Question for people with small boats using a mast and big boards

[Phisherman585]

I have a 16ft aluminum boat. I'm almost done building a mast that will fit into my front seat pedestal. I'm wondering how I should go about setting my rod holders up. I've never used big boards so this is all new to me. If anyone has pictures of how they set there rods up it would he great. Should the rods go in the front or in the back of the boat. That kind of stuff. Thanks.

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[turf]

not my boat but this shows the rod holders to the rear just in front of where the downriggers go. It is a 17 foot boat

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[Phisherman585]

So that person has his planner board mast in the front of the boat and has his rods that are attached to his main board line in the rear of the boat?

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[turf]

Yes

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[rolmops]

When I used a mast on my almost 19 foot (18-10)open bow Sylvan, I had them the same way. Small boats tend to fish solo often and the easiest way to see what is happening is to have the rods close together and easy to see. Once you get a hit you can change the rods to different rod holders that are farther forward. The trick is to have plenty of rodholders and to use the ones that are most convenient in the given situation.

Edited April 24, 2014 by rolmops

[LongLine]

In my 18 ft'r, fishing solo with two rigg'rs & one board - all three rods are in adjacent holders rear of boat.  Board rod on the outside.  The fish care about where the lures are, my neck cares where they rods are, where I'm going and what's in front of me.

 

Tom B.

(LongLine)

[Phisherman585]

Gotcha. Thanks guys. I am going to need to experiment and see what works best for me I guess. Just don't want to be drilling holes all over the boat.

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[ifishy]

in a small boat the rod holders can often be closer togather make sure the front most rod holder is the same height or taller then the next one back for running boards.  I made this mistake and it puts the inside board rod tip higher than the outside rod tip this is a disaster when a fish hits.  I remember the first time i set them i looked at it and scratched my head for a few minues trying to figure out why i didnt like it than the fish hit and i knew. usually I only one one board line one dipsey and one rigger per side so i didnt notice the problem untill i was spring brown fishing the next year.

 

P.S. my boat is only 14 foot so space is a premium a good board across the back is a wonderful thing 

[choked-up]

[Phisherman585]

That rod holding set up is mint.

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[FleetTracker]

I use Great Lakes Planers triple trees on my little boat for my big board rod holders. Mounts are custom. My GLP planer mast is on the bow.

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Edited April 25, 2014 by FleetTracker

[choked-up]

Thanks. The boat is 19.5'. In my opinion the Cannon Dual Axis Rod Holder can not be beat for versatility.

[Miss em]

You can see my setup on this video. 

 

 

I like the trees and I often wrap the board tether line around the top of the tree.  Handy to hook releases to and more importantly, it can't get hooked on the rods/reels on turns.  

[Chas0218]

I prefer the great lake planers vertical trees they allow you to swivel the whole tree so the rods face away from the boat.  I find that having the rods perpendicular to the boat help keep more tension on the line when fish hit.  

 

This is especially important when walleye fishing because of the soft mouth those tricky critters have.

 

Here is how I have my boat rigged, but this year I have a better mast. Those vertical rod holders work great they also have enough snuff to hold 2 or more dipsys per a side. FWIW we were running 10 lines that day for walleye.

 

 

Here is a side view

Edited April 25, 2014 by Chas0218

[Chas0218]

You can see my setup on this video. 

 

 

I like the trees and I often wrap the board tether line around the top of the tree.  Handy to hook releases to and more importantly, it can't get hooked on the rods/reels on turns.  

Your boards seem like they are really far behind the boat.  Were you running some hard pulling baits?  Mine are usually no more than 10' behind the boat.

Edited April 25, 2014 by Chas0218

[Phisherman585]

Those towers are awsome. Very price tho. Someday.....

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[Chas0218]

Those towers are awsome. Very price tho. Someday.....

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No more than a 36" track and 3 burts.  Mine are all permanent and not in a track. $189 is not a lot for a vertical quad rod holder the triples are $164. 

 

One of the burts trees are $245.

 

Here is the site: http://greatlakesplaners.com/store/products.asp?cat=10&pg=2

Edited April 25, 2014 by Chas0218

[baitrigger]

Great lakes. Great product and service. Ive had them for a few years. I broke a couple screw and they sent me new ones, for no charge. Nobody else does that.

[xjbob99]

here is mine, 15' boat.

[Miss em]

Chas 0218,

I was trying some Riviera Doubles that day and wasn't impressed.  I love the Riviera Triples for everything including copper but the doubles didn't track well for me.   

[Phisherman585]

Definetly have a better idea on how to set her up. Thanks guys.

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