Page 7 - Crappie NOW - August 2018

PLANER BOARD CRAPPIE

Rigging, Tools & Tips The Off Shore Tackle planer boards
Rigging is the initial obstacle to come in three sizes, and Dannenmueller
overcome. A standard approach carries the employs a combination of “minis,” OR38
main line from the reel through two snaps models specifically designed for crappie
on the planer boards, which are designed fishing, and the larger, original OR 12s. He
to run on either the left or right side of the runs an OR12 on the outside on each side
boat. Dannenmueller emphasized the need of the boat for ease in visibility and then fills
to make a secure connection behind the out the spread with three OR38s inside. The
“tooth” on the front snap so that the board bigger planers come with a flag that pops up
runs straight. when a fish hits while the smaller ones sink
From the board, the line continues at a or bob in a manner similar to a cork when a
varying length, to an Off Shore Tackle Tadpole, fish loads up.
a gliding weight that provides stability and
allows lures to run true. The length of the line
from the board to the tadpole determines the
depth of the lure.
“You can run them five feet deep
or you could run them 40 if wanted to,”
Dannenmueller said.
From the tadpole, which weighs about
one ounce, Dannenmueller normally uses
two leaders, one for a crankbait and one for
a regular jig, usually a Road Runner head
paired with Bobby Garland plastics. “That’s
my normal setup although I do occasionally
rig without a tadpole and use a Thundermist
three-way swivel with the leaders extending
off of it.”
The Road Runner is tied to the top
leader, which is about two feet long, and
generally runs about two feet above the other
bait, which is attached to a three- to four-foot
leader. That rigging targets crappie in both
the top and bottom of a school.
“You can do this simple or complex,”
Dannenmueller said. “Simple is one bait.
Complex is the double rig on a three-way.”
To further facilitate the process,
Dannenmueller uses a smartphone app from
Precision Trolling Data to determine precise
placement of the lure in the water column.
Plugging in variables like line size and brand,
trolling speed, and lure type provides an
exact depth at which lures will be running.
“In the old days, everything was trial-
and-error and you still didn’t know if you were
exactly where you thought you were depth-
wise,” Dannenmueller said. “Using the app
takes all the guesswork out of the equation
and provides you precise information.”

7 Crappie NOW August 2018