Skip to main content

Planer Board Trolling The Shallows For Spooky Walleyes

Planer Board Trolling The Shallows For Spooky Walleyes

Planer boards help prevent spooking. They're primarily thought of as an open-water midsummer tool, used to spread lines and search for suspended basin walleyes. But they can be a powerful tool in the early season when walleyes are shallow and bottom conditions favor their use. Find the right conditions on the Great Lakes or small natural lakes--like sand, clay, mud, or gravel--and some argue that boards can be used any time.

"Look at the structure, to determine whether you can use boards at all," says Professional Walleye Trail veteran Gary Parsons. "If you're dealing with shallow rocks

or any snaggy bottom, boards can be a hassle. But in locations where you can bump crankbaits or bottom bouncers off the bottom without getting hung up much, boards can be the ticket to getting your lure into shallow water without spooking the fish.

"When I'm trying to find roaming schools of fish in a large area," Parsons says, "the first thing I do is spread out as many lines as I can, as wide as possible, to contact walleyes. If I catch a few fish and get a sense for where the fish are located, I revise the board layout to pull the baits right through the fish.

"Walleyes have a limited sight zone and a limited range they're willing to move to bite. If I can get four lines into their zone, I've maximized my odds of catching fish."

Crankbaits and spinner rigs are perhaps the most popular lures to use with planer boards.


GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

How to Pick the BEST Hook for Your Soft Plastic Bass Lures

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

Swapping Out TOPWATER Frog Hooks for Better Hook Ups

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

The BEST Hook For Catfish

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Gear

Maximize Fishing Graph Screen Inches For Maximum Fishing Data Output

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

DIY Rod Build: Exceeding Expectations with the Perfect Multi-Purpose Bass Rod

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Gear

Old Town Sportsman AutoPilot 120 UNBOXING

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

GENIUS Planer Board Modification Tip with Ross Robertson

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Gear

In-Fisherman's Old Town Sportsman PDL 120 Walk-Through with Thomas Allen

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

Old Town Salty PDL 120 Kayak Walk-Through

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

NEW In-Fisherman TV River Jet Boat: Yamaha Powered SmokerCraft Pro Sportsman 1866

Humminbird's TargetLock Foot Pedal Functions EXPLAINED
Learn

DECKED OUT 2023 Starcraft STX 2050: New In-Fisherman TV Boat

In-Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Buy Single Digital Issue on the In-Fisherman App

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top In-Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All In-Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now