Sea Striker Hi-Speed HS8 Planer

The planer takes your lure down deep without heavy sinkers. While in trolling position, the planer runs at a 45 degree angle. When a fish is hooked, it returns to the surface. All sizes feature a rugged stainless steel blade.
The HS8 is a high speed planer that allows the fisherman to troll a higher speeds 

ESTIMATED DEPTH: HS8 8 braced hi -speed 10-40 ft. of depth

Sea Striker planers are made from the finest materials available. They, and all our products, are the result of years of experience in the manufacture and use of coastal fishing tackle.
Sea Striker planers will take your lure down below the surface to where the fish are feeding and return to the surface after a fish strikes. The attached diagrams show the “set” and “released” positions for a planer. The different size planers allow you to achieve increasingly greater depths as you go up in size, and there is even a high-speed version (HS-8) if faster trolling speeds are required.
Sea Striker planers are designed to run at an approximate angle of 45 degrees. At this angle, the planer will dive one foot for each two feet of planer line that is below the surface of the water. It is important to use tackle, line, and lures that are matched to the size planer that you are using.
Trolling Speed
Optimum trolling speed is usually between 4 t0 6 miles per hour. If you do not have a speedometer or electronic measuring device, a tachometer reading between 1000 and 1500 rpm should achieve this speed. Vary speeds within this range until you establish your most effective reading. 

Positive Factors that Cause a Planer to Function
1. The size of the planing surface (blade): The larger the blade, the deeper it will run. An exception would be our HS-8, high-speed planer, whose unusual configuration allows it to dive deeper at high speeds than comparable size planers.
2. Lead weight on the planer wire: The amount of lead on the wire will only slightly influence depth. Remember that the planer blade achieves the planing function, and the weight is not a significant factor. However, this weight is very important in setting and resetting the planer. We will discuss this in more detail later.
3. Type and quality of the line: A major influence on a planer’s ability to dive is the type and quantity of the line used to pull it. Adequate strength is required to hold the planer and fight the fish. Larger planers can put substantial stress on the line and any other gear used to hold them, and this stress increases with boat speed. However, any increase in line diameter above the optimum size creates additional drag and displacement in the water, and thus hampers the planer’s ability to attain maximum depth. Also, generally speaking, the longer the planer line, the deeper the planer will run. 

Negative Factors that Cause a Planer to Function
1. Boat speed: As previously mentioned, optimum planer trolling speed is usually 4 to 6 miles per hour. When you exceed this optimum speed for a planer, the increased water pressure on the planer blade and line begins to lift the planer in the water. Thus, as speed continues to increase, the planer will continue to rise and will eventually jump out of water.
2. Diameter of the planer line: Large diameter planer lines decrease the ability of a planer to attain maximum depths for reasons already mentioned.
3. The law of diminishing returns: We have already mentioned that using more line will increase planer depth. Unfortunately, if 40 ft. of line will allow a planer to dive 20 ft., it does not necessarily follow that doubling the length of the planer line would double the planer depth. Due to the combination of water pressure and water displacement (buoyancy),* the additional 40 ft. of line might only yield another 12 to 15 ft. of depth.

Planer Lines
1. Stainless steel cable (49 strand) is probably the most effective planer line. Solid wire, such as monel, although extremely efficient from a diving perspective, is prone to kink and break when used in a planing application. The new super braid fishing lines appear to be second only to cable in planer pulling properties. Monofilament line would be a third choice. Braided nylon and dacron have proven to be least effective where maximum depth is required. However, where greater depth is not a major factor, the ease of use and availability of small nylon cord make it the hand line of choice of many fishermen.
2. All planers can be used with a hand line. One end of the line is attached to the boat (often with a loop around a cleat), and the other is either tied or connected with a large snap swivel to the planer rig. Sea Striker offers a variety of hand line kits that will meet most inshore requirements.
3. Sizes #1 and #2 planers are often trolled on rods and reels spooled with line ranging from 20 to 50 lb. test. This has the advantage of allowing the angler to quickly adjust the distance and the depth at which the planer is fished. A #3 planer will require a substantially heavier trolling rod and 40 or 50 lb. line. Be sure to set your reel drag just tight enough to pull the planer without slippage.
4. Large-sized planers are best pulled on hand lines, downriggers, or specialized planer rods with 6/0 or 9/0 reels. We have found 275 lb. stainless steel cable to be the most effective and durable product for deeper ocean fishing with heavy gear.
Fishing
Now that we understand how planers work and the factors that affect their ability to dive, it is time to catch some fish. There are a few simple guidelines that will make using planers both easier and more productive.
1. Guideline and safety precaution #1 is to always wear gloves when handling a planer or planer line. Loose fitting gloves that can be easily removed are best.
2. In order to dive, a planer must be in the “set” position (see diagram).

Usually a planer will set itself upon entering the water. Sometimes it doesn’t or a fish may strike and trip, or release, the planer (see diagram) without getting hooked.

In these instances, it is helpful to be able to reset the planer without reeling it all the way to the boat. Pull in several feet of line and then quickly release it. This slack in the planer line will allow the weight on the planer wire to cause the planer to nose dive and reset itself. If this doesn’t work after an attempt or two, slow the boat speed and repeat the procedure. Again, this same procedure can be used if the planer should hit bottom and trip.

3. Sometimes it is desirable to trip and retrieve a planer without slowing the boat. The same technique as described above may be used to trip the planer. Considerable effort may be required to pull the planer, depending on the size of the planer and the speed of the boat.
4. If the planer is not running straight, but wants to track to the right or left, it’s an easy problem to fix. The planer has probably gotten bent and needs to have the blade straightened or the wire aligned. It is a common occurrence for the planer to be stepped on in the excitement of landing a fish and a pair of pliers is generally all that it takes to put the planer back into working order.
5. In addition to the selection of planers according to the depth that you want to achieve, they must also be matched to the lures and size of the fish that you are pursuing. A lure that is too large for the planer will create enough drag to repeatedly trip the planer. The only solutions are to go to a larger planer or a smaller lure. On the other hand, small fish will often not trip a large planer and a smaller planer may be required.
6. When a planer that has been running straight suddenly starts tracking at an angle, it is likely that a small fish is on the line. The other possibility is that the planer has picked up seaweed or other debris. In either event, the planer needs to be pulled and checked.
7. Sea Striker planers may be used on appropriate rods, reels, handlines, and downriggers. Although they are often more effective, planers do create more turbulence in the water than trolling sinkers. Because of this, longer than normal leaders will greatly improve planer productivity. A minimum of 20 ft. should be used on the smaller planers, and 40 to 50 ft. will work best on larger sizes. If the water is unusually clear, then even longer leaders will add to your catch.