Big Boards?

[Hooked]

Has anyone made their own dual planer boards? I took a charter with Brother Nature last year and he ran the big boards. I really liked them but wow they want a lot of money for those things. I have inline boards now but thinking about trying out some big boards. Any thoughts or plans for making them out there? Or an old set you want to get rid of cheap?

[netminder34]

Plenty of guys make their own boards. I think plans have been posted here before, might try a search of the board or the net, I am sure you can find them out there.

[Thundercat]

I made a set of large boards out of pine (redwood may be better) in 1989. Look on the internet for plans. Replaced these about 8 years ago with boards from Amish Outfitters. These boards need a heavy duty shock absorbers (buy from Amish Outfitters). To retrieve these boards you must steer into them or have a motor operated retriever because how hard they pull.
Some of the charters add weights to the bottom of the Amish boards and deflectors to the inside of the outside boards to make them pull harder in 3 foot seas. They use red rubber bands with releases, see attached photo for release type. The red rubber bands do not break, release better for small fish and allow for a fast reset.
I have been on 5 Lake Erie Charters that trolled using big boards. They typically fish 6 or 7 rods to a board, all rods are vertical and spaced about 6 inches apart. They used Bandits 27s, large Reef Runners, Husky Jerks or spoons like Michigan Stingers with Jet divers When the release happens they wait until the line is straight and the walleye is behind the boat boat before you start reeling. On 1 charter we a 6 person limit in less then 2 hours with no tangles and the fish were all 6 to 11 lbs. On one occasion we had 8 on landing 6 and lost 2 at the boat. This works at Lake Erie but not on salmon and steelhead. Typically I don't fish more then 3 rods to a planer with rods positioned to allow for a salmon run.

[Birddogs]

I've got a set that was homemade also. They seem to do a decent job but was looking into the Amish Outfitters boards as well. I will say that the light lures have a hard time running down the mainline on my setup. Looking into possibly replacing the main line or using weed wacker string. Nick

[SafeCracker]

I have a question for you big board guys...do you run them with an offshore setup? As in long leads and coppers? I just can't seem to get my head around how you'd run a 100, 150, 200 and 300 copper off of one side.

I get how they'd go out initially but how would you pull in the 300 without clearing everything inside of it once it makes its way to being the outside line?

Just curious is all.

[Birddogs]

This is my first year running them. But no, I do not plan on running them offshore. Can't see how that would work out for long line lead and such. For that I'll stick with the regular 'ol inline boards. It does make it a lot more fun not fighting the board on a 3# Coho.

[Hooked]

Thank you for all the info! I found some plans and am going to try to make some. The Amish boards look real nice but pretty expensive.

[Thundercat]

I also had issues with line on Big Boards, the line from Amish Outfitters works well.


Planer Board Line 500#
Planer Board Line 500#
Starting at: $22.95
We now carry 500# test pure Spectra planer board tow line.

Bruce

[Hooked]

Made these today. Still have to paint and seal them.
I have a couple of old small down riggers that I plan on using to make the mast with. Hope this all works!!

[Birddogs]

Looks just like the homemade set I have. Nice work! Paint em bright so they stand out in the waves. Now if only the weather would cooperate...