"OFF SHORE" in line planer question

[Jethro]

I use "OFF SHORE" inline planers for walleye every time out but I'm still wondering what the little black plastic piece that folds down in the back of the board is for.

I thought that it might be some kind of rudder or keel:confused:

Would someone please enlighten me:)

[Bucktail Butch]

On my old offshore inline boards, there is a a block or slice of plastic foam floatant in the back. It is held in place by the little black plastic piece. I think this might be what you're talking about.

[east bay ed]

all that that does is hold the foam in. the older boards didn't have it and the foam would fall out after a while. i just called them a week ago to get some replacement foam for a guy and that black piece to hold it in.

[Swamphound]

This is my first year fishing them and I have chased one across the lake 3 or 4 times this year. I can't seem to get into enough fish to figure out how to set the release on the line. Too deep and they don't pop, too light and your getting out the net to retrieve the board. First I was running with both releases on the line but a big walleye smashed a tot and both of them came off, I than went to only running one release, I can't seem to find the right setting where it will release for an 18-20 inch walleye.
Any one else have this problem.
I have heard the tattle flags are nice, but after 4 boards, three rods combo's, new baits, a set of downriggers, a drift sock, I think I might wait until next season for the flags.
I also had a set of the Orange Roach boards, but they don't run anywhere as good as these. If I could just get the setting right I would be very happy with my rig.

[scottyhoover]

I hear ya swamphound, this year with my first boat i've been through my fair share of inline planer 'learning' experiences. I've only had to go net one once though. Although I'm using yellowbirds the problems are the same.

I first tried the yellow releases, too light for trolling above 1.5 imo. Now i'm on the red ones, after mistakenly purchasing snap weight clips one time! Took me a few months to finally figure out what everyone meant about the releases being adjustable....the little spring thingy duh! Ok, so with all that figured out, i've had good luck using a bead down by the lure to stop the board from hitting the fish. had to change the back swivel to a smaller one to get a 7mm bead or so to stop it.

for the first time tonight i tried the thing where instead of a free sliding board.....'theoretically' it releases and then I used a snap weight release to hold the board fixed to the line instead of a swivel....you are supposed to reel in the board, take it off, and fight the fish. well i didn't like that idea after about 10 minutes of trolling and gave it up.

going slow the yellow releases are ok, and the red ones will work also, its all about playing with the spring on them. I'm using the reds almost 100% of the time now....you can bury the line or just barely clip it....it takes a while to get the feel. Also, more often i see the fish jerk and then just pop the line out of the release with a little jerk. I seem to hook more with the planers out then I do just long lining out the back :) I haven't had a big enough fish hit to actually see a complete release...that sucks but oh well. Maybe this will help someone else learn faster.

[east bay ed]

the off shore boards are made to be reeled in, not rteleased down to the lure. i have landed every sized walleye under 12lbs on these boards and never had a problem.
just slowly reel the line until the board reaches the boat. take the board off, or better yet if you have someone fishing with you they take the board off and holds the line while you release up the slack. if you are popping off the boards go to the or18 "snapper" release. this will not come off, unless you break the line.

reel the board to the boat and use just keep working with them. you will find that you use them every time you troll.
a friend of mine is on staff with off shore and we have talked about putting together some kind of video on the inline boards. maybe this is a better idea then we think.

[Swamphound]

Part of the problem is that you can't always tell there is a fish on. The board still runs nice with a small fish attached and than you end up dragging them around the lake until either the fish surfaces and you see it or you check lures. I guess the tattle flags are supposed to eliminate some this but like I said I haven't gotten the urge to buy those yet

[Rev Doyle Israel]

For me it's not really much difference with the flag or without the flag.......It is hard to tell when you have a fish on the line with planer boards......but I love those boards.........Just would like to know more about using them......

Walleye REv.............

[Auditor]

I always run mine with tension enough so that the board is reeled to the boat and unclipped.
I use the snaps that came with the boards with the line set as deep as possible.
The only time a board comes off is when a "BIG" fish pulls it under for any amount of time. Which is good.
I changed over from big boards this year, and love the in-lines. More work, but more fish also.

[goose hunter]

I always like to reel the board to the boat then fight the fish. I dont lose the boards and it is more sporting to fight the fish without the board fighting the pole. I set mine tight. The inline boards put better action on the plug than the double catamaran boards. The waves get them jumping rather good.

[gregm]

I also struggled at first with reading the boards. Here's what I did to help. Instead of running a board off of each side with different patterns. I ran two boards off of the same side of the boat and put similar lures on (similar lip and wobble). I also ran the boards fairly close together. I could then compard the boards and when one started to act differently, I reeled it in. I learned very quickly how to read small fish, weeds, twisted lures, etc... I realize that's not the most effective way to maximize the boards coverage power, but once I learned to read the strikes, I could then set these large spreads with different lure types and patterns and know when I had a strike. I also reel in the board to unclip it before fighting the fish. I helps to keep everything nice and straight, especially when running large spreads.

The first time I ever used boards was on Bay De Noc, at night, in 3 foot waves. Not the most effective way to learn how to fish these suckers. After drowning a few small walleye, I was ready to chuck those suckers in the trash, now they're my favorite way to catch 'eyes.

[Hilljack]

Go to Perchjerkers website and build your own tattle flag system for only a few bucks. I did it and they work fantastic. The flags will go down or bounce with a small silver bass or clump of weeds on the lure.

http://perchjerker0.tripod.com/home_made_tattle_flags.htm

[knockoff64]

I have used the OffShore boards exclusively for over 5 years now.

A couple modifications I made have been.

1. Clip a small amount of the ballast weight off each end and replace it in the board. ( rides higher, less drag)

2. Replace the rear release with a snap swivel, but move the eyelet to the traling edge of the board.

3. Use a bead above a barrel swivel and a leader.

If the board releases, which it may on bigger fish, especially Salmon and Steel, the board slides back, no chasing.

I don't use the flags, you'll get a feel for how your spread is running, most times a fish will take the board back sharply (sometimes just a couple feet). If you miss the "take", take the rod out of the holder and lift it over your head and sweep it forward, 1 of 3 things will happen.

1. The board scoots forward in the water, no fish.

2. The board is pulled back slightly and towards the boat, fish on!

3. The board just kinda hangs where it is (slightly back in the spread?), probably weeds or a real dink.