Hi Everyone,

Thinking about getting diving boards and planer boards for some Lake Trout and some trolling. What are your thoughts on bring this up into the BWCA, waste of space and weight?

I personally think it is a waste of space and weight. I don't use weights or divers and do fairly well for trout just trolling a crank bait.

I have considered planer boards but once again seem like too much of a hassle, I think you would need to commit to a lot of trolling to make it worth it, like 4-5 hours/day.

With that said if you bring them I'd love to hear how it went.

T

I'd only consider it if I had 3 to a canoe and was going to do a lot of trolling.

timatkn: "I personally think it is a waste of space and weight. I don't use weights or divers and do fairly well for trout just trolling a crank bait.

I have considered planer boards but once again seem like too much of a hassle, I think you would need to commit to a lot of trolling to make it worth it, like 4-5 hours/day.

With that said if you bring them I'd love to hear how it went.

T"

Duly noted. I'm leaning more toward the planer boards, since we're going to base camp. This means more time fishing!

Don't forget the Cannon downriggers and balls. Good 4 to 5 pounders. :)

Just teasing you.

As we like to say, if you want to bring a special gear item, you carry it. But, as the others have said, kind of a waste of space and extra weight in the pack. Get some good deep-diving cranks instead.

How many lines are allowed to be in use per angler? If only one, then a rod out each side of the canoe (without using planer boards) is pretty easy. Are you really interested in battling more than one line per person? And do you want two lines out from your bow angler? Not to mention the possible mess the fish could cause before you could get your other line(s) out of the way.

You're not running a motor so it's not like you're trying to get your lure away from the noise.

Jackfish: "Don't forget the Cannon downriggers and balls. Good 4 to 5 pounders. :)

Just teasing you.

As we like to say, if you want to bring a special gear item, you carry it. But, as the others have said, kind of a waste of space and extra weight in the pack. Get some good deep-diving cranks instead."

Haha, I was thinking about bring an anchor, so I can lock onto one spot only. Lol.

Frankie09: "Haha, I was thinking about bring an anchor, so I can lock onto one spot only. Lol. "

Now anchors are a different deal. Bring two basketball nets and a couple 30-40' ropes and make your own anchor bags while you're up there. Virtually no weight to pack in or out and the rock weights are already up there. Here is a link to a past discussion.

Jackfish: "

Frankie09: "Haha, I was thinking about bring an anchor, so I can lock onto one spot only. Lol. "

Now anchors are a different deal. Bring two basketball nets and a couple 30-40' ropes and make your own anchor bags while you're up there. Virtually no weight to pack in or out and the rock weights are already up there. Here is a link to a past discussion."

Lol! This guy, I can't tell if you're being serious anymore. I did read the link provided, should like a good idea.

I wouldn’t, I do bring some snap weights.
One trip a buddy and me had 2 other guys who had some limitations so we carried most of there gear, when we got to camp they removed a 12 pound navy anchor from their pack. Lol

I couldn’t do it. When I’m seriously fishing for Lakers, controlling the canoe, watching the depth finder,and watching the end of the rod is about all I can handle. Throw some wind in the mix, it’s total exhaustion at the end of the day...

I could see running a small in line board in a large shallow bay early in the year with say an original rapala or like lure. You could push your presentation out from the boat while trolling shallow water of say 5ft. This would be an efficient way to cover ground IMO.

I have used dipsy divers out of my canoe. The potential is certainly there.......the full size dipsy will give you a workout. Having said that I have caught almost all my trout trolling cranks. The dipsy picked up some pike and a walleye in 40ft on a flutter spoon.

I've used snap weights, jet divers, and fish seekers to get lures (usually spoons, but the snap weights work with anything) down deeper while trolling. I'll often bring all three if it's a trip where we're primarily trolling for lakers. Jet divers and fish seekers only work with very light-pulling lures, like flutter spoons, but they don't add much weight to your gear. Jet divers float so they back out of snags reasonably well; fish seekers sink, but they have multiple connection points so it's easier to dial in a specific depth.

I've also used a small planer board that clips on the line. I really only use it if we have three people trolling from the canoe. It's nice for preventing tangles on the two lines on the same side, but it's a bit of a hassle to unclip while fighting a fish. We used it on one fantastic May evening after supper. Three guys caught four trout from 8-14 pounds, and we missed a couple more. It was only the second trout ever for the guy that got the 14 pound fish. I think he may still be grinning!

If I had to choose only one of planer, snap weights, jet diver, or fish seeker, it would be two jet divers, one 20' and one 30'.

I like MT's idea of using the planer to run a floating rapala tight to the shore while the canoe is out deeper.