Page 8 - Crappie NOW - August 2018

PLANER BOARD CRAPPIE

“With planer boards, you could run one He fills his reels with 10-lb. Gamma hi-
400 feet away from the boat if you could see vis mono and uses the same line, in clear, for
it,” Dannenmueller said. “Normally you run it his leaders.
150 feet and can see the boards effectively.” “I could use fluorocarbon, but it sinks
The boards are staggered at intervals starting and adds another variable that has to be
at about 50 feet from the boat. The wide figured in,” Dannenmueller said.
spread negates any spooking factor created He mounts the rods in Driftmaster
by the trolling motor. rod holders specifically designed to fit the
“That’s one of the advantages of planer contours of his Ranger boat. The Driftmasters
boards,” Dannenmueller said. “The fish are are built with exact angles that allow for a
likely to spook to a degree with traditional perfect spread of boards and prevent lines
long-lining. They are largely unaffected by from crossing.
the boat and trolling motor when using planer “The Driftmaster rod holders make the
boards.” perfect setup,” Dannenmueller said. “I went
He pulls the boards with tackle heavier than to (Driftmaster owner and designer) David
is normally associated with crappie fishing. Baynard about three years ago and asked
He uses B’n’M Silver Cat Magnum rods and him to develop me a set of rod holders that
Abu Garcia Alphamar Line Counter reels. fit my boat. He did a masterful job of creating
The heavier rods allow him to snap the line rod holders that fit my boat exactly and allow
free from the front of the planer board when ease of movement throughout the boat.”
a fish hits. The jig/crankbait duel rig proves

8 Crappie NOW August 2018