Catfish Gear: Tattle Flag Tips
By Nick DeShano, COO, Off Shore Tackle
Using the Off Shore Tackle OR12 Side-Planer with a spring-loaded Tattle Flag system is an excellent way to spread lines and detect light strikes when catfishing. This setup is highly effective for trolling or drifting along flats, river edges and ledges, allowing you to present baits away from the boat’s path without spooking shallow or wary fish.
To begin, let your bait out to the desired distance behind the boat. Attach your line to the front release clip on the planer board bracket.
Next, attach the line through the back release (OR16), making sure the line is behind the pin in the center of the pad. Leave a slight amount of slack in the line between the two clips. This slack is essential to allow the flag to move when a fish struggles with the bait.
Once the board is secure, place it in the water and let out line from your reel to allow the OR12 to plane out to the side of the boat. Because catfish baits, sinkers or heavy structural cover create extra drag, you should adjust the spring tension on the flag stem. Moving the tension spring to a stiffer setting prevents the heavy bait or current from pulling the flag down prematurely.
When a fish strikes, the tension on the line pulls the spring-loaded flag downward. This positive visual tracking is crucial. Even if a smaller catfish or a piece of debris fouls the hook without dragging the entire board backward, the dropping flag gives an immediate, clear signal of a strike. When a fish is on, reel in the board steadily, remove it from the line once it reaches the boat, and land your catch.
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