Keep a good selection of Off Shore planer boards handy for setting
from six to a dozen rods in various water conditions.
Chasing Offshore Crappie with Planer Boards
Story and photos by Richard Hines
I met Kentucky Lake guide Doug Wynn at last year’s Cornfield Fishing Gear’s Demo Day when he was giving a demonstration on using planer boards and trolling for late-summer crappie. I had used planer boards for walleyes, but I had never considered crappie as a target.
After his presentation, I immediately scheduled a trip during September with Capt. Doug and not just to catch crappie but to learn as much as I could about trolling for slabs when summer is winding down.
During August and into early October, it’s hot and I’m willing to bet that few anglers are thinking about crappie. But by late summer, Wynn is just getting started, and he is more than happy to share his knowledge of this subject. Wynn, a lifelong angler and guide on Kentucky Lake, has been an advocate for planer boards for several years.
Like all anglers Wynn also uses a wide range of electronic and “normal” methods to catch crappie. But he said he prefers trolling during late summer and into the early fall when crappie are moving into a major transition period, spending most of their time chasing bait into the bays off the main lake.
When I arrived, Wynn told me that Kentucky Lake had just reported some of its highest ever surface temperatures. “This slowed fish activity, and it is far from a normal transition period,” he said. “When this happens, we have to go into a search mode, trolling and pulling a variety of crankbaits trying to locate crappie.”
When anglers are dealing with high surface temperatures, fish activity slows or even shuts down. During normal summer-fall transitions, water temps begin slowly declining, and this ever-so-slight temperature drop combined with less daylight each day pushes crappie into increased feeding activity. Anglers who understand this will catch fish at one of the toughest times of the year.
Rod Setup And Lure Choice
Setting rods is about organization. Wynn always starts with six—three on each side of the boat. This includes two 14-foot rods, two 12-foot rods and two 7 ½ foot rods, all rigged with baitcasting reels spooled with 10- to 12-pound-test line. Reels with line counters are essential so you know how many feet of line you have out. Sometimes, this can be up to 100 feet.
The shortest rods are at the rear and on the inside of the trolling line. The longer rods, which are always set first, have the longest amount of line out. It is important to set the longest line first in case you have to make a wide turn. Once the boards are attached, each line should be on a 45-degree angle from the boat, one slightly behind the other.
Since it’s sometimes a guess as to which color lure is preferred, Wynn starts with six different lure colors until the right color and correct depth are determined. Wynn almost exclusively uses Pico INT crankbaits. This series has over 30 choices, featuring square bill and deep bill designs, with names like Killer Bee, Wonder Bread and D Wynn, named after Capt. Doug Wynn himself. Many of these deep runners, which can dive up to 18 feet, are perfect for trolling.
Wynn did mention an important aid when trolling: the Precision Trolling Data app for your phone. The app helps determine depth capability of lures, no matter the brand and at which speed to obtain desired depths.
Wynn said, “This app provides continual updates on hundreds of crankbaits and dive charts. For instance, if you are trolling 1.6 mph and let out a set amount of line, the app shows how deep the bait will run. This is one of the most accurate trolling apps on the market and is essential for getting maximum performance from your equipment … I use this app every day.”
As you begin to let line out, it’s time to set your planer boards. Wynn’s choice is the OR38 Mini Planer and the OR12 Side Planer, both manufactured by Off Shore Tackle. These come in packages that include line releases and instructions on rigging boards.
Location, Location, Location
Wynn emphasized being in the right location where we were pulling baits along a breakline between four feet of water adjacent to a 20-foot drop. He said crappie tend to hang out on these sites waiting for baitfish.
Also choose locations along the running edges of flats. If you are near the main channel, start along the original river channel and work back into shallow water. For those of you without electronics, watch for navigation buoys. These are set along the original riverbanks and are good places to find suspended fish.
Depending on conditions, Wynn will set trolling speeds between 0.6 to 1.6 mph. This allows the angler to sit back and enjoy the ride while watching for a flag on one of the boards to flip. Don’t get in a rush. Wait for the rod to load up, then give a quick pop on the line to release the board and begin reeling.
As late summer begins moving into fall, it’s the perfect time to go offshore and search out crappie that are beginning to gorge themselves for the approaching winter. And there’s no better way to intercept these roaming slabs than pulling planer boards through their late-summer hideouts. Plus, don’t be surprised to pick up other species in addition to crappie. After all, those shorter days are signaling to all fish that it’s time to load up!
To schedule a fishing trip with Capt. Doug, visit www.crappie-gills-n-more.com. For lodging and other information, check out Destination Calloway.
(Richard Hines is a retired wildlife biologist, book author and award-winning freelance outdoor writer and photographer. Since 1985, Hines has appeared on various radio and TV shows and has published hundreds of articles on hunting, fishing, conservation and natural history.)
