Planer tow line

[Andaman Andy]

Are any of you guys using heavy spectra as a tow line for your planers, i know about the planer rod setup, i am talking about the type you tie off to a cleat.
If so what size, solid or hollow core?

[controlled chaos]

I was using 200lb planer board/spectra line wrapped on a 8 or 10" cuban yoyo hand reel. I had 2 different lengths of line spooled onto different reels for different situations. They work great but tripping them can be a PITA. As for deploying the baits. A bunch of double ended snap swivels and #64 rubber bands will get it done!!!


Now I have a Planer rod that Anglers Envy made me!!!!

[Andaman Andy]

Forgot to add i am using a no.16 old salty.

[54bullwinkle]

Dont see the advantage. Really dont like handling braid, even with gloves. I have always used mono and never had trouble. We often keep the planer deployed and slide a new line down the mono on a snap, dont think braid would hold up as well to this abrasion.

[Nauti Natured]

I like a thin rope. Braid will tear your hands up, mono will stretch. The rope is easy on the hands and has no stretch so you can trip it easier.

[Henrique38]

I use planer board line and mark it every 10 feet with a black sharpie.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...&cmCat=3337250

It's like braid but a lot thicker and easier to handle. I keep it on an 8" hand spool.

[Nauti Natured]

I use planer board line and mark it every 10 feet with a black sharpie.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/st...&cmCat=3337250

It's like braid but a lot thicker and easier to handle. I keep it on an 8" hand spool.

That is similar to what I was talking about .... just thicker ... like a thin nylon braided climbing rope. Doesnt really matter, I guess ... as long as you can get it down there and back without tearing your hand up.

[Capt. kapoc]

Dont see the advantage. Really dont like handling braid, even with gloves. I have always used mono and never had trouble. We often keep the planer deployed and slide a new line down the mono on a snap, dont think braid would hold up as well to this abrasion.

We used this method time and time again when using trolled ballyhoo around the comm fleet to pick off the bigger kings. LOVED IT

[Henrique38]

I've used mono too, but I find I get deeper with planer board line. I can reliably calculate a 50% depth to length ratio. If I want 20 feet down then I let it out 40 feet. 300lb mono is pretty thick and there's a lot of blow back. BTW this is with a #32 old salty. It's a real puller.

[BTH284]

I use to use a piece of rope single braid 3/8" 6 feet long cleated off. That was looped to a 3" stls ring. On the other side of the ring I used 100 foot of 200 lb mono crimped to the ring . This runs down to the planer.

To trip, grab the stls ring and pull up about chest height and back over the transom a foot or two, then release quickly. An old salty will trip like this every time. When you have to retrieve, just coil the mono the corner of the floor. I saw some BFT crews this season using this tried and true setup for their shallow planer.

If you Look under Marty's videos, there is one on the old Run Off during the BFT season of him tripping the planer using this method when they get bit in order to clear it.