BY MARK ROMANACK
The OR37 SST Pro Mag is the largest in-line planer board in the Off Shore Tackle line up. Like all the OST planer boards, the SST Pro Mag is versatile enough to accept a wide range of line clips and releases, suitable for a host of different trolling applications.
FACTORY RIGGED
muskie and saltwater trolling applications. Like its smaller brother the OR12, the SST Pro Mag can be rigged a number of different ways for
different trolling applications.
The factory supplied line releases and clips provided with the SST Pro Mag include the OR18 Snapper Release mounted on the bracket and the OR16 Pro Clip mounted to the tail of the board. This setup can be used when fishing with monofilament, fluorocarbon, co-polymer and super braid lines.
The tension adjustment setting on the OR18 is found on the bottom of the release. By tightening or loosening the set screw, the release tension can be set to hold the line firmly or to allow the line to release as desired. By closing the OR18 cam lever forward, a pin built into the cam lever converts the OR18 from a line release to a line clip. This feature is designed to hold all line types securely. Closing the cam lever backwards, converts the OR18 into a line release that can be used to release the board if desired.
Meanwhile, the OR16 features a pin of its own located between the rubber pads. When the line is placed behind this pin, the line is held firmly, and the board is securely positioned on the line. This allows the board to be tripped yet still remain pegged in place on the line. This in turn makes it easier to reel in the board and a hooked fish, or to simply reel in the board to switch out lures.
The OR16 is designed to work with monofilament, fluorocarbon, and co-polymer line types. If braid is used, wrap the line around the OR16 jaw two times to prevent the slippery braided line from sliding and damaging the rubber release pads.
RIGGED FOR SUPER LINES
The OR37 is commonly used when trolling sinking lines including lead core, weighted stainless steel and stranded copper line. Most anglers who use these sinking lines choose to use super lines as the backing line. The smooth and slick surface of super lines can cause damage to the rubber pads on traditional line releases.
A better solution is to rig the SST Pro Mag with an OR39 Sam’s Pro Release on the bracket of the board and the OR18 Snapper at the tail of the board. The Sam’s Pro Release is designed to function with super braid lines and allows the line to be tripped free when a fish is hooked or when switching out lures.
The OR18 Snapper at the tail of the board will hold super braids firmly when the cam arm is locked into the forward position, ensuring the board can’t pop off from the line while trolling at high speeds and in rough water.
RIGGED FOR MONOFILAMENT BACKING
A number of anglers prefer the controlled stretch that monofilament line provides as a backing line. In this case, the OR37 SST Pro Mag can be rigged with an OR17 (black) or OR30 (red) line release on the bracket. These larger releases feature a greater surface area on the rubber pads, making them ideal for trolling in rough water and at higher speeds.
The “loop trick” is commonly employed to make it easier to trip these releases when a fish is hooked or when switching out lures. This involves wrapping the backing line over an index finger and putting a few wraps into the line, creating a small loop in the process. The wrapped line is placed between the rubber pads, and the loop is allowed to protrude about an inch beyond the release jaws.
At the rear of the board, the OR16 is the ideal clip for anglers who are using monofilament or co-polymer lines as their backing line.
FIXED OR SPLIT RING RIGGED
The line clip or release used on the bracket of the SST Pro Mag can be fixed in place using the provided stainless screw and nylon nut or a split ring can be used to connect the release to the bracket. It’s generally accepted that the fixed method makes it easier to trip the board, while the split ring method helps the board run better when trolling into heavy seas.
SUMMING IT UP
Depending on the line types being used, the trolling tactics employed and the wave conditions, there’s a rigging method for the SST Pro Mag that is ideal for every angler. This work horse planer board is designed to do the heavy lifting when it comes to trolling for trout, salmon, striper, muskie and saltwater species.
