How to Rig a Planer Board

A planer board is a short board, usually painted bright orange or yellow, that allows fishermen to troll a fishing line to one side and at some distance from their boats. The concept behind the device is to fish a broad area while trolling and to place baits or lures away from the sound of your boat's motor. They are usually used in pairs or in multiples of two and are usually used to troll in still, often fresh, waters. There is no single way to rig a planer board but both the board and the lure always attach to the same fishing line.

Things You'll Need

  • Rod, reel and line
  • Lure or bait
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Thread your fishing line through the rear hole or slot of your planer. All board planers attach to your fishing line at the front and back of the board. Some planers completely detach from both the front and back of the board when a fish strikes and some only partially detach. Boards that completely detach must be retrieved by turning the boat around to find the floating board after you catch your fish.

    • 2

      Attach a lure or bait to the end of your fishing line using any technique and tackle you want then unreel at least ten feet of fishing line. The amount of line you unreel will be the distance your bait or lure will trail behind the planer.

    • 3

      Attach the fishing line to the quick release that attaches to and came with your planer board. Most of these releases look like clothespins and are permanently attached to the planer when you buy it. Read the instructions that came with your planer board if you do not immediately understand how the quick release attaches and detaches from your fishing line.

    • 4

      Drop the planer board in the water while your boat is under way and unreel at least 20 feet of line. The more line you unreel the farther away from your boat the board planer will float.

    • 5

      Deploy planer boards marked "right" on the right side of your boat. Deploy planer boards marked "left" on the left side of your boat. If your planer board is unmarked, the angled end of the planer board should face the direction of your boat and the flat side of the angled end of your planer board should face toward your boat.

    • 6

      Troll at a speed of about two knots. The faster you troll, the closer the planer boards will come to your boat.