[Meateater38]

So right away, im obviously a novice. You guys helped me boat a ton of good kings over the summer and fall. One thing i had a hard time doing was recongnizing when a fish was on the planer board, especially the small shakers. Is there any thing i need to key in on.

[T-Dogg81]

I am assuming you are asking about in line boards. I am far from an expert but what I have noticed with shakers is the board will lag behind others or not plane as far out to the side as you think it should. For larger fish it should be pretty easy to tell, the board will go under or backward. What I always tell people who fish with me that are unfamiliar with plainer boards is right after I deploy the board "See what the board is doing now? When a fish is on the board will not be doing that."

[Storm Warning]

The only thing I can suggest is When in doubt pull it in and check it. Just like any other line if it hasn't caught fish in a while bring it in a check it.

HTR

[Runnin' Bare]

T-Dogg and HTR are right on. It is human nature to want to watch the rod tips, but with planer boards, they are always bending and jumping (especially when it is wavy). I tell people to look at the boards; when a fish hits, the board will start swimming backwards. It also helps to keep the drag just on the edge of slipping, so the clicker will alert you.

To see shakers (or lines fouled with seaweed/garbage), it is critical to know how the boards run in formation. On my boat, the middle board (when I'm running 3 per side) tends to lag behind the other 2, instead of staying in a straight line. Not sure why that is, but I recognize it as "normal".

I would also recommend getting in the habit of looking at the water behind your boards every now and then. If you are dragging something (small fish or garbage), it will usually come to the surface and you can see it. Also, sometimes steelhead will hit a lure and swim forward. You will see the fish jumping , with your bait in its mouth, but none of your boards has moved. The fish has swam toward the board and put slack in the line. If you recognize which bait it is, you can grab the correct rod. Otherwise, make your best guess and reel like crazy. Good Luck!

Jerry
Runnin' Bare

[goldrope]

this is one reason its optimal too run all same rod/reel combo's. Pick the rod out of the holder and slowly pull forward, as you become more framiliar with your equipment the quessing will diminish.General rule of thumb if it dont look or feel "right" it probably isn't. Another trick slowly zig-zag .or waffle the stern so that yer slowing/speeding port vs starboard, this may trigger bites and give you a reason to adjust speed, judge recovery rate at wich each board falls into squadron formation.Bear in mind that differernt line weights, spoon weight or the deeper the crankbait dives all will carry a different effect on the board.hope this helps.

[Storm Warning]

Runnin' Bare wrote:

Also, sometimes steelhead will hit a lure and swim forward. You will see the fish jumping , with your bait in its mouth, but none of your boards has moved.

Jerry
Runnin' Bare

This is probably my favorite thing about fishing lake michigan. Theres nothing like seeing a 10lb steelys sail into the air and your board never moves. THis is one of the big reasons I love fishing for steelys.

HTR

[tinyfisher]

These guys all hit it on the head. It's a pain, but I like to check the long lines often. Your arms will burn, but you won't be dragging fouled lures all day either. Definately pay attention to the boards and adjust the clicker and drag, you'll learn the difference between waves and a hit.

Jerry, as far as the middle board seeming to sag, I think I have the answer. Instead of envisioning the boards running in a line, think of them running in a curve, almost like an arrowhead with the bow of the boat being the point. If all boards were pulling the same weight, I think they'd run in a line. But since we typically run less weight on the outside boards, they pull harder (at a steeper angle). So I guess it depends on how you look at it; is the middle board sagging, or is the outside board just pulling harder? I wonder if this would be easier to see running 4 boards, although we've never had to run that many on our boat.

[rodm]

HighTechRedneck wrote:

Runnin' Bare wrote:

Also, sometimes steelhead will hit a lure and swim forward. You will see the fish jumping , with your bait in its mouth, but none of your boards has moved.

Jerry
Runnin' Bare

This is probably my favorite thing about fishing lake michigan. Theres nothing like seeing a 10lb steelys sail into the air and your board never moves. THis is one of the big reasons I love fishing for steelys.

HTR

All true, also fun is seeing a friend reeling like mad to work a fish in on a full core, having them see a fish jumping way behind the boat and yell fish! Fish! we got a double! and the look in there face when they realize it's their fish and still that far away.

[goldrope]

smallies will put on a good acrobatics act too. i dont have much salmonoid experience. we troll boards for eyes on the big bago over the mud, and the bay of green. once you get good at detecting bites you'll actually be able to tell the difference between types of fish, helps when 2 or 3 boards go at once. you know wich is a sheep or a cat and grab the one that looks"right".dont know if its true for different varieties of trout and salmon but i suspect it is.