Avid trollers who use in-line boards have historically fixed
their boards to the line and when a fish is hooked they reel in the board and
fish together. This rigging method works, but requires clearing inside lines
before a fish hooked on an outside line can be landed.
RIGGING BOARDS TO RELEASE
Clearing
and resetting lines is a lot of work and wasted fishing time. Also, when
fighting a fish while the board is still on plane gives the fish resistance to
leverage against enabling many fish to tear free.
A few years
ago I started rigging my boards with an OR16 Snap Weight clip (red) on the back
of the board and the OR19 (orange) line release on the tow arm of the board.
Rigged in this manner I can set my baits behind the boat the desired distance
and then attach the board to both the OR19 and the OR16 being careful to make
sure the line is behind the pin that’s featured in the OR16 Snap Weight clip.
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Rigging In-Line boards to release makes it possible to stack multiple board lines per side of the boat and never clear a line to fight a fish, change out a lure or adjust a trolling lead length. |
When a fish
is hooked, I give the rod tip a little snap and trip the line from the OR19 on
the tow arm. The board swings around and is no longer on plane, but is still
attached to the line via the OR16 Snap Weight clip. Once the line is released
from the release on the tow arm the board quickly falls back. Even better the
board and fish and can be reeled in without having to clear any inside board
lines!
The trick
to this super slick board rigging method is to give the tripped board a few
seconds to swing towards the back of the boat before reeling in the board and
fish. If the board is tripped and reeled in immediately lines can still get
crossed up.
This
rigging method has other advantages besides being able to trip boards and reel
in fish without clearing other lines. When the board trips there is a lot less
resistance and it’s easier to reel in the fish. Meanwhile the fish can’t gain
leverage and tear free because the rod and fishing line are acting as shock
absorbers as they were designed to do.
This board
releasing method works great when fighting fish and also works equally well
when clearing a line to switch out a lure or change lead lengths.
One last
tip helps this system work flawlessly. When putting the line into the OR19 on
the tow arm of the board, I first spin the line between my fingers about five
or six times to form a small loop of line. These loops of line are placed
between the rubber pads on the OR19. Set up this way, it’s far easier to trip
the board when a fish is hooked and also when just clearing lines to switch out
lures or change lead lengths.
RIGGING FOR MONOFILAMENT AND ALSO BRAIDS
This
rigging method is designed to function with monofilament and also fluorocarbon
line types. For anglers who prefer to troll with braided lines I recommend
using the same methodology, but substituting the OR16 clip for a OR18 Snapper
Clip at the back of the board. On the tow arm substitute the OR19 release for a
Sam’s Release produced by Silver Horde. The Sam’s Release is a jettison style
release that is designed to function with super lines.
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Rigged properly anglers can troll with multiple boards per side and never have to clear a line to fight a fish hooked on an outside line. |
RELEASE AND SLIDE METHOD
Off Shore
Tackle OR12 Side-Planers come factory supplied with the necessary releases and
clips that allow anglers to trip their boards and keep the board pinned to the
line. Other manufacturers rig their boards so when the line releases from the
tow arm clip, the board slides down the line via a molded in groove and a
plastic retaining pin mounted at the back of the board.
This
rigging method is flawed in several ways. For one, allowing the board to slide
down to the fish forces the angler to rig a bead or other device on the line to
stop the board from sliding down and hitting the fish. More knots and rigging
means that the chances of line failures increase dramatically.
Secondly,
this rigging method causes the board to be pulled under water by the struggling
fish making it difficult to control a struggling fish at the boat.Thirdly, when
the board gets pulled under water the fish gains leverage and can easily tear
free and escape at the last minute.
It’s also
worth noting that the plastic pin quickly gets gouged up, fails and must be
replaced often. On top of all this, if the line breaks the board simply slides
off the line and is lost to the waves.
SUMMARY
Rigging
in-line boards to release, but remain pinned to the fishing line is the best
way to fish multiple boards and avoid the hassles of constantly clearing and
resetting lines. This rigging method works great for walleye, trout, salmon and
other trolling chores.