Instructions for an Offshore Planer Board

A planer board is a fishing device that allows a number of lines to be fished from a boat trolling through waters without tangling. Offshore produces three planer boards --- right-sided and left-sided versions and a smaller mini-version. The right- and left-sided Offshore planer boards allow three lines to be attached to each board.

  1. Planer Boards

    • Planer boards are used by anglers to fish from the back of a boat trolling through waters at speeds usually at or below two miles per hour, according to Down Time Charters. A planer board avoids the problems associated with fishing a number of lines dragged behind a boat; these lines can become tangled when the boat is traveling in moving waters. A planer board is dragged from the side of the boat, creating a dead area directly behind the boat, which allows a caught fish to be fought in the dead area. Planer boards are commonly dragged between 75 and 125 feet behind the boat.

    Types

    • The planer boards manufactured by Offshore Tackle are ballasted to allow them to remain in use in regions with rough seas. A flag is positioned on the full-sized planer boards to allow other users of the water to avoid destroying or becoming tangled in the lines attached to the boards. The planer boards designed for use on the right-hand side of the boat must have the lines attached to the inside of the board to allow the lines to move into the area behind the boat to be caught.

    Traditional

    • The traditional rigging method recommended by Offshore Tackle requires each fishing line to be threaded through the release clip on the board and through a small pigtail-type clip. The line is then released to the length required for fishing in the region at the correct depth. To avoid the planer board moving down to the bottom of line and striking a biting fish, a small plastic bead is used to hold the board in place. When a fish strikes the bait and hook, the line is released from the board to allow the fish to be fought in the area behind the boat.

    Pro Method

    • The pro method of using an Offshore planer board requires the board to be operated differently than the traditional method. In this method, the fishing line is not released when a fish strikes at a line; instead the motion of the boat secures the hook in the fish. The planer board is then dragged to the side of the boat where the line is finally released, allowing the angler to catch the fish in a net.