Question for Old Salty Planer

[Squidnation]

I have a serious question for Old Salty. I have a #16, #24 and #32 planer that I purchased from you. My question is how to I get these planers to the depths you say these go down too. A couple weeks ago I trolled a #16 on a down riggers with 300lb mono at 5 knots and could not get it to hit bottom in 56ft of water. I had 120 feet out on one planer with mono and 85 ft out on the other with cable. What am I doing wrong. BTW - Love your planers but I know I must be doing something wrong. Help please.

[WAHOONBOX]

I KNOW THIS QUESTION IS ADDRESSING OLD SALTY....BUT MY THOUGHTS ARE:

THE 300 MONO IS A ROPE COMPARED TO A BRAID...THEREFORE CREATING A LARGER ANGLE ON ENTRY ....

1. YOU CAN NEVER BUMP BOTTOM WITH A 16 PLANER IN MY OPINION AT 5-6 KNOTS

ADD A SHOT OF 200 BRAID TO YOUR MONO AND IT WILL INSTANTLY DIVE DEEPER AND ALWAYS KEEP THE MONO ABOVE THE WATERLINE

NEXT, ONE MUST LET OUT MORE LINE THAN YOU WOULD EXPECT...

I BUMP BOTTOM ALL THE TIME AND SOMETIMES THIS IS "CATATROPHIC"....

I CAN LET OUT 145-155 FEET OF 200 BRAID-32 PLANER AND IT WILL REACH 60 FT WAVE HEIGHT TAKEN INTO PLAY.....5 KNOTS

[Squidnation]

Thanks Marty - So change to Braid, More line out and use the 24 or 32 to get it deeper correct? I am probably asking for trouble to ask it to bump bottom but I am getting the marks on the bottom and I just feel that I am not getting close to the fish. I can always crank it a few times once I know it is on the bottom.

Does the length of line I have out on the baited rod matter. I am putting it back 200 ft with a horse ballyhoo and 3 1/2 ounce head.

[seapower]

Marty is right as usual. Braid is the only way to go, I switched this year. My next choice would be Mig wire, but braid is way more user friendly.Frank

[WAHOONBOX]

Thanks Marty - So change to Braid, More line out and use the 24 or 32 to get it deeper correct? I am probably asking for trouble to ask it to bump bottom but I am getting the marks on the bottom and I just feel that I am not getting close to the fish. I can always crank it a few times once I know it is on the bottom.

Does the length of line I have out on the baited rod matter. I am putting it back 200 ft with a horse ballyhoo and 3 1/2 ounce head.

I TAKE IT YOU ARE BLUEFINNING....CORRECT?

I ACTUALLY STOPPED THE BOAT AND LET A PLANER DOWN AND MARKED THE LINE IN FRONT OF THE REEL WITH A MARKER......THE

IT IS ALMOST LIKE PUSHING THE ENVELOPE TRYING TO GET JUST OFF THE BOTTOM BILL.....

I HEARD ON THE VHF THIS MORINING ONE BOAT WAS HOOKED UP...THEN A FEW MINUTES LATER HE SAID...."CRAP, I AM HOOKED TO THE BOTTOM"

SEEMS A LOT OF FISH ARE CAUGHT LATELY VERY VERY CLOSE TO THE BOTTOM...I KEEP LETTING MY PLANER OUT FARTHER AND FARTHER PUSHING THE ENVELOPE...OF COURSE, THERE ARE 20 EXTRA BACK UP PLANERS IN MY BAG

AND ....JUST MY OPINION HERE.... BUT I WOULD REMOVE THE CABLE AS WELL.....AND CRIMP TO THE PLANER INSTEAD OF USING A SNAP SWIVEL




GOOD LUCK

[WAHOONBOX]

Thanks Marty - So change to Braid, More line out and use the 24 or 32 to get it deeper correct? I am probably asking for trouble to ask it to bump bottom but I am getting the marks on the bottom and I just feel that I am not getting close to the fish. I can always crank it a few times once I know it is on the bottom.

Does the length of line I have out on the baited rod matter. I am putting it back 200 ft with a horse ballyhoo and 3 1/2 ounce head.

I WOULD SAY MINE IS CLOSER TO 300 FT....BUT I HAVE CAUGGHT THEM CLOSER AS WELL

11/0 7991

[Squidnation]

thanks for the tips. the big difference between your fishery and what we are trying to do is that we are usually the only boat fishing. We know they are here - we have hooked a couple just haven't gotten any of the bigger ones in the boat yet.

[neilinov]

Bill are you planning on going any next week? I'm going down to MHC tomorrow and fishing Mon, be back Tuesday. There are a couple of us up here in Delaware that are planning on going when the wind cuts down possibly Wednesday.

[Ravens16]

Squid, I'm not up on the offshore thing as most guys on here
But I will tell you one thing, I fished with Marty a few weeks ago and that SOB knows how to work those planers like no one I have ever seen
Every damn fish hit the planer
He is freaking good
Good luck, catch em' up

[juicyhook]

Switching my downrigger to PP made a big difference in the way they dig. The mono leader on the planner line helps avoid the planner cutting the braid, lost 2 boat side one day.

Having a downrigger that you can clear quickly help get the bait reset and checked since you are not using the coastal slide down the braid method. But using a loop keeps the bait
as deep as possible, the main point of a planner.

Bill you fishing Tommarrow? If you need a buddy boat I may be able to get there tonight bait would be the issue.