"Esoxonthefly" said:
For those that use Off Shore boards, what releases do you use? My local Gander doesn't have the OR-16 which I've heard are the way to go. They only have the adjustable OR-18. Will these work for muskies?

Those will work and can put more tension than the other release. The only drawback is that it takes a couple extra seconds to remove the board and they can still release from the line. The release you want doesn't allow the board to release from the line (there's a pin in the release). You can resolve this w/ the adjustable by attaching a snap swivel to the board then if it does release it still will be attached to the line.

"Esoxonthefly" said:
Okay Will, remember I'm a fireman and a little slow so you may have to be a little more descript with your explanation. Still quite confused. I check the Offshore website and they show two different release setups, one with a release on the rod end and a snap on the other and one with both ends having releases. What to do?

Take this for what it's worth because I primarily use inline boards for walleye, not for muskies. If I'm going to run boards for muskies, unless it's a spur of the moment thing, I'm going to have my mast and pair of Talonz boards (<url url="[Permission to view this media is denied]
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) not the little inlines.

So… for muskies and other species I like both ends to have releases so the board stays where I put it even while fighting a fish. With two releases the boards also seem to handle the pull of a muskie lure better. There is still the possibility that the board can release from the line which means you'll have to go back and get it (pain in the butt). The drawback to the snap and one release method is that the board will slide down the line to the fish. You can stop the board well in front of the fish by using a large enough swivel on your leader. This will keep the board 4-6' in front of the fish and you'll just net the fish without removing the board.

All that said… in the last five years I'll bet I've only used the inline boards 5-6 times while trolling for muskies. That's out of probably 100 trolling sessions. If I had only bought them to use when trolling muskies I would have sold them by now. When I'm trolling a smaller inland lake there is rarely a circumstance when an inline board is a benefit.