Trolling Still The Most Effective Way To Target Walleye In Numbers.

Brian Bashore, Connecting and Off Shore Tackle Planer Board.

Trolling with planer boards—especially systems from Off Shore Tackle—remains one of the most efficient and consistent methods for targeting large numbers of walleye, even in today’s forward-facing sonar era. While live sonar has revolutionized how anglers locate indi

vidual fish, trolling continues to dominate when the goal is covering water and contacting active schools.

The primary advantage of planer boards is horizontal spread. By pulling lines out to the sides of the boat, anglers can present multiple baits at varying depths and distances simultaneously without spooking fish directly beneath the hull. This creates a wide “net” effect, dramatically increasing the odds of intersecting roaming walleye, especially on large bodies of water like reservoirs and the Great Lakes.

Efficiency is further amplified through speed control and bait diversity. With planer boards, anglers can run crankbaits, crawler harnesses, or spoons at precisely dialed-in speeds, quickly identifying productive patterns. Once a key depth or presentation is established, it can be replicated across multiple lines, turning a single bite into a consistent program.

Another critical factor is time management. In tournament scenarios or guiding situations, trolling eliminates unproductive water faster than nearly any other technique. Instead of waiting for fish to come to you, you actively hunt them down—covering miles of structure, breaklines, and suspended zones in a single outing.

Ultimately, while new technologies have their place, planer board trolling remains unmatched in its ability to efficiently locate and catch numbers of walleye. It’s a system built on coverage, precision, and repeatability—three pillars that consistently put fish in the boat.

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