using a trolling planer

Question
Hi, I am fishing for striped bass and wanted to try a planer instead of the heavy lead weights.  Usually I fish salt water but this time I lieve near a nice fresh water lake with the stripper.  The question is how long of a leader do I need from the planer to the lure?  I am using a Davis "fish seeker" model.  While it tells you how much line and where to attach the thing, it does not tell you how long the leader should be to the lure.  Have you used these before?  are they as good as or better than the lead weights?

Thanks Brian

Answer
Hi Brian;

 I have not tried a planer for trolling striped bass so I cannot help you out about leader length.  But,I have used various "freshwater" methods for stripers in the salt, and they all work.  Probably the best example of this is a downrigger.  I do like to keep the lure a considerable distance back from the downrigger weight.  In general, the furter back the lure is from the weight, the better it will "work" whether it is a spoon, plug or whatever.  I assume the same would be true using a planer.  I do not believe the downrigger weight would spook the fish if the lure was close, but by doing so, it would inhibit the action.  My theory is that too much leader is never a problem, but too little is.  I hope this is of some help.

-Rich