Planers

[BTH284]

Would it work to turn both the downriggers out perpindicular to the gunnels?
This would have the planer in the water earlier than running the booms straight out? Assuming that the downrigger bases swivel.

[JB2C]

Bases do swivel. But not sure how changing the angle of the downrigger will affect the angle of the downrigger line. Can you explain?

Also been thinking about the rubber band system to drop the baits down. What rubber bands do you guys use? One or two of them? I use two #84's and I think that's too much. But often you use just one and it breaks as soon as you set it. I just tried it, and it takes over 40#'s to break just one of them. Heck, it took over 30# to break just one #64. So now I'm thinking I need to drop down to the #64's and use just one of those. Curious as to what others are using. And I'd like some other way to tell when the baits are all the way down to the planer. It gets old measuring out 120' of line every time. But maybe that's the best way to do it.

JB

[Chilli]

The angle of the dangle...

You stated that your power pro downrigger did not appear to be slicing a 45, but rather a shallower angle compared to the cable. I believe that what you think is happening and what is actually happening are two different things. I don't mean that as an insult. I had a similar observation when dealing with downriggers loaded with cable and power pro. The cable is a stiffer more rigid animal as the cable drags through the water it takes a more uniform parabolic bend along its entire length. This blow back will affect the depth you planer is running at. While at the surface your cable may appear to be running at a 45* angle it is most certainly not holding that angle by the time you get down to the planer.

Power pro on the other hand is a very limp line. The drag causes the power pro to bend more like a tire iron say. It is bowed further back higher in the water column so it gives the appearance of a very shallow angle. As you approach the planer though the angle becomes much deeper and closer to the true 45* angle you desire. There is a bit of an optical illusion involved here.

I would recommend that you take both your rigs out to an area where you have a gently sloping bank in slightly shallower than the depths you would ultimately like to run the planer at. You want a sandy bottom for this test. Lower you planers to your best guess at the actuall depth they are running and then advance up the bank until they start bumping bottom and ultimately trip. A few pass and some quick notes and you should be able to build yourself a referance table that will let you know where they actually are in the water column. You can also compare which is diving best.

[BTH284]

Going out on a limb here but by swiveling the bases to allow the booms to be out to the side, this would put the planers in the water ahead of the transom depending on where the bases are mounted in relation to the transom and the length of the booms. Example : Uni Troll with 5' boom mounted on swivel base turn to the side is now a foot or so ahead of the transom and 5' out instead of 5' behind the transom. Where the line from your rod goes in the water is now ahead of the transom instead of out the back, giving you a little steeper angle on both the mainline and the downrigger line.This may allow the planer to go down only a few feet deeper than when run out of the back of the boat. Maybe, maybe not. Like Chilli said, try some practice runs.

[JB2C]

Chilli, I hear what you're saying, but am surprised by it. I always thought both cable and PP would be a direct line down to the planer, mainly because of the pressure the planer was exerting. But I'll give what you suggest a try. Will be good to find out for sure what depth both planers are actually running at anyway. As opposed to just my guesstimate. Definitely need to know what depth my baits are running at. Thanks.

BTH284, I'll also try running the downriggers off to the side of the boat some. But still do not understand the concept of that giving me any more depth. I do, however, like the idea of spreading the planers apart some, as this will allow me more spacing between my lines. But I know from experience that the downriggers like to run straight off the back, not at an angle. That pressure really torques them when you try setting them at an angle. But I'll give it a try Friday and see what happens.

Still seems there is something missing though. A way to get it significantly deeper?

JB