Planner Boards

[10,000 Casts]

I know this has been covered but what planner boards are you guys using for Grandmas and Jakes? I don't want to spool up a rod with mono but should I?

Thanks

[RK]

Hiya -

I use the orange Mr Walleye boards. I think they may be called something else now, but at any rate - the big orange ones. Best line clips, and adjustable so you can pull a 10" Jake and not bury the board.

I know guys that use braid for boards, but I much prefer mono. When a fish buries a board they can get a lot of leverage against it until you get the board to the boat and take it off. Mono is basically a big rubber band shock absorber. Once I hook a fish with mono, I don't lose many...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[HugoBox]

Hi Rob -

It was good to meet you at the TB sale. We were both in the same shoes with the little ones!

What pound mono do you use? Any brand preference?

thanks - Erik

[10,000 Casts]

Thanks RK, I know the orange ones you are talking about, I also know the offshores have a heavy duty clip that will work. I figure we will start with Braid and see how it goes, I'm not sure how much we'll troll untill early fall. If the braid is an issue than we'll spool up a reel with mono. All it will take is one lost fish...

Not to speak for him but I would guess 30LB Berkley Big Game or XT.

[RK]

Hey John -

Couple things:

- If you use braid, make a loop in the braid, hold the base of the loop, stick your finger in the top of the loop, and twist the bejeezus out of it, then clamp that in the release. The bumps in the twisted loop seem to help releases grip better sometimes.

- If you use Offshore boards, the OR-18 adjustable releases work pretty well with braid. They're about $15 a pop, but they work pretty well. Either those, or the OR-19s, which are the orange heavy duty releases.

- If you wait until fall to use boards, you're missing the best OW bite of the season. June, man...June...

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[RK]

Hugo -

Nice to see you there too. I think we were at the trout pond for two hours...

I use Berkely Big Game in either 20 or 25#. Don't worry about 20 being too light. The muskie hasn't been born you can't whip on 20 mono and a trolling rod. XT works too, but Big Game has a little more stretch, which you actually want in this case.

Cheers,

RK

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

- If you wait until fall to use boards, you're missing the best OW bite of the season. June, man...June...

Yes Sir, that's why I'm asking now!!! I'm heading down to the cities this afternoon and I plan to pick up a couple of boards for June trolling.

[10,000 Casts]

I ended up getting the offshore boards, I am going to replace the plastic bolt with a metal one and I got the heavy duty clips to replace the light ones it came with. TB had some larger Church's boards that we for leadcore and dipsys and what but I didn't want to take a chance on them.

[nater]

John,

Last opener we tested the open water trolling thing for a handful of hours. I used the offshore boards with the OR-19's and the board held up a 14" jake. Barely but it did it. The 14" jake did get hit but no hooks, maybe mono would have helped from what Rob has said. I don't have a dedicated trolling setup so I'll stick with braid.

On the clip, file down the plastic post and wrap the line around that twice for a stronger hold. Easy enough to unwrap when its coming in.

I'll be putting more time in this year with the cooler water for sure.

[RK]

Hiya -

The one thing I dislike about big Jakes and Grandmas is that you lose a lot of fish on them, especially if the water's warm and they jump. You end up with a big hole in the water with a Jake sitting in the middle of it, and no fish. Doesn't seem to happen as much in cold water when they're less prone to going airborne.

Honestly though, most of my OW fish come on pretty small baits - probably caught more on a Bomber Long A than anything else. Sledge jerkbaits, Hell Hounds, Ernies, Wileys and Big Game cranks are good too. I have a couple Sebile's I'm looking forward to trying this season.

[HugoBox]

Hiya -

The one thing I dislike about big Jakes and Grandmas is that you lose a lot of fish on them, especially if the water's warm and they jump. You end up with a big hole in the water with a Jake sitting in the middle of it, and no fish. Doesn't seem to happen as much in cold water when they're less prone to going airborne.

Honestly though, most of my OW fish come on pretty small baits - probably caught more on a Bomber Long A than anything else. Sledge jerkbaits, Hell Hounds, Ernies, Wileys and Big Game cranks are good too. I have a couple Sebile's I'm looking forward to trying this season.

Hi Rob -

Do you pull Sledges behind boards as well? I love this bait but have mostly casted it. Interesting to think of using it other ways.

Thanks - Erik

[10,000 Casts]

We mainly pull the 9" cranks. But my buddy just picked up a 13" model of our favorite one so I know he'll want to test her out.. My thinking is that the 14"+ cranks work better on Shield lakes with big ciscos and lakers etc so we pull mor 9"ers. I figure we'll have a 13" and a 9" on the boards and have a cowgirl behind a cannon ball out the back.

Hugo, I have heard of many a muskie caught casting over 40'-100'+ over open water, the key is finding them..

[RK]

Hugo - Sledges are great behind boards, or in the prop wash. Great hookers, and durable as all get out. Pretty underrated bait. The only jerkbait in the world that's better in weeds than a Suick.

10k, I use smaller baits in part because that's the size ciscoes I see jumping when I'm OW trolling. Plus I do think they keep hooked better.

I know a guide in WI who specializes in casting for open water muskies all summer. He does very, very well.

[10,000 Casts]

Quote:

10k, I use smaller baits in part because that's the size ciscoes I see jumping when I'm OW trolling. Plus I do think they keep hooked better.

are you talking Bomber Long A size here? Walker Bay first came to mind when you said that, We have trolled some #9 Shad Raps through them and caught some nice walleyes and I know the Muskies can't be far behind.

[RK]

10K -

I think they're technically the Bomber Magnum Long A. I cast 'em, troll 'em behind boards... Great little baits. Yeah, Walker Bay is a good example of the size I'm talking about. Little silver hot dogs...