Ins and outs of using braided line when using planer boards?

[congenialjerry]

How about your experinence using braided line when trolling with planer boards. I'm using Off Shore boards and braided line (40#) is slipping out of the releases. Any ideas, suggestions or comments. Thanks, Jerry

[J White]

Are you running the tattle-flags? Reason I ask, is that if you are, you
should already have the red OR-16 releases - if not, get you some of those
and double wrap the line through the front clip - that usually does
the trick for most folks

I really recommend the tattle flags for crappie - lots of times they will swim
up and grab ahold, keep swimming with it. Just enough to make the flag
bobble a little. Not enough to make the board sag back like a big walleye
or something. And I'm pretty sure sometimes they can manage to spit it
out if you don't realize what's going on and start reeling.

[congenialjerry]

Hey Jeff thanks for the info. and the article you wrote on trolling. I've been trolling for stripers and hybrids for over 15 yrs. using downriggers and planer boards but never for crappie. I recently bought a place at Mansard Island on the Big Sandy (Ky. Lake) and am trying to get in to crappie trolling. I use your exact same set-up for stripers as you do crappie-2 lines out back and 2 side planers out port and 2 out starboard. I've used the off-shore boards since they came out and they are the old ones without the tattle flags and the snaps are OR14 so I need to update. I read on Walleye.Com forum the other night that they suggested OR18 for braided lines-do you believe they are too strong for crappie if so I'll get the OR16 as you suggest. In your article you used the Ugle Stick 7' medium action with Diawa line counter reels. I had the reels but you forced me to buy the rods. I like the rod/reel combo. I haven't really started the Bandit arsenal yet and hope you can hope you could give me some colors to get started. Also can I just buy 300's and adjust depth with line length or do I need 200's as well? Thanks for your help. I appreciate it a lot. Jerry

[J White]

Hey, sounds like you've got more seat time trolling than me

but the ? about the OR 18 - I bought one just to try after reading so
much about them, I just can't really warm up to the thing, never did
like it and took it off. As far as being too strong, naw, I'm just used to the
other ones and it was just awkward to me unsnapping the 18.
And it did not seem to want to adjust, the screw did not want to turn.
It still slipped, so I said heck, if I'm still gonna have to double wrap,
might as well use the 16's instead of forking over the $$$ for 18's.

I'm usually by myself, so I have to be able to work the clips one-handed -
it's quite a dance to get the board off without letting the line go slack
by yourself I use the method, don't remember exactly what they call it,
but such that none of my releases "pop" with the fish - I reel board up in
reach, squeeze front then back, then lay board down in the boat.

Some folks rave over the Church brand releases, but I've never tried them
either.

Sent ya a pm on the other stuff, Jeff

[congenialjerry]

Thanks Jeff, I'll take the advise you gave me. Makes sence to me. I don't think I can go wrong following the man that wrote the book. Jerry

[crappiekid24]

What releases are you using? Never have had a problem with slipping when trolling on Lake Michigan. Us planner boards all the time out there.

[congenialjerry]

When Off-Shore boards first came out the ones I bought had OR 14 releases and they are too weak for braided line, at least the way I've always used them. I would welcome any suggestions you have if I'm not setting them correctly. Thanks for te post. Jerry

[crappiekid24]

Might just be the pads on the releases are worn down. Now do you want to board to release or not?

[congenialjerry]

On stripers and hybrids I like my boards to release but on crappie I want the board to stay with the fish and release the board manually at the boat. What do you have in mind. Thanks for the interest. Jerry

[barn dog]

Or18 releases are designed to be used with braided , leadcore and mono they have a tension adjustment I use OR16 and when using braided I just wrap the first snap once. The tattle tale flags are a must for crappie or where you have other small fish so you can see the light hit and if your dragging a fish or weeds. Walleye Central has the best prices for the boards and snaps and tattle tail flags. The flag kit comes with OR16 releases. I troll alot on Table Rock and get some strange looks with the boards out. I,m also teaching some others about boards and snap weights systems.

RICK