Using planer board with lead core

New to lead core and planer boards and was wondering if you can use a planer board with lead core thanks in advance

Yes, but not the way you’re probably thinking.

You don’t want to clip your board onto leadcore, it needs to be on your backer for a few reasons.

1. Releases are hard on leadcore, and will break/kink the lead

2. Leadcore by nature is heavy. The line will bow in the air causing your boards to run wrong and not plane out from the boat like they should.

3. Leadcore is thick. It will catch more wind and contribute to the above mentioned bow in the line.

The quick of it, you run predetermined lengths on a specific reel. A two color reel, a three color reel, a five color, etc. You build a reel to the specific depth you’re targeting, with plenty of backer behind it.

Leadcore on boards is an open water tactic for targeting a specific depth (10′ down, 15′ down, 20′ down etc).

It’s not for contour trolling and trying to tag bottom for walleyes at varying depths.

Keep in mind any turn you make will exaggerate the depth with leadcore on a board. A 5 color will run about 25′ depending on speed, brand, # test, lure, current, etc. But if it’s on a portside board on a left turn, it could easily drop another 10′-15′. The same 5 color on the starboard side will rise to 10-20′

B-man wrote:

Yes, but not the way you’re probably thinking.

You don’t want to clip your board onto leadcore, it needs to be on your backer for a few reasons.

1. Releases are hard on leadcore, and will break/kink the lead

2. Leadcore by nature is heavy. The line will bow in the air causing your boards to run wrong and not plane out from the boat like they should.

3. Leadcore is thick. It will catch more wind and contribute to the above mentioned bow in the line.

The quick of it, you run predetermined lengths on a specific reel. A two color reel, a three color reel, a five color, etc. You build a reel to the specific depth you’re targeting, with plenty of backer behind it.

Leadcore on boards is an open water tactic for targeting a specific depth (10′ down, 15′ down, 20′ down etc).

It’s not for contour trolling and trying to tag bottom for walleyes at varying depths.

Keep in mind any turn you make will exaggerate the depth with leadcore on a board. A 5 color will run about 25′ depending on speed, brand, # test, lure, current, etc. But if it’s on a portside board on a left turn, it could easily drop another 10′-15′. The same 5 color on the starboard side will rise to 10-20′

Great post.

If the original poster is thinking for the river or most of MN’s lakes, you’re often better off:

-running planer boards with mono in shallower depths

-using lures that naturally run as deep as the areas you’re fishing without needing the lead for your boards

-using leadcore from your trolling rods and skipping boards all together

Trolling shorelines with boards can often be very effective with say 1 or 2 colors with both mono topshot and backer.

Its a pain in the rear, and will likely end in a huge mess.

Much easier option if your goal is to have more rods out is to run 15’ers out the sides and 5’ers out the back and then 2 snap weight rods on braid straight under the boat. Way easier than boards with leadcore.

If your goal is get away from the boat because spooking fish… Use braid and boards and deeper cranks. IMO

Thank you all I appreciate your help