Night Cranking w/ Boards

Ok all you Night Crankers out there. What is the best way to troll @ night with these planer boards?? How do you light these up, so you can see them???

This is what has worked for me, but I’m wondering on other methods??? I use the orange Gary Roach planer boards the most, but I do own a pair of yellow Off shore’s I think??

With the Orange Gary Roaches, There is a screw in the top of the board (I think to hold the foam in). I unscrew this screw and stick a “Thill” lighted bobber light in this hole. Might need a screw driver or drill to make the hole a little bigger. This seems to work for me, This red light can be seen pretty easliy even in decent waves . You can even have different colors for multiple boards. What about the rest of you? How do you Night Crank with boards?

I just drilled a hole in the top of the board just to the front of the flag to fit a glow stick. Works very well and lasts all nite.

-J.

I personally don’t use boards night trolling on Mille Lacs. We get so deep into the reefs and weeds that you’d lose one plug after another or drag weeds for miles w/o knowing it. I can think of some applications, off the edge up on the north end sand comes to mind, where boards might have their place though.

The best part of pulling plugs on mille lacs is the strike! Some nights they’re so savage it’s unbelieveable. Behind a board you’d miss this part and that would be a shame.

I’ll use them on dead calm, flat, no wind at all nights or when there is a third person in the boat.

-J.

I could see where a line off the deep edge pulling a larger bait could put some extra fish in the boat.

I hear you there Jon. I mainly use it cause I have sometimes have 3 to 5 people in the boat and hate to spend the night tangled . I agree with James I rather not use a board, but there are instances I rather. I love the feel of that line going a tad slack than WHAM! Especially if it is a huge pike or ski! How do you go about it having more than 2 in the boat then James???

I run 3-4 people / lines all the time and have very few tangle problems as long as you follow a few simple rules.

Each side of the boat works as a team. The guy further back in the boat ALWAYS lets out first and runs more line than the guy closer to the bow of the boat that drops his line second and runs less line. The guy closest to the bow runs a long rod and keeps it pointed out. The guy at the back runs a shorter line and keeps his rod angled in or over the transom.

If the guy at the front of the boat sticks a fish the guy at the back of the boat raises his rod high and points it over the motor.

If the guy at the back fo the boat sticks a fish the guy in front reels like heck!

We do get tangles but it usually comes after someone breaks one of these simple rules.

Thanks James! I will have to try tat next time. I too love the feel of the slam, the fight seems to be better also w/ no planer board. Looking forward to Oct 23 with you! How many people is optimum for this trip? I’m guessing 3?????

Rob

3 + me is prime! I love the extra lines in the water…

Dang dude………..Now I know where I want to sit………..Get me in the middle chair………….Actually, just keep me close to the cooler of beverages and I’ll be happy. James, you said that night trolling has a 3 case beer minimum, right???

Beer? Beer?! You don’t need no stinkin’ beer! I’ll be working you WAY too hard to have time to drink beer. Besides… safety first on that big lake at night.

Middle Chair?

Dang, I know James boats big fish Gary, but he has a middle fighting chair installled???? Or is that the GC Chair???

Gary Consuming Chair!

Night fishing is one of the big reasons I have gone tiller now. Lots of room, and no obstructions like consoles to get in the way!
Bring on the night! I cant wait til the end of the month. A whole week off!!!!
Tuck

There used to be a light that we would clip on the tip ups for night fishing. When laying flat it was of and when the flag went up it turned on. The whole light was about the size of a small xmass tree light with a pen clip on it. Very light weight.
It seems to me like it would work for boards just backwards of how it worked on tip ups. When the light goes off, fish on.
Anouther trick we used before finding the lights was to put a strip of reflective tap on the flags. Just make sure it is long and narrow so you can tell what way it is laying.

I might even have to buy a board to see if these tricks work.

Years ago I use to run baords with the little kids halloween snap lights cable tied right to the arm of the Roach baord. Although I did not use the board all that much at night then it seemed to work pretty well. I even experimented with high reflective tape so that my head lamp would be enough to spot the board well without digging out the spotlight and drawing attention. Like James mentioned however, the board can be a nuisance unless you know exactly what depth that lure is running and that there is no obstructions. I did use them for about 2 weeks last fall and had some real good sucess. But I honestly feel you do not have to use them if you apporach these fish right!

With all the smallmouth action going on right now, I will be missing the Sept full moon, but looking forward to the entire month of October!

Just kidding about the beer thing James……….

Looking forward to the trip!!!!

Thanks for the tips and info. Can’t wait to use some of it, perhaps this weekend?????