Downriggers allow fishing No. 12 or 24 planers that reach suspended fish beyond standard No. 4, 6, or 8 planer depths. These larger sizes create maximum gear tension but deliver baits into deeper water column layers where game fish hold during specific temperature conditions or seasonal patterns that push them below zones smaller planers access effectively on rod setups alone.
Planer Fishing With Downriggers
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Instructor:
RJ Boyle
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Why Do Downriggers Expand Planer Fishing Depth Capabilities?
Planer fishing with downriggers allows deployment of No. 12 or 24 sized planers compared to the No. 4, 6, or 8 sizes typically fished on rods alone. This size difference translates directly into reaching deeper water column layers where suspended fish hold beyond standard planer access depths.
When Do Suspended Fish Demand Downrigger Planer Presentations?
There will be instances when big fish and schools position at depths standard planer sizes cannot achieve effectively. These situations occur during specific temperature conditions, time of day patterns, or seasonal movements when game fish abandon shallower zones for cooler, deeper water.
How Does Equipment Setup Handle Larger Planer Sizes?
Attaching planers to downrigger systems requires specific components that maintain proper function under the increased tension larger sizes create. The setup prevents equipment failure and line problems that waste fishing time.
Critical attachment components include:
- High-vis dacron for shock cord visibility and strength
- Swivel boom tips preventing tangles during deployment
- Small lead weights maintaining proper planer angle
- Ball bearing swivels eliminating line twist under load
Understanding how to drop the planer back from the set position and maintain proper spacing from the downrigger ball keeps presentations effective.
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RJ Boyle has spent decades fishing the waters off South Florida, where he became one of the pioneers of daytime swordfishing and built a reputation as a heavy tackle specialist and meticulous bait and lure rigger. He grew up around the Hillsboro Inlet, worked as a full time mate for fifteen years, and now owns RJ Boyle Studio, a tackle shop and charter operation in Lighthouse Point, Florida. His courses cover daytime swordfishing, high speed wahoo trolling, blue marlin lure rigging, dredge fishing, and planer techniques, giving anglers access to a rare breadth of offshore knowledge built from thousands of hours on the water.
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