planer board

[stripernut]

9.5 X 3.5 X .34 inch offshore angler boards cover live bait slow trolling and power trolling hair jigs and smaller shallow running minnow plugs, you can also slow troll walleye harness rigs. i have tried to make boards out of wood before and all i can tell you is they didnt track the same with the same exact pattern as the next board. and you have to go heavy with the wood sealant, if you dont the board will start to absorb water and that cahnges the track as well. i would really appreciate it if you let me know how this works out for you. p.s. i used seasoned white cedar wood.

[easmallie]

Never thought of making my own, but that's a great ideal, as they cost about 20 bucks each... Have 4 of 'em... Only saving grace, unlike my $40 dollar umbrella rigs, I've never lost a planer board....LOL I have both offshore SST and Walleye boads same size, just like the pin release better on the Walleye one...

[kygorski]

The wood boards used on erie and the other great lakes are great! But you need a mast system to use them. I used them on cumberland when I moved here from northern indiana, but its a lot of trouble if you fish alone like I do. I like the off shore boards on inland lakes, might also consider the ones that work on either side just by making an adjustment. I think willy makes them. All of the boards require a pretty stout rod and good rod holders.With the mast boards you can troll anything you wish, they track well, there are plams on making them on the web.

[kyjake]

I have plenty of popular and cedar to work with.My first attempt might not be good as I am completely new to using boards and any wood used will be hard to seal.Have looked at several plans on the web and have some idea of design.Instead of using a mast will use a couple broken rods sawed off a few inches above the handle and use some larger Penn reels with heavy line or cord to pull them from holders on the front of the boat with the rods with lures on the rear.Aiming mainly at walleye but if I make it to Cumberland might try for stripers.Have plenty spare time so might make a couple sets,one small one for walleye here and another larger for Erie and the gulf where I do troll from rod holders.
Thanks for the replies,
Jake

[kygorski]

If you have the spare reels, the mast should work better than rod holders.Nice thing about the mast is you can troll several lines from the same board.We would usually troll 4 lines from two boards. Plus with the mast lighter tackle was used. The one thing I worried about on cumberland was boats coming to close to you if you had a wide spread. On lake michigan that wasn't a problem.

[kyjake]

Two is all I want to handle for a start,will try it with what I have and see if it works out.Hope to get them done soon as I fish all winter as long as I can find both air and water temperature above 40f.If it don't work out will remove the center seat from the boat and try a mast.
Jake