Walleye Planer Board System -Ken Clark
The Planer Board System That Produced 35,000 Walleyes
After 30+ years and 35,000 walleyes, this system still delivers consistent results for clients of all skill levels.
Ken Clark - Fishmas Charters. Church Tackle Company Pro-Staff
In April, 1987 I moved to Whitehall, Michigan. At that time, I had never caught a walleye. Living on White Lake, I started fishing regularly. When I caught my first walleye, I wasn’t really sure what it was, but I was hooked! I became a “walleye snob” at that moment!
By 1996 I had dialed in my walleye fishing skills enough to start Fishmas Charters. Through guiding, I quickly realized that trolling with planer boards was the most efficient way to help folks catch more walleyes.
Back then you could only run two rods per person so the efficiency planer boards added made a huge difference.
Now, more than 35,000 walleyes later, a lot has changed, but pulling planer boards remains a top way to put fish in the boat.
My Trolling Approach
There are many ways to fish with planer boards, but this is my go-to system.
The Big Picture
I troll with 12-14 rods:
- 6-8 rods pulling side planer boards
- 2 rods off the back with stern planers
- 4 down rods without planers
My side planing board of choice is the Church Tackle Company TX-12 Mini.
Side Planer Setup
I run 3-4 TX-12 Mini planer boards off each side, spaced 25, 50, 75 and 100 feet from the boat.
Lead lengths from the planer board to the bait are typically 10, 20, 30 and 40 feet, with the shortest leads farthest from the boat.
Each line is rigged with a #1 or #2 Church Tackle Stingray Diving Weight.
For the most consistent action, my bait of choice is live crawlers on crawler harnesses. For most trips I bring 20-dozen crawlers, which means my charter goes through 12,000 to 15,000 crawlers per season.
Stern Planer Setup
I always run two rods with TX-007 Stern Planers, 200 and 250-feet off the back of the boat, straight up in my tallest rod holders.
These lines are rigged with the same Stingray Diving Weights and same crawler harnesses as the side planers.
It’s amazing how many ‘bonus’ fish I’ll pick up each day on the long lines, especially in shallower water. As the boat passes over the structure the fish are relating to, they’ll spook out to the sides and let the boat pass before repositioning. That’s when these stealthy long lines directly behind the boat puts the baits right in their faces.
Down Rods Setup
I also run 4 down rods with no planers.
I rig them with 10-pound braided line, #3 Stingray Diving Weights, and crawler harnesses. I run these baits close to the bottom so I know I’m covering the entire water column with my spread.
Why I Don’t Chase Depth Changes
When I catch one or more walleye at a specific depth, I don’t immediately adjust the rest of the spread.
Fish are constantly moving up and down in the water column. The graph helps in showing where the fish are but, having baits at other depths often shows if active fish are moving up or down. The most active fish are quite often so high in the water column that you don’t mark them on electronics, but with this setup I know I have them covered.
How To Avoid Tangled Lines
Even with all those rods, I seldom get lines tangled.
The key is simple: when retrieving a planer board, keep the rod tip pointed toward the opposite back corner of the boat. This brings both the board and the fish toward the center of the spread behind the boat.
It’s a simple adjustment that prevents tangles, saves time, and keeps fishing fun!
How Many Lines Should You Run?
Generally speaking, regulations are all that limits the number of lines I run. If you have two people in the boat you should be running six rods (3 lines per person). With three people run nine rods. With four run twelve. With more baits in the water, you can’t help but catch more fish!
Why This System Works for Anyone
Over the past 30-plus years I have shown this program to thousands of people.
And I love when they respond, “That’s it?!? That’s all you do?!? I can do that!”
My answer is yes.
This system is simple, repeatable, and effective. Give it a try—you’ll quickly see the results for yourself.
____________________________
If you’d like to learn more or see this system in action contact:
Captain Ken Clark
Fishmas Charters
(231) 740-2614
KenClark@FishmasCharters.com
