When fishing a side planer from shore, with a plug attached to it, how much line should I allow between the plug and the side planer?

I have only used them a few times, but i have caught a few fish on them. You still need to put a leader on there with a swivel (about 6' should do) and run about 25' of line out of the side planer-it really depends how much room you have though. The planer will slide down to your swivel when you have a fish on. I have used them on the Deschutes where we had a ton of line out and i have used them on the Necan where you did not have much room. I am not sure if there is a standard though.

Crayfin

The spec. sheet says 30-40 feet. Haven't used mine yet either. It also mentions the swivel being a requirement to keep the planer from doinking your fish off for you when it triggers.

Going after some of those Sky chinooks, are you?

I've fished the "poor mans drift boat" many times. The post about the swivel and leader are right on. As far as distance from planer to plug goes it depends on the size plug you are using. With a #20-25 hot shot go with 4 times the water depth. With 30-35 shots go with 6 times the depth.
Have'nt tried a kwikfish yet but I would think the smaller sizes 11-13 should work ok. Good luck

Thanks all

SkywalkerMaybe the Chinook, probably more on the lines of steelhead water. Trying to get my wife into a steelhead and she is not into casting and breaking off then retying.

Plunking with a side planer seems to be more her line of fishing so I am going to give it a shot.

I have never fished one before and hope I can tolerate it because I love to drift fish.

When the Chinook role in hard I just may give it a try for them also.

http://www.luhr-jensen.com/tr_hot_shot_planer.htm

The proper term is Mexican Driftboat!!!
Peace Superfly

Fishing shallow water 3' with lots of color I put about 5' behind the boat with a k11. The deeper ya go and the clearer the water the more you put out. the most I've put out is about 30'. Make sure you put a bead above your barrel swivel to protect your knot. K13 is the biggest kwikfish I've used. Any bigger is too big depending how much currant is running. A magnum tadpolly works good too.