Fishing In-Line Planer Boards Using The Loop Trick
The OR12 Side Planer popularized the use of in-line planer boards when it was introduced more than two decades ago. More recently, an in-line board rigging method has changed the face of planer board fishing forever.
The Loop Trick
A simple rigging method known as the “loop trick” is helping anglers fish multiple planer boards on each side of the boat, while at the same time making it possible to fight hooked fish without having to clear other lines. This magic is made possible thanks to line release and a line clip that come standard on the OR12 Side Planer. In other words, using the “loop trick” doesn’t require purchasing any aftermarket line releases or clips.
The “loop trick” starts by spooling up trolling reels with monofilament, fluorocarbon or co-polymer style lines. The “loop trick” does not work with super braids and modern fused fishing lines. These lines are too slippery to be used with the line release and line clip that come standard on the OR12. For those anglers who want to troll with super braids and fused lines, the OR18 Snapper or the OR39 Sam’s Pro Release are the best options.
Begin by choosing a lure of choice and setting it behind the boat the desired lead length. Reach up to the rod tip and grab the fishing line. Wrap the fishing line around your index finger and by spinning your finger, create a loop of line with six to eight twists of line.
Open the OR19 (orange) line release on the bracket of the OR12Side Planer and place the twisted line between the rubber pads. The twists of line provide a better purchase for the OR19, eliminating any fear of false releases. A loop of line about one inch long should be protruding from the jaw of the OR19.
The next step is to place the line in the OR16 (red) Pro Clip, being sure the line is behind the plastic pin the protrudes up in the middle of the rubber release pads. If your boards are equipped with Off Shore’s Tattle Flags™, make sure there is a little slack line between the OR19 and the OR16 so that the flag linkage can function properly.
Now that the board is attached to the line, drop the board in the water, engage the reel’s bait clicker and let the board start working its way out to the side as the boat trolls forward. When the board is the desired distance from the boat, engage the reel bail and place this rod in the most forward rod holder on the boat. If you use rod holder trees, like Riviera’s SRT, this outside rod/line should be positioned in the top rod holder.
Now repeat this process with a second, third, fourth or even a fifth board for each side of the boat! (Always check your local DNR regulations for any limitations). When a fish is hooked or it’s time to switch out a lure that isn’t producing, grab the rod in question, reel up the slack line until the line is tight against the board and using a quick upwards snap of the rod tip, pop the line free from the OR19 release.
The further the board is away from the boat, the more aggressive the snap of the rod tip needs to be to pop the line free of the OR19. The loop of line protruding from the jaw of the OR19 makes it much easier to pop the line free than if the line was simply placed linear between the rubber release pads.
When the line pops free of the front release, the board will spin around backwards and remain on the line thanks to the OR16 Pro Clip on the tail of the board. This causes the board to stop planning to the side and allows the board to slip backwards out of the trolling pattern.
Once the line pops free from the front release, stay tight on the board, but don’t be in a big hurry to reel in any line. Staying tight on the board for a few seconds, gives the board time to slip back far enough that the board can be reeled in without coming in contact with any of the other lines still trolling. Staying tight to the board also keeps pressure on the hooked fish.
Does The Loop Trick Allow Hooked Fish To Escape?
A lot of anglers worry that the loop trick will put slack in the line and cause hooked fish to escape. Actually, the “loop trick” properly used does not create slack line or lead to fish escaping. The “loop trick” actually works better at landing hooked fish than if the planer board remains attached to the line and planing. With the “loop trick” the weight of the hooked fish quickly drags the board backwards learning other lines in the process. Because the board is no longer planning when the “loop trick” is used and the board is tripped, the fish isn’t pulling against a board that is still trying to plane to the side. Instead, the fish is pulling more directly on the fishing line and fishing rod, making it easy to keep pressure on the fish and allow the line, reel drag system and fishing rod to do the work of tiring the fish.
How Do You Reset After Catching A Fish?
Once a fish is landed using the “loop trick” simply set the bait back the same distance that produced the bite, hook up the board again the same way as before placing the twists of line into the OR19 release on the bracket and the line behind the pin on the OR16 Pro Clip at the tail of the board. (As the OR12 instructions indicate – be sure to always check to make sure the screw and nut are tight on the OR19 prior to setting the board out each time).
Now place the board in the water and let line out so the board slides directly out the back of the boat. When enough line has been let out to allow the board to clear inside lines, put the reel bail in gear and walk the board around the inside lines until it takes its place in the trolling spread. It may be necessary to let out a little more line or reel in some line when resetting a board into a specific spot. Some anglers simply prefer to take a board line that has caught a fish and reset it as the inside line. In this case if the outside line catches a fish, the middle board line is moved up to the outside board line rod position and the outside board line is then reset as the inside board line.
Or39 Sam’s Pro Release
For those anglers who like the idea of tripping their boards when a fish is hooked, but prefer super braids and fused trolling lines, the OR39 Sam’s Pro Release and the OR18 Snapper are the answer. Mount the Sam’s Pro Release to the bracket on the board and the OR18 Snapper Release to the tail of the board. Set the bait back the desired distance behind the boat, open the OR39 Sam’s Pro Release and wrap the line around the rubber plunger on the release three or four revolutions. Now close the rubber plunger into the jettison clip to secure the line. Next take the line and place it between the pads on the OR18 Snapper Release. If the board is equipped with Off Shore Tackle’s aftermarket Tattle Flag™, make sure a little slack line is left between the OR39 and the OR18 to allow the Tattle Flag™ linkage to function properly.
When a fish is hooked, a quick snap of the rod tip will pop open the OR39 Sam’s Pro Release jettison mechanism, allowing the board to spin around, but remain pegged in place on the line thanks to the R18 Snapper Release.
Other Boards
Most anglers use the “loop trick” with the OR12 Side Planer. Go ahead and pick your poison, because the “loop trick” can be used on all three sizes of planer boards produced by Off Shore Tackle. One of the features that makes Off Shore Tackle in-line planer boards so popular is they can be rigged a number of different ways for different lines and different trolling situations. In a word, versatility makes these boards “The Leaders in Trolling Technology”.