Getting ready for the first "hen of the woods" search and pick mission. Post pics and report later this afternoon. They are starting to show up here finally.
Before the Zebra Mussel invasion, boats could often troll right over walleyes in the murky western basin and not spook them. Now that countless mussels filter the water and drastically increase its clarity, walleyes are proving less tolerant and more elusive.
Clear water has long challenged anglers in Lake Erie’s central and eastern basins, and the problem grows more acute as the zebra’s bring about increasingly transparent conditions. Fishing deeper isn’t always the solution, because walleyes commonly suspend less than 35 feet deep, even when the bottom plunges to 80 feet or more.
Walleyes that suspend near the surface in clear water tend to scoot away from a boat passing overhead and escape the lures trailing behind it. Your depth finder may mark few fish, yet there could be scads of them swimming out of your path. One of the most effective methods for getting a lure out to boat-shy walleyes consists of trolling with small planer boards that connect directly to your lines.
In-line boards typically measureless than 10 inches in length. Their small profile doesn’t intimidate walleyes, and their beveled noses propel them and the lines and lures they carry away from the boat.
SMALL BOARD BASICS
Setting out a small planer board presents a simple chore. With the boat moving ahead at trolling speed, let a lure out behind the boat as far as you deem necessary.
Next, engage the reel, grasp the line above the rod tip and place the rod in a holder. Connect the board to the line using whatever attachments come with the unit, usually two pinch-type line releases, or a line release followed by a wire guide. Be aware that some boards come designated for the right or left side of the boat, and they are not interchangeable.
After attaching the board, pull the rod from the holder, drop the board into the water and feed line as it swims out a distance of roughly 50 to 100 feet. The board’s bright color, typically yellow or orange, makes it easier to spot.
Then, engage the reel and place the rod back into its holder. The rod should rest in an upright position. This helps hold the line to the board out of the water and improves strike detection. Keep an eye on the board and the rod tip to determine when a walleye has taken the bait. The key indicator is when the board slides backward.
