One of the most unique products in the Off Shore Tackle line up is sold as an after-market item called the OR12TFEK or the Tattle Flag® HD Economy Kit. This kit is designed to convert an OR12 Side Planer board into a Tattle Flag® board. The Tattle Flag® is an infinitely adjustable spring-loaded articulating flag system that enables the board’s flag to tip down when a fish is hooked or even if the lure fouls on a piece of floating weed or debris.
Installing the Tattle Flag® to the OR12 takes about five minutes time and a Phillips screw driver. The kit includes a heavy duty linkage arm, stainless steel spring, nylon washer, split ring screw eye and a 6/32 screw. The flag that comes standard on the OR12 is incorporated into the build. Most Off Shore Tackle dealers also carry replacement flags should the flags need replacing.
BENEFITS OF THE TATTLE FLAG®
The benefits of using the Tattle Flag® are many. In addition to helping anglers detect bites from walleye and other light biting fish, Tattle Flags® tip off the angler when a smaller fish has been hooked or when the lure has become fouled. The Tattle Flag® kit is especially useful for fishing at slower speeds with live bait or fishing in rough water when reading planer boards becomes more challenging.
In short, using the Tattle Flag® ensures that anglers are more efficient and that their lures or live bait rigs are always running clean and ready for action.
ADJUSTING THE SPRING
The spring settings on the Tattle Flag® allow anglers to set a proper amount of tension suitable for all common trolling lures and hardware. The flag itself has several different holes pre-drilled for the spring and the front of the board also features several pre-drilled tension setting holes. For example, to get the heaviest tension from the spring hook the rounded end of the spring into the highest hole going up the shaft of the flag and hook the other end into the lowest hole in the board. This will allow you to pull heavier weights such as 150’ of weighted copper/steel line, Off Shore Tackle’s OR36 #3 Tadpoles, deep diving crankbaits, and many others.
Proper tension is achieved when it’s just enough to keep the flag upright when pulling a bait yet allows the flag to go down during a wave surge or when a slight tug is given to the line. The flag should go down with added pull on the bait, whether it’s a fish or something on the hook.
RIGGING OPTIONS
The Tattle Flag® can be rigged across the top of the OR12 or diagonally from the flag to the black plastic tab mounted at the bottom corner of the board. If your boards are an older model, they may not feature the Tattle Flag® rigging hole in the upper corner of the plastic tab. The TAB BE can be ordered directly from Off Shore Tackle if needed.
SUMMING IT UP
The Tattle Flag® is a game changer for anyone who spends a lot of time trolling with the OR12 Side Planer. Off Shore Tackle was the first to introduce an articulating flag system and continues to be your Leader in Trolling Technology.
