Erie - In Line Boards

To the Erie Faithful,
For the past 3 season we have fished without a planner board system. Used to have one, but sold it with the previous boat. We have had decent sucess fishing Dipsy's only, but I think I'm missing out on a few more fish per trip. I am consindering purchasing a couple of inline boards to add to our spread. I know from past experience wave height has allot to due with what you can and can't get away with. I would appreciate some feed back on what others are using as far as inline boards and what are the limitations? I plan on using a pair of 7' trigger rods to run these boards. The reels are currently spooled with the Cabela's ripcord braided line. I also have two baitcasters spooled with 12lb mono that I could employ. Also, I would like to pull Jets off these boards. Your comments please.
Kevin on "Born Again" - out <><

If money's no object - go with the Offshore's with the Tattle Flags and the replacement OR-18 clips. The new clips will stand up to the bigger waves and hold the Ripcord well. At retail, this set-up will cost you about $54 per board (ouch).

Kevin,
I am in the same boat. Lots of success with dipsey's, but only played a little with a couple small willie in-line boards. I hear time after time of success with jets behind boards. I have 2 off-shore in-line boards with tattle tell flags, just purchased for this weekend. I'll let you know how they do.
Jay
Voyageur 1

[Lundy]

I've use off shore planer boards and jet 20 divers and they've been working real well for walleye.
You should'nt have any problems at all.If you have a copy of precision trolling it will tell you how much line out for the desired depth.
Good Luck :-)

[groovymoe]

I have 2 Off-shore boards and here is my 2 cents worth. I still out produce the boards by long linning 10 to 1. I know that part of this is due to my inexperience with this tool because I'm quick to pull the trigger on a technique that is not productive for me. I am still experementing with the boards though, so I haven't given up on them yet. I have caught some nice fish off of them though, and found it pretty cool how the set-up works. Good fishing, and don't expect to get good with them overnight.

I have both Roach "Mr. Walleye" boards and the Off-Shore boards with the tattletale flags. My Roach boards have not been out of storage since I bought the Off-Shore boards. I've used the Off-Shore boards with success on Erie with snap weights, but have not used them with divers. Good luck.

[Bob Z]

Kevin, I also use Dipseys and spoons when fishing alone or with another person on board. Very effecteive way for me to fish. I also have OffShore boards with flags and use them on occasion. I double wrap the 10lb Fileline I use for trolling cranks. (once you get used to it it's like tying your shoe laces, you don't even think about it)

I think the best tactic for the OffShore board is looking for the fish high in the water column. I put on a shallow diving crankbait and put it behind the board 40 - 50 ft. and move it well away from the boat. Always exciting to see that board start dancing and moving back behind the boat. With success on the first board I will then duplicate the set up on the other side of the boat.

[Pitts]

Groovymoe are you talking in deeper water?? My experience is not on Erie and my favorite place to pull boards is the edge and tops of shallow flats at night and the boards easily out produce the long lines on the boat 2 to 1. Do you do the long sweeps with the long lines Iv'e heard this is a killer on eyes so I started doing it to help on my percentage on the long lines.
The only reason I think the boards out produce is the fish in clear shallow water that I fish see or hear the boat going by so they spook to the side and there goes the baits by about that time and wham sometimes sinking the board totally underwater.
I also really like how wide my trolling path is when I pull them.

have fun

Pitts

[groovymoe]

Pitts:
I might be making a mistake after reading some of the posts. I have been trying to run worm harnesses off the boards down deep. If these are indeed a more shallow water tool, how do guys run dipsey', and jet's off of them? As for your question about pumping, or sweeping the long lines, I feel it makes all the diiference in the world. As an example, I took 2 guys out with me on 8/5 and they waited until the score was 4 to nothing before they started pumpnig rods. After they got the hint, it didn't take long to boat the other 14 and go home. Good Luck

Groovymoe

I run Offshore boards. Use 3 oz. snap weights. The further away from the boat the better. I got the long line stats back up to the boards by long lining out, adding a big bobber and letting it out another 100-150 feet. I believe fish scatter from the direction the boat is going and fill in the void created behind the boat, 200 foot back or more. You have made them move and they are active fish then, more suceptable to a bite. Worked the bugs out of a system to use Offshore boards for Salmon. I can not use either use 4-6 oz. weight or the Deep Six Divers. Really like the Deep Six Divers. Good for up to 200 feet deep. They work. By using a big styrofoam 2 1/2 bobber behind the Offshore board. Acts as a floating trailer. Using the bobber, the bobber is fairly neutral balance with this must down pressure. Easy to detect a strike. Use Offshore snaps to hook the bobber to the line. Easy take off, when bringing in. I believe the bobber helps in hook set. We are still discussing this aspect to death. Also use clip on lures somewhere on the line to double the amount of lures in the water. Fishing productivity goes way up. A lot of equipment to handle, but once you get a system set up, it is a lot of fun. There is no doubt in my mind, in clear water, get away from the boat noise, etc., the offshore boards system works 2 to 1 and bigger fish. Long lineing with bobbers off the back helped bring this back in line. By staggering the long line bobbers off back of the boat, you can make sharp turns as the bobbers go over and under each other in turns.