Trolling on Strawberry

[Papasan]

I have buddy that has a real fishing boat but sometimes my wife and I like to go out on Strawberry in a comfortable pontoon boat. Do you think using planer boards would increase success? I have the capability of trolling quite a ways back but wonder if the engine noise is still spooking fish?
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[RBF]

Noise is noise. I don't think the planers in and of themselves will make the difference, relative to flat lines behind the boat, on a day when the fish are skittish.

I think a different way to think about the planer boards is they allow users to spread out coverage of the horizontal water column. Where you might fish two poles behind the boat without planers, with planers you might fish a pole (or more) on each planer in addition to the two behind the boat -- kind of like mowing your lawn with a wider lawn mower.

Therefore, on a slow day planers are a good tactic to increase your odds of a strike because you can have more lines in the water -- and they allow you to increase the number of presentations on a day you are trying to dial in on what is working.
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[beavercreek]

I agree with what you are thinking, especially in the spring when the water temps are cold fish are shallower the boat is going to spook fish out away from the boat more if the fish are 10 to 20 ft down then if they are 40 to 50 ft.
we have used planner boards at strawberry and flaming gorge in the spring for kokes with good success.also when long lining we go at least 100ft out the back to give the fish a chance to come back in behind the boat once it passes.
good luck
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[Papasan]

Thanks, love the wider lawnmower analogy-brett
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[ZugBug]

We use planner boards early in the year when the fish are shallow with good results. Once the fish get around 20 feet deep they seem less affected by the boat/noise, But side planners will still work. The only problem is the depth you are fishing is more of a guess, not nearly as precise as with down riggers. Hope this helps
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[PACMEN]

I like the idea of spreading out with boards. I hate mowing the lawn so a wide mower is my style. (takes from fish time) Who would of thought mowing would help with fishing?
I am going to build a couple of them. I'm not real keen on the idea of the small ones one the line. Seems like I'd be dragging and retrieving quite a bit of junk.
I don't know as I have never used them but all I can figure is boards would only be good when the fish are shallow.
If there is a way to get a bit of depth I would love to hear about it.
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[beavercreek]

You can get some depth with deep diving crank baits. we have also used banana slip sinkers with a swivel to stop it back as far as you want from you lure.
as far as the planner boards themselves im not a fan of inline planner boards for the reasons you mentioned. I built 2 - 26" wood boards with a mast to run them off of. fish hits and you just fight the fish not the planner board to, a lot funner.
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