Recently we spoke with Fishing the Midwest founder Bob Jensen regarding planer board use. Here are excerpts from that conversation:
When asked about tips for the first-time board user and wind direction, here is what Bob offered:
Go with the wind. That way, if you need to put the boat in neutral for some reason, maybe to land a big fish, the boat and boards keep going in the same direction. If you were going into the wind and put the boat in neutral, the boat would drift back over your spread.
Bob was also asked for his thoughts on setting lines when using multiple lures:
Trolling with boards becomes a simple process, but there are some things to keep in mind. We like to run our baits at different depths. Set your lines so the shallow running baits are the farthest from the boat. Set those lines first. Baits that run deeper should be closer to the boat. This helps prevent spooking the fish.
When asked about what lures he likes to present on boards, Jensen had the following thoughts:
In cooler waters, I like spinner/crawler rigs. In the Great Lakes and wherever big walleyes live, go with big blades, especially as the waters warm. Northland’s Mr. Walleye Crawler Hauler is a favorite.
Much of the time, but especially in the summer and fall, crankbaits will take the biggest fish. We started using Strike King’s Lucky Shad a lot last year and found that the action of the Lucky Shad was very appealing to walleyes, and the occasional bass, northern pike, and musky.
Bob also had encouragement for inexperienced board users:
The key to planer board success is to put them into use. Once you start using them, you’ll learn of their productivity and they’ll become an important part of your walleye arsenal.