself. I bought another pair of church's and also put church clips on my offshore boards.
Mike(boatnut)

[James Morris]

What good could come of a person who doesn't say that their sponsored by offshore promoting their boards on the site? None, it's not like they get a comission for every time they say off-shore on here. Most likely, the people sought out a sponsorship from off-shore b/c they really liked the boards in the first place and wanted to get them at a discount, heck- when i go pro they're on my list of people to talk to. My point is, wy does being sponsored by a company make a person less believable? It shouldn't, b/c if a person is sponsored by a company and only supports that company's products regardless of the quality of that product, no one will believe that person and their representing of the sponsor becomes fruitless- in other words, there is no reason for a sponsored person to lie about the comparison of two products.

Personally, I've never tried church boards or clips, so I have no idea if they're better than off-shore or not. All I know is that I own off-shore boards and have no reason to try anything else at this time: they run true, they are modifiable/customizable, they stay on the line (mono or super), and they don't flip in 5 footers- I guess I'll try something new when I see something outperforming them, but until that point I'm sticking with what works.

James Morris

[James]

If only it were that simple...
A lot, i repeat a lot of anglers who call them selves "pro's" really aren't. A few companies give them products at discount and all of a sudden there a pro? NO!
A lot of these anglers will take a discount product from any company out there, and aren't aware of the proper ethics of promoting products. They will slam the competitors (even if they've never tried there products), and build up the company trhey work for.
A true pro get's thousands a year from sponsors, and seminars etc. and is able to make a living fishing, they have tried all the products, and know the advantage's and disadvantages of each.. They don't have a couple other jobs, they are a pro FISHERMAN. Hopefully when you "Go Pro" you will promote your companies well, and do it right!

Good Luck,

James

[Fish Info AL]

I have 6 offshore. Never tried anything else. Yellow with red flags. Can see pretty well. I have two with the trip flags. Run them as far out as I can get them. 250 FEET. Flags work even on little fish. Solved some of the little fish problem, when it happens. Went to Berkley Power Bait rubber worms with scent, on worm harness or stingers. Little fish hit the end and don't get to the hook. Kept track of real worms VS. rubber, plastic, or whatever they are, over last year, fishing on lake Erie. Almost 60% of Walleyes were taken on the Berkley worms when running equal number of real worms against plastic. Instead of a little fish biting off the end of your worm and running, he is chewing on the end of a piece of plastic. This is not an endorsement for Berkley. Use what ever you want. This appears to have cut down on the little fish problem and appears to have increased my walleye catch. You think the price of gas went up, check out the price of real worms.

[Eyefish]

Can anybody give me the web site for Church boards or a address so I can get a catalog?
Thanks, Eyefish

[James Morris]

You're right, I was being a bit idealistic (I have a tendency to do that). Maybe all we need to do is be skeptical of all opinions unless we have prior experience with a person to base their comment on? I guess, just be skeptical of consensus opinions if they are all stated at the same time to avoid the "bandwagon effect."

I'd love to be able to go pro someday, but most likely I'll be a semi-pro with professional standards.

Thanks for keepin' me honest-

James Morris

[James Morris]

I looked it up for ya- http://www.churchtackle.com/

Tell us what you think of them after this season, I'm sure a lot of people are curious as to their relative performance.

James Morris

[jerkbt]

I use offshore but if you are going to use a fusion line.I would get the new OR18 flip open clips.You do not have to wrap the line and are easy to use even when your fingers are numb.Otherwise I would consider church.

[SUPERTROLLER]

I don't often disagree with ETT but this time I have to partially disagree with a qualification. I don't think he is suggesting the Off-Shore boards just because he may or may not be sponsored by them. He really does use and like that board. Where I disagree, is whether a guy that uses his boards 6 times a yr. needs to go with the extra expense. If you spent the extra cash and found yourself liking the available option of trolling more frequently and in more different ways with other lures, then I could justify the added expense. But if you are sure that you'll not be using them very often, go with the Church boards and releases and they will certainly do the job for you. I would worry less about the boards and more about which release will work for you. The Church Releases work great on the super lines. If you go with Off-Shore, get the Snapper releases. I use Wille boards with Snapper releases and love my combo, but since you want info on Church and Off-Shore, I limited my comments to them. I am not a pro angler or sponsored by any board company.

