i’ve just got into planer board trolling and have been having some success but when i get a fish on the outside rod and after i get it reeled in and all. im stuck on how to reset that rod? do i just make that one the inside rod now? i would like it to be back on the outside but i dont know how to do that unless i reel the inside rods in. and help is appreciated. 
Set the inside rod at the distance you were back on the outside and put the board on. Now while that is go out place the one U got the fish on to the inside and keep going.
just my .02cents
Just take the inside rod out and lay it down on the other side of the big motor. Then you get your outside line set and return the inside rod to the rod holder. Just keep an eye on the rod laying down. This is how I do it haven’t had a issue yet. 
Here’s what I do when I want the outside line back on the outside after catching a fish.
Let out the amount of line desired behind the board, clamp on the board, let the board go out straight behind the boat (free spool with no pressure) until it reaches the distance desired from the boat, close the bail and set it in the rod holder. The board will swing right around the inside board line and fall right back into place where it was before it caught a fish.
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Just take the inside rod out and lay it down on the other side of the big motor. Then you get your outside line set and return the inside rod to the rod holder. Just keep an eye on the rod laying down. This is how I do it haven’t had a issue yet.
Great way to lose you’re rod. The only thing that will save you if this rod gets snagged or gets hit by a large fish is if the board stays above water.
Better idea is to put the inside rod in a rod holder on the opposite side of the boat. Preferably near the back of the boat. Then move it back to it’s original position after deploying the outside rod.
I’m assuming that you are trolling two planer boards on the same side of the boat (and not long lining your inside rod). If so, I do the same thing as Joel and I agree it helps to have mulitple rod holders in your boat so that you can easily move your rods around.
One other thing to point out that hasn’t been discussed yet – how does someone reel in that outside board without snagging the inside board/line? You just free spool that inside board straight back and then reel the outside board/fish in front of it. It’s a little tricky but it can be done.
If you are long lining that inside rod and want to put that outside board/line out, another way to do it is to cast your crankbait towards where your planer board normally sits when you troll. Not the easiest thing to do with a line counter reel but I do it all the time. Then you need to hurry up and put your planer board on and pull it away from the boat until the desired length. All this planer board talk makes me wish I was out there! 
I usually let my inside boards go out with the Clicker on to slow them down when reeling in the outside board. Then I reel the board back to where I want it. Let my outside board line out add the board let outa buttload of line and close the bail. As long as you let out enough line it should go right over the inside board. I’ve played this game with up to 4 boards per side. Once you get a system down, it’s easy.
wow thanks guys for all the help. and yes i am only running 2 boards to a side as im just trying to get the system down and then i might go up to 3 boards per side. i’ll have to mess around with it and figure out the best way to do it. thanks again guys 
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Just take the inside rod out and lay it down on the other side of the big motor. Then you get your outside line set and return the inside rod to the rod holder. Just keep an eye on the rod laying down. This is how I do it haven’t had a issue yet.
Great way to lose you’re rod. The only thing that will save you if this rod gets snagged or gets hit by a large fish is if the board stays above water.
Better idea is to put the inside rod in a rod holder on the opposite side of the boat. Preferably near the back of the boat. Then move it back to it’s original position after deploying the outside rod.
I never lost a rod yet and learned this trick from PWT PRO.
I have caught fish with the rod on the floor “Just keep an eye on the rod laying down”.
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Just take the inside rod out and lay it down on the other side of the big motor. Then you get your outside line set and return the inside rod to the rod holder. Just keep an eye on the rod laying down. This is how I do it haven’t had a issue yet.
Great way to lose you’re rod. The only thing that will save you if this rod gets snagged or gets hit by a large fish is if the board stays above water.
Better idea is to put the inside rod in a rod holder on the opposite side of the boat. Preferably near the back of the boat. Then move it back to it’s original position after deploying the outside rod.
I never lost a rod yet and learned this trick from PWT PRO.
I have caught fish with the rod on the floor “Just keep an eye on the rod laying down”.
You may not have lost a rod yet but I have snagged and retrieved several different trolling rod setups from the bottom of Lake Wisconsin that some unlucky fisherman lost.
Why take the chance. Its very easy to get distracted. Next thing you know, the rods gone.
Add an extra rod holder if you are running multiple planer board sets. When you get a bite on an outside board, clear the inside line by reeling in the board near the boat, then move the rod to an empty rod holder on the opposite side. Drag the board close to the boat- with just enough line out to let the board ride naturally- usually about 10-15′. Always leave the “cleared” board in the water if at all possible.
The advantage of doing this is twofold- the netting area is wide open in case a fish gets a little frisky near the boat, and the presentation isn’t changed as much because the board is still in the water. This is especially important when fishing spinners. You might get away with putting a board in the splashwell when pulling cranks, but it’s always better to leave the board in the water where you can.
HatCam footage from the AIM event at Green Bay, you can see me clearing the inside line at about the 2:45 mark:
http://www.aimfishing.com/video.asp?id=2632
Jim Carroll NPAA #13
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i’ve just got into planer board trolling and have been having some success but when i get a fish on the outside rod and after i get it reeled in and all. im stuck on how to reset that rod? do i just make that one the inside rod now? i would like it to be back on the outside but i dont know how to do that unless i reel the inside rods in. and help is appreciated.
Netmann – lot of good information here for sandy or clean bottom lakes but for most of the lakes I’ve trolled spinners on (cranks are another story) there is no short cut. Gravity usually wins when free spooling and you’ll end up with a gob of zebra mussels or weeds so your lure is not fishing effectively. Crank them in and hang them on the boat in a holder as Jim C. suggests. You’ll save yourself a lot of wasted time fishing lures that are fowled and won’t catch fish. Rarely does a lazy fisher person have a successful catch rate except on those rare days when the walleyes are on the suicidal bite. Work generally wins… Mess around and after a while you’ll dial in what works for you. Lot of good stuff to try on this post but don’t be afraid to clear the lines and start over. Gives you a chance to change blades, check bait and maybe try a different portion of the water column. Good luck – Kurt
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