Let's talk about trolling deep/planer fishing
 

I'm thinking about getting at least one real set-up, bent-butt, 130# class, with Avet 50 or Okuma 50, planer in-line with bridle. These reels have super high drag ratings. Who's using what and what are you happy/not happy with?

We fish all internationals but for our planer rod we use an old 9/0 senator set up with 200 pound braid and use a bridle rig with a #12 planer. I upgraded the drags to a 7 stack. Easier to manage /adjust with the star than it is with the lever in my opinion. Most Everyone around here does the same. Dont forget to have backing plates on your rodholder , a lot of pressure with a #12!!!!

I thought about asking your targets, being 60-90 miles south of you, but I haven’t been off shore here since fuel went to $4/gal and the kings were loaded with mercury, or of levels of concern. Decided to chime in following Craig (Miles Offshore) having fished with him once before, compliments of this site.

I have a set of two Pennsy made 4/0’s and same era 6/0 slightly used, matched to appropriately sized Senator Rods. Now that I’m fishing the Gulf of Mexico, wondering if these may be of more value to someone else.

The rods are each individually discolored from UV, twisted from tip to wall/corner and more weight from handle side of reel, but barely used. Any interest?

Michael.

Miles, Good info and a #12 is huge! What rods/butts are you using?
Vezo, I might be interested in the reels. IM or mail pics and info please.

A long time ago, my neighbor, a commercial King fisherman, gave me one of his planers. I rigged it with a release clip and tied it off to a cleat, a sort of poor man's downrigger. That setup was usually the first to get hit. Downside was bringing it up by hand, which was always the first thing to do when a fish was on.

Handlining is the upside! Planer gets tripped, just pull it in. No rod n reel required

Problem was that the planer never got tripped. The downrigger (or outrigger) clip released the line.

Basically a 5 1/2' bent butt 80 lb class rod. Extra large roller guides to allow bridle rig swivels (spro)to pass through) I Use a bridle rig so when the planer gets to the boat it is unclipped and the rest of the leader and the fish can be reeled straight in. I think i have some pix if interested. We use this rig for wahoos and occasional yellowfins. Their is a technique i use to trip it that you pull the rig far back (with the boat slowed down) and you drop it really fast and then lift up that will trip if most every time. Hope this helps, i believe i have pictures of bridle rig if you are interested, you can also you tube search to find instructions on making one.

Planer on handline
 

As a kid trolling with my dad and his buddy who had been a charter boat mate. I I pulled on the handline and told them we had a bigone. Smokey said well pull it up. I worked and struggled to retrieve it, before he explained the planer had not tripped. Guess he figured you learned the lesson better from experience.

I was talking with my neighbor last night and asked him if he remembered about the planer he gave me and the trouble I had getting the planer to the surface while trolling. He tells me yeah, referring to it as a para vane, you could give it a pull and then let it drop just right and it would come to the surface.

Yup, you’re essentially tripping it like that. Pull it in a bit, then drop it real quick and the weight drops and ring slides up/forward to the nose. Pull that sucker in and sling the fish in the boat.
Small fish wont trip it sometimes so thats also how u check if anythings on there...

Thanks Miles. I'm planning the bridle rig but mainly looking at others choices in rods/reels. Right now leaning toward Avet 50W with Pinacle Eliminator rod. I wanted to stick with a 2speed and Avet 50 looks like a nice one. I bought a set of their 8:1 a long time ago for King tourney fishing and have been very happy with them.

Sounds good, Ive never fished avets so cant comment on them but im sure they are a nice reel! I like thextra large swivel tip top roller as well . Not sure if you are planning on pulling a #12 or not but if you are it would probably be best to set it and play with it in the rod holder at first because if you are not ready for it the #12 will pull you overboard at 7 knots if you are not careful! For line we are using 200 lb braid. Also i like a long leader from the bridle to the bait, at least 100 ft. If you are only planning on using #3 or #4 size for kings and stuff inshore you really dont need to go that heavy with the rod. Short rods make it a lot easier to control when out of and putting back in the rod holder.

Great topic. I have recently added high speed wahoo trolling gear to the arsenal and took good advice from a multi tournament winner as to gear.

I bought both an international 50w 2 speed and a Shimano Tiagra 50wlrs. For rods I was instructed to go with Pinedale rods with SIC fixed guides with the top roller spaced for wind-on leaders. All with short bent butts. I troll 20 oz lures behind 48 oz weighs at 17 knots with no issues. I was worried about not having full roller rods but the SIC guides are so hard you can run wire line without worry. Of the two I would have to say the Tiagra is the winner of the two reels. The Penn is plenty capable but for overall smoothness and drag capabilities the Shimano is as suspected.

Right now you can find Tiagras in great shape used for far less than new as many have set up for HST and have thrown in the towel. The rods from Pinnacle are spectacular for the price of $200 each including your choice of bent or straight butt that are both removable.

Here is the Link to shop Pinnacle rods: http://trollinggear.com/

If you are in need of the best made wind-on leaders, topshots, planer bridals, deep drop rigs, or swordfish rigs... Doug at Blue Action Tackle is the guy to talk to. Best customer service and quite frankly, I can't make my own for what he can with JB, Momi and Diamond line. : https://www.blueactiontackle.com/

Thanks Moose!! I have Taigra 30's for trolling now and have been very happy with them.

Shimano TLD25, 80# braid, Ariel Star EX50100 5'9" rod, 50-100lb class
Penn 6/0 114H, 80# braid, Shakespeare Tidewater TWSURR408066 40-80lb class
usually with a #3 planer OR trolling off my downrigger.

I also have a Penn 116L 12/0 I bought for deep swordfishing, but have never used in 20 years.
I don't have a rod for that one.

I might be interested in that 12/0. IM me if you're thinking of selling it. Thanks FF!

Olds Cool
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