[ifish4eyes]

I have offshore boards, but some of the things I have heard about them. Some Church runners add an offshore flag to there boards. Some offshore runners add Roach clips. Tattle flags are nice option, ( I made my own and saved 25 bucks). Neither have the best of both worlds. Buy whats on sale and modify accordingly. LP

[JBL]

Since we are talking about offshore boards, I got to use mine for the first time today. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, but the front of the board kept riding up and the tattle flag would stay almost all the way down, rendering it pretty much useless. Had the spring on the flag in the strongest setting too. Is the deep diving reef runner just applying too much pressure to the rear of the board? Was trolling fairly slow, 1.2- 1.6mph. I gave up on the boards, marked most fish from 28 feet and down, and needed a deep diving lure.

I did see a lot of guys using yellow boards with red flags today, most I've ever seen at Erie. Saw one boat with 8 boards out!

[Mr T]

I've used Church boards, Willie boards and Yellow Birds. So I'm no expert on Off Shore boards though I have used their releases. That said, I like the Church boards best of all. I run a lot of super lines when trolling cranks. Church boards hold fast and run true even in big waves. While I have never used "Tattle Flags" to me a guy just plain has to learn to read his boards. Tattle Flags or not. There is no short cut to getting out and learning how to read boards by watching them. Time on the water is where you learn. I don't think their is any other good way. One thing's for sure, you are smart to start using boards, whatever the brand. They help you catch more fish. Only wish I'd have started using them 15 years ago.

[Juls_WI]

Reefrunners will put more resistance on the board than a shallow diving lure, and the boards will run with the noses in the air a little bit more, but it doesn't effect the boards performance. Since you fish Erie and the Tattle Flags are not really needed for the big fish you have out there, a simple solution is to attach the back clip to the eye that is on the front side of the board (in the back), and run the boards without the Tattle option. When you fish, and the Tattle is needed, just put it back on the wire the Flag is attached to.

On Erie, there is never a doubt when you have a fish on. You lucky lucky fishermen! ;-)

Juls

[Link]

I run offshores with the tattle tail flag. As mentioned earlier, they help you see weeds you've caught as well as the small shakers. If your so inclined, could save the 10$ per board for the tattle tail by making them yourself. Not very complicated at all. E-mail me at Lance@up.net for info.

[sib]

i enjoyed the article and wanted to say nice pump of walleye central! i was @ gander Mt picking up some back up boards for $17.99 a couple weeks back and grabbed the newsletter to give it a read. there you were and next to your name, bolded i might add, www.walleyecentral.com. you were touting it as an excellent resource in becoming a better angler. that's why this non-pro who just wants to boat more eyes comes here. once again, nice plug for the walleye central folks.

"go outside and play"
sib

[ETT]

The post asked for information from people familiar with Church and Off-Shore, and I have used both. I am on the Off-Shore National Team. I am proud to be and would not ever try to hide that fact. I do not believe in bad mouthing a competitors product, and didn't.
As a promotional fisherman, I have to make decisions, all the time as to my personal credibility and my responsibility to my sponsors. The only way for me to work this out is to work only with companies whose products I believe in and use. And that is exactly what I do.
Come to the big tournaments, where national pros are fishing for thousands of dollars, and see what color boards they run. If you think they aren't using what they believe to be the best available, you'd better rethink the situation.
As someone promoting himself to potential sponsors, my credibility is crutial. Each and everyone person reading this post and every other that I have put on this, and other boards, has their own decision to make as how believable and trust worthy I am. If you think, I'm going to sacrifice my good name on the alter of blind sponsor loyalty, well there's something else for you to rethink!!!
To JBL: the springs that came with the boards are properly designed for slower speeds and easier pulling lures, rigs or harnesess. For deep diving lures and Erie speeds heavier sprins are required. I've used and seen recomended C-73 springs as available from HWI stores, but really I like the C-63s that are heavier still. (I like to fish fast)
Sorry for the length of the post, I was going to ignore the comments, but decided I needed to explain myself.
No offence taken, and none meant. I believe all the posters where being sincere and honest.
To Supertroller, I may agree with your point as to expense, but I'm conservative by nature and I know too many who even if they only golf twice a year, still see the need for the latest and greatest clubs.
Amen. Semon over.
You know he could start with one of each and make his own mind up, and save us all this hastle. LOL.. that would be too easy.

[Juls_WI]

Thanks Sib!

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I can tell you this...if it weren't for Scott Golden's genius, in creating Walleye Central, and a select bunch of great folks who visit this site, I wouldn't be doing what I am today. I like to give credit where credit is due, and plugging Walleye Central is pretty easy, because I also think this is the greatest walleye fishing site on the internet. Where else can you meet so many walleye hounds, and share information and friendships? I think that's pretty "cool"! ;-)

I'll take your advice now, and go outside and play. Have a great day!

