Hi,

I’m looking to add a set of two rods to my collection that are specifically going to be for planner trolling sea witch’s and strips for kingfish/wahoo. I’m primarily going to be pulling #4 - #6 planers with 60lb braid and leader. I’ve seen and pulled on all kinds of different blanks that my local shops have built out. Some blank through handle with slick butts, some built on aluminum butts. Some 6’, some 8’.

Ideally when the planer is digging the rod has a fairly deep bend but enough tip left to see the bites which can be subtle at times.

Have any of you guys built a rod for this task, and if so what blanks have you used? I was considering a handful of 40-80lb eglass blanks available from rainshadow as well as the 84xh or xxh, and even the 96xh.

This is such a unique fishery locally here in South Florida that finding discussion about building rods for it is hard to find and when I do it’s mostly about already build factory rods or it’s about much heavier planer trolling with bent butts which simply isn’t what we are doing here.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you,

Robert

I’ll even accept bad ideas at this point ????

No personal suggestion but I'd recommend reaching out to the Folks at Batson or NFC (or other providers) and explaining what you are looking for to see if they might have any suggestions for you.

We have been using those style divers for many decades for fishing, some like the Doel-Fin were depth adjustable. You had me confused with the description, a planer for us is a device that pulls your offering, and stays on the surface, away from the boat to broaden your trolling pattern.

Hello A//.

I have not used a planer rod in 10-15years, the last one I did was a Batson.

MFR Model Lgth Line Lure Weight Butt Tip Action Power Blk Wt
Batson FSU56XH 5'6" 50-80# Stand-Up 0.925 12.0 Moderate Ex-Heavy 11.7oz.

I don't have the build sheet for this one, Florence got that binder.

Spencer there are several ways you can bend them to do different things, Robert said he was using #4 & #6, those are the sizes in inches.

A #6 planner will dive too deep for my liking but a lot of folks like em, I use #1, #2, & #4's because I like to see the strike if possible, and use trolling sinkers instead of planners, but each to their own.

Good Luck Robert.


Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Thank you Robert, that was one of the blanks I was looking at? Did you drop it into an aluminum butt at its full length?

Hello Robert.

Yes I did, and I ran it 2nd from the stern on my 23' Sea Hunt or on the stern on my 25' Sportcraft.

Tight Wraps & Tighter Lines.

Robert, I have built a couple using Batson blanks and Alps components for a tackle shop in Pompano Beach. I am also in process of building three custom for a client asking for a heavier rod based on the way he trolls. These will be with the 50-130 blanks from Batson. Please feel free to contact me with any specific questions. I can also meet you at the shop to review if you are in the area.

Hi Eric,

Would love to discuss sometime in the near future. Which shop? I’m very close to Pompano and could come in sometime to discuss!

Thank you!

Robert

We do get quite a few inquiries about specific planer board applications in FL. Shoot us an email here: [batsonenterprises.com], or call Karry Batson at 360-681-2381 to discuss in detail.

-The Batson TEAM
BatsonEnterprises.com

Thanks Geoff, sending an email over now.