[Rat City Hooker]

Need some advice.Want to buy a set of planer boards or otter boats but dont know which way to go.Already have a set of wood boards.The fold up boards would be nice space savers and have also heard the otter boats work very good.Price wise is about the same on both.Help!!!!
Larry

 

[suckerbass]

Well I have ben running the Riviera Dual Planer Boards for about 3 years now and have had no problems. They fold up flat and you can use eather one on eather side. They go for about $115 for 2. I have heard nothing but good stuff about the Otters but they go for about $90 each. I guess its a price thing for me. The otters may be better but I have had no porblems with the riviera so why spend the extra money?

 

[mrymar]

One of those Riveria Fold ups go for $50?

Cool, I found one floating at Harbor Beach last summer and was not sure how much to try and sell it for.

 

[Auditor]

Hooker,
I switched over to in-line boards only when I changed boats.
Most people swear by 'em but I don't know yet. I seem to catch more walleye/northerns, but haven't noticed a change for salmonoids.
I used to run otter boats and loved 'em. The only draw backs are the price and they don't stow away so easy.
If you go with big boards, let me know. I have a bunt-load of releases that I no longer use. I can get them to you easy. No charge. I live just North of Crystal.

Auditor

 

[GONE FISHIN(LARRY)]

my buddie has the otter boats and I hate them,I run the big tri fold plactic boards and love them,have run them in some major seas without any problems.My buddies otter boat it takes for ever for release to run down the mast line.I also have inline boards,but still prefer my trifolds off the mast.

 

[adjusted3]

I guess it depens on the boat. I have never ran the Otters but spoke to a few that have. Space in storage is a concern. I have been told they track better in the waves but I have no personal knowledge.

Now as for boards--- That I have some first had knowledge. But I must hedge that it has been on a smaller boat, 16' Smokercraft. We mounted the mast as far up front as we could go. Right in the triangler board at the bow, next to the trolling motor, can't get any father forward type of thing. We had a 4' mast manufactured by Cannon with the Cannon boards. Pulling 4 rods on Lake Erie, we made a lazy turn and the line came across and "hooked" under an eylet on the rod in the foreward holder and pulled that rod out of a Tite-lock holder and offered it up to the fish gods. Not a problem except that it was a custom rod to a matched set of 4.

An hour later, we had the same thing happen but caught it before the rod went over. I guess what I am tring to say is that if you are able to mount the mast up farther forward or up higher as in a hardtop style boat, then the mast set up would be a great choice. If you are looking at a small boat, in my own opinion, inlines are the way to go. I have gone to the inlines 'roach boards' and love them. I can run core off them and they track very well. With the adjustible keel weight it is very easy to adjust them for the conditions.

As far as the mast set-ups go, I would imagine that different boards track better than others to eliminate my misfortunes. I just have not had the inclination to "test' any others..

I do like my roach boards..

Mark

 

[PoleHolder]

We had a 4' mast


Might have been part of the problem, most masts that I've seen are 6 to 8' tall.

I use inlines some but prefer to have the release and fight the fish clean. Tight clipping and reeling the board in and taking it off then fighting the fish is kind of a pain too. I have some homemade boards, but looked at those foldups too, the space saving feature is attractive but I'd like some experience with them before I shelled out the bucks.

 

[Rat City Hooker]

Mark,
Can relate to the lost pole.Did the same thing in my smokercraft last year on the saginaw bay.Have moved up to a 22ft islander hardtop and plan on running the big boards because will have the height advantage.Looking foward to meeting you at the st joe challenge.

PoleHolder,
I agree with you on fighting a fish with out an inline board attached. Will most likely get the folding boards for storage reasons.
Larry