Juls

[JBL]

Juls, ETT and others, thanks for the good tips. I'll second sib's comment about how valuable this message board is for good information.

ETT: I'm not familiar with HWI, what does that stand for? I think I'd like to pick up some of those heavier springs since most of my trolling is at Erie, in the meantime will take Juls suggestion of just bypassing the flag connection in favor of the eyelet.

[ETT]

HWI is just one of those hardware co-op buyers groups (like Ace or True Value). They all have a good selection of springs. Get ones that are about the same diameter and length but stiffer.
The numbers may or may not match. Good luck.

[Eric Olson]

Well Folks,
Had to add my 2 cents worth on this.

1) Offshore boards will work well with Reef Runners. Simply put the curved part of the spring over the flag arm instead of through the normal hole in the arm. This allows more leverage and will not let even The deep Reef's pull the flag down except in a bite situation. This was extremely effective on Erie 2 wks ago.
2) I don't mean to disagree with Juls but... Not all the fish we caught on Erie were aggressive.( maybe they were for you Juls ;-) ) That was where the Tattles Shined!!! As soon as we saw a flag waver we were able to reel down on the fish before it had a chance to spit the lure.

I think I have several believers, Carl my Am partner saw how they were used, and Jason and I ALWAYS use them.

That's my 2 cents... Can't thank you enough for the time...

Tight Lines
Big Fish
Eric Olson

[Juls_WI]

Thanks for that reminder Eric. I forgot that little trick, since I have been using other people's boards as of late. Some of my boards are still set up "your way" from last year..;-)

I prefer to keep the Tattle Flags in use all the time too. Bruce showed me the change over method while we were down there two weeks ago, and we used them that way while prefishing. That's why I mentioned it.

Juls

[Mr T]

ETT,
I for one have enjoyed reading about the preferences of anglers as to the type of Boards they pull and why. How else can we learn so quickly, except through the experiences of others? Someone asking a question, at least in my opinion is not creating an "all this hassle" kind of situation. If I misunderstood your answer then I stand corrected and appoligize.

[eyefish]

Offshore boards are the best all around and the tattle tail flag are well worth the money. Not only for knowing if a fish is on but knowing if your pulling a fouled lure as well.

[jerkbt]

Hey,Eric use my e mail and send an adress will send you some pics from on Erie. Karl

[JCarp]

Another two cents...Offeshores excel on big water and pulling big deep divers. I use Church clips (on metal arm boards just flatten the metal tab and use a lockwasher, on the newer boards w/plastic arms just attach the church clip upside down on the bottom side of the arm). I bought my 1st 2 tattle flags and made the last two. My opinion -The tattle flag kit is over priced. I have Willies snapper releases (which appear to be the same as the Offshore ones) and love them for heavy snap weight applications, but would not select them over Church clips for boards. For me, Church clips are faster to use + less expensive.

I have used Willies, Yellow Birds, Offshore, Church boards, and a few others. I currently use Offshores, but if I only fished small waters and/or only spinners or non-deep diving or small diving crankbaits, I would buy the Church boards. In my opinion, they are way easier to read that non-tattle flag Offshores.

For slightly heavier tattle flag springs, I'm happy with carb return springs bought at a auto parts store (no part #). That store never heard of C-73 springs and I just grabbed what was available.

Best Wishes

[manitobawalleye]

thats what i like about this place, thanks for all the replies...
i have still not decided 100%. a few of you asked for more info so i will become a little long winded...
first i do have church snap weights, precision trolling #5, a daiwa line counter, and also use winnebago walleye ultimate depth control... i will not be fishing clear lake erie... the water i will be fishing is stained to dirty... winnipeg river north of kenora down to various depths... lake winnipeg at pinefalls 12 to 18' deep mostly shad raps,hotntots,jr tsticks in dirty water,
lake manitoba over sand 12' dirty water pulling husky jerks at night, spinners in the light on snap weights.... also a shallow prairie lake 10' with floaters in june speed trolling over the weed tops ,,,
i do not plan on catching small fish"eh" and i doubt i will contour troll the weed edge, for deeper fish in the winnipeg river i will probably not need the boards, and the other thing is up here in manitoba and ontario one rod per...
heres another question i was going to pull with one of my 7'med/heavy graphite to test but will probably buy a cheap rhino or quantum
8'-8'6 length.... do i use medium or medium heavy with either board and fusion
thanks again guys/gals
ps, to one of you, crawlers are lots here also
i almost always pull powerbait and am not tied to berkeley