Fishing planers are the single greatest way to fish various depths, cover different water columns, and reach fish like wahoo, tuna, kingfish, dolphin, and sailfish where they are feeding. If the bait is down low, the fish you are after will be down low and if you are trolling baits on the surface, well, you will have a long day. Get your bait presentations down and run them there with fishing planers. See how to do it with the simple techniques Capt. Chad Raney shares in this fishing video from In The Spread.

Key Aspects of Fishing Nearshore Reefs and Structure

Knowing how to find fish on the reefs
Determining the right depth to fish
Search patterns to locate fish
Understanding atmospheric conditions and their effect on fish
Times of day that fish are biting, the barometer, wind, cloud cover, seas

Tip: Chad has a few tips for you on how to get a handle on all these variables.

Trolling Speeds

At different times throughout the year, fish are willing to expend more energy chasing a meal, so adjust your trolling speeds to compliment those patterns. Watch and learn about summer vs. winter trolling speeds.

About Capt. Chad Raney

Capt. Chad Raney is a lifer. He has been carving up the nearshore reefs of South Florida for many years. With his level of experience, where to fish and with what are second nature. You will get a look at:

His bait rigs
The sea witches
What colors he uses and why
Importance of trolling spoons in his planer fishing spread

Planer Fishing Rig

The planer fishing rig confounds some, but it shouldn't. It is really very simple. You need:

An assortment of planers in different sizes
Good quality planers and hooks

Note: Junk tackle will cost you. Get good stuff.

Baits for Planer Fishing

Trusty strip bait like Bonito
How to hook strip baits for good swimming action
Importance of sea witches with strip baits

Tackle and Drag Settings

Understanding the size of a fishing planer relative to your tackle size and the depth you want to present baits is crucial. Other important points include:

Drag settings for planer fishing
Marking your line for quick adjustments
Importance of boat driving while putting planers out

Additional Tips

Engaging and tripping your planers
Resetting planer after a bite
Checking your line after each bite for chaffing

Conclusion

If you want to catch more fish, planer fishing is a must-know skill. Take the knowledge being offered up in this fishing video and incorporate it into your program. Be a smarter fisherman. Learn from those that have long proven track records for catching fish and you will find yourself with more fish in your ice box.

Added bonuses of watching this video include: