So I am really looking forward to this year’s trolling season with my new boat and I am trying to make sure I have all of the gear that I need. I want to avoid a down-rigger for now so I am looking to run planners off of a heavy duty bent butt setup. If I plan to run medium to large planners, what should I be looking to buy? Specifically I am looking for rod length and line rating, #s drag on the reel, and material and strength of line. I caught a 65# wahoo on a nice planner setup last year and I want to shoot for the same on my boat this year.
Thanks!
Have you thought about using wire line rods and reels? They are not cheap and some don’t like to use them because of the weights;but they catch fish!!
will probably need 80 size reels to run a large planer at higher speeds. the rod will be quite expensive as well, a bent butt, wind on guide stroker rod would be the best for strength and standup fishing. that will end up running almost 1700 for the setup plus the line.
Tld 50 II speed with 130 braid and a number 8 or12 planer on a pinnacle bent butt is the cheapest and most productive way out. I have two Tiagra 80’s on 130 and also an 80 blank and feel it is overkill unless you run a 16 old salty or a 32 old salty. I starteed out with the larger outfits and primarily use the 50 set-ups as we speak. they flat out get the job done. using wind-on bridles of course.
Wanna kill fish, then let’s go! Always ready, always willing to teach the ways.
Good thing is We use this rig as we high speed on the way out so it serves a double purpose. of course without planers and using trolling sinkers instead at this point.
Wanna kill fish, then let’s go! Always ready, always willing to teach the ways.
Set mine up last year and went with a Penn 50VSX and pinnacle planer rod. Rigged with 130lb braid in line planer then 75-100ft 100lb mono. Produced fish everytime out last year, wont leave the dock without now!
Sea-Scaper
2360 Sailfish w/ t150’s
You don’t necessarily have to have a bent butt planer rod. We have two stand-up planer rods that are much more manageable than bent butts while fishing on a small boat. We run a #4 planer on a 9/0 with 80lb braid and have not had any problems with it. Be sure to get Atlantic or Haddrells to add drag washers to the reel. They are meat catchers for sure.
agree with Lowcountry. Bent butts are helpful but not critical.
To follow up, we don’t use roller guides on a planer rod. It is too easy for the bridle to get hung on them, if it can pass at all. Get an over sized swivel tip and regular ring guides. They will allow the bridle to pass through much easier.
I don’t use a bent butt on my planer rod since I fish a cat and I don’t like how close the braid is to the props at that point. I do use bent butts for flat lines though… I can’t say that I have much experience fishing a planer on a bent butt, but I like on the straight rods how easy it is to see a fish hit… There is a lot of motion in the rod when a fish trips the planer. Not sure if you get the same experience on the bent, but I would guess not…
what size planer are yall able to run on an avet pro 30 or 30vsx at 10-12 knots? i may have to give this a try with a small planer, as i was under the impression that a huge reel and rod were necessary.
I use a planer on 25 feet of 400 pound mono crimped to a lanyard. Then I use a rubberband and a double snap swivel to let the line ride down to the planer. It works great and you don’t need a super heavy duty rod to run it. You can buy it as a kit. May not be what you are looking for but works and its easy.
I do the same as lowcountry boy except I have 440 braid backed with 600 lb works well and swivel tip, Steve hook it up at Haddrells
Local Boy, Just having fun.
My set up is simple. #3 or 4 Old Salty planer on 60lb mono. Avet 30 on a straight butt 50-100lb rod. No bridle set up, just hand line it.
And I agree. No bent butt rod necessary.
Use Old Salty planer’s, you can easily trip them by putting the reel in freespool for a couple of seconds. I can’t get Sea Striker planer’s to trip, ever. It’s nice being able to easily trip a planer so that you can clear the planer rod if necessary.
Bent Butt advantage primaraley for a bote with swivel rod hoders so the rod never leaves gunnel, great for playing fish and gaffing time, nice but straight butts work too.
best price on bent butts…http://www.pjwholesalerods.com/ I use the planer rod to double as a big grouper rod. we run 150# braid and from the bridle out if 130 mono. works like a champ. When we stop to grouper fish I clip on a 12/0 dropper rig and a 20 ounce sinker with a whole B-liner.
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
quote:
Originally posted by sellsfishbest price on bent butts…http://www.pjwholesalerods.com/ I use the planer rod to double as a big grouper rod. we run 150# braid and from the bridle out if 130 mono. works like a champ. When we stop to grouper fish I clip on a 12/0 dropper rig and a 20 ounce sinker with a whole B-liner.
NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Thanks. I can’t find an address on the link. Where are they made? What kind of rollers are they made with?
They make them in Puerto Rico
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NMFS = No More Fishing Season
“Back home we got a taxidermy man. He gonna have a heart attack when he see what I brung him”
Pinnacle Marine Outfitters also makes some great rods for really good prices. I’d check them out as well. The owner John (I think his name is John) is great to work with.
Pat Condon
www.kingstreetagency.com
www.ksamarineinsurance.com
(843)568-8559