Just a survey for still fishing (Page 2): I would echo your gradiations on these particular boards J. I think the Church brand comes in 3 or 4 different sizes too...which is kind of...

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

J in Cleveland wrote:

I got all mine used from a guy with 100 crank baits for $200. The walleye board is definitely the best one. The top one kinda sucks and the middle one is good but seems to be cheaper made than the walleye boards. I’ve seen some nicer ones with LED lights on them. Makes trolling at night much easier.

I would echo your gradiations on these particular boards J. I think the Church brand comes in 3 or 4 different sizes too...which is kind of nice depending on what kind of line is out on the rods. I like the big one for running any kind of leadcore, and the smaller ones for standard braid/mono and also kayak trolling with light rigging.

Kind of pricey, but a good lifetime investment like most tackle. If you are fortunate enough to get them used...then the cost savings can be huge!

Big dog Loc: Bayshore, Long Island, New York

Wv mike wrote:

I know it’s a dumb question but If you have a rod or two set and you get a nibble or light bite do you pick up the rod and hold it to set the hook or do you leave it set until it bites enough to set the hook. I leave it set.

I never put my rod down, well, except when I have to get another beer.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

Grizzly 17 wrote:

Mike after many yrs of cat fishing I found they know when you pick it up.

You can hold it for 20 mins n nothing.
Set it down walk back 10ft to take a leak.
You better have the rod tied down. They've been watching n waiting for their chance to embarrassed you 🤣🎣

Sounds like the voice of experience.

bapabear Loc: Blaine, Washington

J in Cleveland wrote:

I seem to do the wrong thing either way. Bait fishing cats I usually try to let them take it first. Bait fishing perch I set the hook and reel as fast as possible. Most my other fishing is trolling lately so I grab the rod and give it a good yank to free it from the planner board. But like I said in the beginning most times I feel I should have done the opposite of what I did.🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

I do the same thing when trolling, but I give it a good yank to pull it from the weeds.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Wv mike wrote:

What kinda planner board do you have I’m getting ready to get some.

I use a sea striker Mike. Made out if SS. Down here we call them a poor man's downrigger. LOL

Jeremy Loc: America

J in Cleveland wrote:

I got all mine used from a guy with 100 crank baits for $200. The walleye board is definitely the best one. The top one kinda sucks and the middle one is good but seems to be cheaper made than the walleye boards. I’ve seen some nicer ones with LED lights on them. Makes trolling at night much easier.

Side Planers. Are these primarily used to pull the lure and mainline away from the boat in whatever direction they are engineered to? Are they also a diver?

Jeremy Loc: America

Gordon wrote:

I use a sea striker Mike. Made out if SS. Down here we call them a poor man's downrigger. LOL

A nice and heavy diver to pull the line deep. So you use a reel with line counter then can use fish finder to know where the school is at?

danieltrapper Loc: colorado

I do a'lot of pike fishing, so I leave it and let them run with it. They take bait about 50 feet and drop, then they come back and swallow it. I don't miss any that way. A'lot of folks pull to soon and miss them due to them just moving it by a fin or tail. If I am walleye fishing at night with bait I'll hold it when they nibble. Other fish I let take it before setting the hook. It all good. No bad questions unless you don't ask it at all !!!!!!

J in Cleveland Loc: Cleveland, Ohio

Jeremy wrote:

Side Planers. Are these primarily used to pull the lure and mainline away from the boat in whatever direction they are engineered to? Are they also a diver?

No they are just side planners. I use dipsy divers to get deep but in my little boat I seldom go out that deep in Lake Erie

Jeremy Loc: America

Gmchief Loc: New Hampshire coast

Gmchief wrote:

I have used both Luhr-Jensen Deep Six and Pink Lady divers trolling for salmon in Puget Sound. Kind of a poor man's down rigger. The tension on the Deep Six is adjustable. Available at Bass Pro and Cabelas. Lots of them used on eBay. There are YouTube videos showing how to use.

I neglected to mention that when a fish strikes the planer trips and the angle then helps the line come to the surface.

Jeremy Loc: America

Makes sense Daniel. The good things in life take patience and that will always include Fishing for any type.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

J in Cleveland wrote:

No they are just side planners. I use dipsy divers to get deep but in my little boat I seldom go out that deep in Lake Erie

Never heard of a side planer. I'll have to check them out. Thanks J

ranger632 Loc: Near Yosemite Park Ca.

Wv mike wrote:

I know it’s a dumb question but If you have a rod or two set and you get a nibble or light bite do you pick up the rod and hold it to set the hook or do you leave it set until it bites enough to set the hook. I leave it set.

Use mostly circle hooks so most of the time let the fish hook themselves. Bass, crappie, set the hook

Wv mike Loc: Parkersburg area. Wv

J in Cleveland wrote:

I got all mine used from a guy with 100 crank baits for $200. The walleye board is definitely the best one. The top one kinda sucks and the middle one is good but seems to be cheaper made than the walleye boards. I’ve seen some nicer ones with LED lights on them. Makes trolling at night much easier.

The walleye board I assume you need two they’re ether port or starboard