Hands Free: Planer Fishing Made Easier

WHETHER IT’S YOUR TOP TACTIC right out of the gate or a last resort when the afternoon heat shuts down the bite, using planers to present trolling baits at various depths beneath the surface is a trusted technique that has stood the test of time. Once the planer reaches the rod tip the reel is rendered useless and a mate is forced to hand-line the hooked quarry to the boat, leaving coils of leader on the deck and greatly complicating the end game process.

Through a bit of angling ingenuity, the development of custom wind-on bridles allows quick removal of the planer so the fight can go on unimpeded. How a planer works is simple. The weighted metal plate attaches to your main running line and acts as a hydrofoil, digging deep into the strike zone as it is trolled through the water column. When pulled at the appropriate speed and distance behind the boat, planers run at a 45 degree angle. A long leader, known as a shock cord, trails behind the planer and connects to the fluorocarbon or wire leader and your chosen bait or lure. While highly dependent on target species, depth and trolling speed, anglers often fish shock cords upwards of 100 feet in length.

Though planers remain under tension while in fishing mode, the device is designed to trip as soon as a fish strikes, instantly eliminating all resistance and enabling the angler to fight the fish unimpeded. It’s important to remember that trolling too fast or choosing a bait that’s too big will result in the unwanted tripping of the planer. Whether fighting a fish or simply checking your bait, once the planer reaches the rod tip the angler’s job is over and a designated mate is required to retrieve the shock cord by hand.