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Otter boat/planer board question

OK... here's the issue. I am running big jon otter boats off a dual reel mast that sits about eight or nine feet off the water (to the top pulleys)... When I put the boats out (approximately 100' of line?) I have a very hard time getting the planer clip/leadcore line to go out more than 2/3 of the way to the otter boat. I tried putting out more line to the otter, but the leadcore just wouldn't go past that 2/3 mark. I've seen others running one clip right near the otter and one half way... I'd like to add that second line but need to figure out how to get the first one all the way out.
I have tried shaking the otter line, shaking the leadcore, switching the way the planer clip loop was facing... nothing helps. Is it just because I'm only running 2 or 3 colors of lead in the water and it doesn't have enough drag or what?
It has frustrated me enough... I need the help of the pros.
I've even thought of waxing the clip loop???
Any suggestions are appreciated.
One other thing I might add is that the mast is at the bow of the boat and at 2.0-2.5 mph the otters are just about straight off the side of the boat.
Thanks for your help.

Re: Otter boat/planer board question

we sometimes have had that problem too, sometimes it depends on the wind. the derection of the wind holds the release up on the line sometimes. what we do is pull in about 10-15 feet of planer line and let it go slack and drop into the water when it tightens back up it usualy pulls the release down. the best thing i have found to is the heavier realeases go down better. cabelas sells a somewhat weighted release with a little rubber coated alligator clip on the end there about 5-6 inches long and have a little orange ball in the middle that adds a bit of weight these releases always seem to go down with a little shake or just by them selves. we have used the shower curtain type releases and have had trouble getting them down i think a little weight on the release makes a world of difference. hope i could help somewhat good luck !

Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

That makes sense... I'll try that trick of dropping the otter line in the water next time... If that doesn't work for me maybe I'll try putting a couple big split shot on the release clips to see if the added weight helps. I have so many of these clips, I have to try to make them work before replacing them... I need to save my pennies for that new antenna. Thanks for the hints.

Re: Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

ya i have the same problem but the otter boards are still super !

Re: Otter boat/planer board question

Pull the line from the Planner Reel down to the middle cleat on your boat.. Wrap it a couple times around so the planner line is about 3 feet off the water.. You won't have that problem anymore.. Plus your boats will turn better with your boat.. You won't get the big amount of dead line you get now when you turn.. Also.. did you tie a loop in the line on the board itself.. tie the knot up closer to the front of the boat that will make the boat run true..

Let me know if that doesn't help.. I have a couple other things that work..

Jay

Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

OK - question... I thought I was suppose to keep the mast as high as possible to keep the otter line out of the water and allow me to go further out? By moving the line down to the gunnel won't the line be closer to the water causing it to drag in a chop/wave and not allow as much distance out from the boat?
Yes, the otter line has a loop in it just as they said in the directions... about 9" from the front... and they track very well. I have no issues with slack line in turns the way they are set up, unless I really have to make a sharp turn. I think they'd go slack no matter how they were set at that point.
I've seen other boats set up exactly the same (been on them and seen the setup in action) and they didn't have the problem I'm having. My issue isn't with the otter boats... they track and work great... its the clip not making it all the way to the end of the otter line.
Thanks

Re: Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

Try pulling the lines down closer to the water.. Let me know what you think.. If your using the Yellow Planner releases from Off Shore. That is all we run.. Never have an issue.. But I also don't often times run my boards out past 75 ft.. I don't see any reason to do that.. But that is just my opinon... I use the boards to seperate lines so I can run more. a 165 foot pass should produce fish if they are biting.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

I'll give it a shot next time and see what happens... I have been going out further to allow two lines to be on each otter boat... seems in the past its always the furthest line from the boat that has the most action this time of year. Also allows me to put a line up in the shallow water that I can't get near while using the downriggers... I'm a rookie, so maybe this makes no sense... just what I've seen work before when fishing with friends??? I may be putting more thought into it than needed. (Overanalyzing again...) Thanks I'll let you know how I make out.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

It might be that the last night is furthest from the boat or further back behind the boat.. The last line out on the board is usually the furthest back also.. Remember your lines only need to be spaced out by about 8-10 feet.. so with a 60 foot planner.. you can run three lines.. Hope this helps..

jay

Re: Otter boat/planer board question

Slipknot,
The problem that you are experiencing is due to the forces at the clip being in equilibrium that is to say; the 3 colors (60 ft.) of lead line in the water is creating a force on the clip that is equal to the force of the lead core that is attached to the fish pole. To increase the forces on the lead core in the water, the speed of the boat needs to be increased; this should help to pull on the lead core from the fishing pole. It is worth a try. Good luck.
Gus

Re: Re: Otter boat/planer board question

That was kind of what I thought... I figured I needed to put more line in the water (for more "drag"), but I hadn't given thought to increasing speed. I wonder if I were to pick up speed just until the line made it all the way out and then resumed a slower speed, would the clip stay as is, or would it slide back up...? I'll have to give that a try.
Well, at least I now have a bunch of things to try to solve my problem... Thanks guys.