floats

[pathfinder]

hey ya"ll i'm new to striper fishing I see a lot of people with big floats and was wondering how they are using them and how effective that kind of fishing is any info is helpful and greatly appreciated. thanks 

[coheasion]

Hi - they are typically used for fishing live bait that is caught locally. A bait is attached to the line and then the line is attached to the float and it "planes" the bait out to the side and away from the boat allowing you to fish multiple baits at once without getting tangled up. Thats why these floats are called "planer boards".

It is a very effective tactic but is not the only tactic that works. It it probably the most consistent method for catching stripers at SML, but during different times other tactics will work better.

Read the "how to" section in the Striper section on this forum for a much more in depth discussion.

[mwardncsu]

There are planer boards and also floats for behind the boat.

Some used to use (and may still) balloons - blow it up a bit and tie it on the line. I use the Redi-Rig floats that have a release clip. Toss out however much line you want the bait behind/under the float, place the line in the release clip and then play the float out behind the boat however far you want from there.

The planer board works the same way, but as Cohesion said it pulls away from the boat as you are trolling - we mostly all use inline planer boards - that is they are connected to your main line with a swivel and clipped in place with a release clip. When the fish hits the release clip pops loose and the board can slide down to the hook - so you need a bead or something ahead of the hook - not a big deal as most use a swivel and then leader material to the hook anyway

Note these are NOT the same as the big water trolling planer boards that have a dedicated mast/line and then release clips that hang off that planer board line where each individual rod line is attached

[johnr]

Has anyone ever actually caught a striper on a float???

Joking, kind of..

I pull em, but it’s a rare day when one gets any action.

[coheasion]

I catch fish on them all the time, albeit they are typically my smaller fish.

I ususally have 2 Redi-rigs with weighted lines and one regular float as a free line.

[mwardncsu]

Depends where I'm fishing on the lake.... there are certain areas I'll fish where a float never gets attention - I think its due to the nature of that area and the fish run close to the banks. When out more over open water the float can get as much love as the boards - or at least the outside boards....

Like Cohesion - I'll typically run 2 floats out the back - one with a light weight (3/8 oz) and one freelined..... For whatever reason I tend to put my smaller baits out there - which often leads to the smaller fish - but we've caught some pigs on the floats too...

[drag4striper]

I caught a citation on a float. But I did slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night. 😁

No kidding I did catch a 37 inch striper on a float. I perfer a circle hook with a very light drag setting and clicker on. Give um time to eat the bait before you sweep the rod.