Planer Board Help

[870Express]

I just got a planer board and have a couple questions:

How much line should i let out behind the board? I am using 14lb mono with lipless raps or spoons. I'd like to get the raps down about 15' and the spoons 7'-8'.

How far out from the boat do you want the board? Is it personal preference or is there a definate distance?

Thanks, all suggestions are appreciated.

[RK]

Hiya 870 -

Couple thoughts... If you're targeting muskies, you might want to bump up the line size a little. Don't need to go way up - I use 20 mono for muskies with boards all the time - but 14's light. If it's mainly pike you're after you're good though...

As to how far back to run baits, it's something you can really experiment with. I run baits anywhere from 10 feet off the board to 120 feet, depending on what baits I'm running and how far down I want them. If I'm after real high fliers, I'll run a pretty short line. If I want max depth out of whatever bait I'm running (especially diving baits) it'll be 100' back. Often what I do when running multiple boards is have one bait way back - a 'tail gunner' that's way behind the other baits in the set. Some days, those are the baits that kick fish. Other times it's the first bait through.

As for how far out to the side, I generally run out an additional 80-100 feet of line once the board's in the water. Because of drag you're probably running 50-70% of that distance away from the boat.

Hope that helps, and don't be afraid to experiment with the boards - what you run behind them, how far back, etc. Lots of potentially good options there.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[870Express]

Thanks a lot RK. We'll see how they fair...headed up to big Vermilion for the week in a couple minutes!