Well after having had success using those fine planer boards that fine family sold me....I decided that this technique needed to be explored a little more. The rods I used were not what was needed or very useful for the purpose. So I did a little figuring and read a little about how them walleye fellers do things.

I wanted everything to be the same so as that make it easy for me to keep track of what I am doing. Making small changes and testing one new idea against the other, while all the rods remain in an equal fashion. I read that planer boards like a fiberglass rod that has some stiffness to it, but also some flex so that it will give when the waves pull at it. I experienced some of that wave action when the winds picked up last time. I also wanted a rod that was inexpensive, of course, and found a matching set of 4 ten footers on Ebay for $80. These will be good starter rods for me. I know everybody uses shorter rods for this but I wanted longer. I want to be able to lift the fish into the boat without having to stop and remove the planer board. I add weights when I need more depth and 8 feet behind the boards seems to work pretty good. Also, that extra rod length will help with running the boards as they want the line to reach out to them without touching the water.

Obviously needed 4 new reels so I got to reading about how that all goes. Currently I am using Okuma Classics on my 16’ Jenko spider rods, but they are definitely overkill. I had tried spinning reels but I was stripping line by hand to adjust depths, and that made the line wrap around the tips of the rods every time I went to deploy. Coils-O-Death !!!! So those four reels will become my new reels for planer board fishing and will be perfect for that. I do not feel that I need line counting reels as I can easily look out and see the boards and judge distances. The Okumas only cost $50 each and are known for their reliability and endurance over the years.

So.....now the spider rods need new reels.....hmmmmmm......I know that I don’t want spinners. I saw the little play type reels that some use as line holders and such. $15 specials. Nope that would be a simple waste of money. I mean they probably are perfect for some but for me I can see nothing but frustration. Read about the ice fishing reels- “In Line Reels” but again looked like I would be exchanging one set of issues for another new set.

So I read HERE where many HERE like low profile bait casters for the task, as they are small and light and have thumb bars. This thumb bar feature was mentioned as an advantage as when if the line is only sticking out of the rod tip five feet, that leaves the fish eleven feet away during a simple lifting event. Currently I am using my off hand to actuate the spool release, but can see where a thumb bar would eliminate the need for two sets of fingers being involved. So I spent some time looking looking and wanting cheap devils with thumb bars. Amazon sells a lot of cheap Chinese junk, and anything with a name that I cannot spell or pronounce is probably not good. Then there were lots of American sounding names that were just that, American names for cheap Chinese junk. The reviews are a give away for me. When I see reviews with lots of pictures and flowery guarantees of high quality....click away quick.

So I ordered up some Quantum Invades. These are said to be very reliable and durable and have the thumb bar release thingie and were only $40 each. So they will go on the spider rods.

I have toyed around with various mono lines as well. Tried Vicisous didn’t care for it. Tried Stren didn’t care for the lack of Hi-Vis in their Hi-Vis. Tried Mr Crappie and that seemed pretty good. But seriously, the old tried and true line from my surf casting days is my favorite. BassPro Shop’s Off Shore Tight Line in yellow- 12lb test. The stuff simply glows and refuses to wrap around the rod tips. I can recommend it to you no problemo. Good stuff.

I plan to start trying 1/8 ounce jigs now. Been using 1/16 and 1/32 sizes exclusively. I figure a little bigger will be useful for dragging behind the planer boards. Grizzly Jigs has Minnow Headed jig heads, and I got some 1/16 and also 1/8 ounce sizes. The larger size will also allow me to paint them unusual colors and such. More room to add Slab Sauce capture materials and such. Currently liking those car wash mitten thingies and have posted some pictures for you in the jig making forum. LOL- Them fellers seem to tolerate me and I don’t know why.

Called the local boating center to get my Yamaha 115 SHO engine it’s 20 hour break in oil change and evaluation thing done. They never called me back. When I finally called back and got someone, the first question was.....”Did you buy the boat from us ?”- No I said and she told me three months to get scheduled. Ridiculous that they are allowed to advertise Yamaha anything on their windows. No way they are three months booked. So it will be a two hour trip back to the dealer where I bought the boat, who will do the work while I eat lunch. Amazing. He laughed when I said that I bought the boat back before Christmas. He wanted to know why I wasn’t using it. I said that the poor trolling motor is about wore out. LOL



Anyways, I wanted to thank you guys yet again for the assistance you have offered me- free of charge even. Thanks. I am getting better.