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.