Deep six vs AFW Planer

I have some experience with the Deep Six for salmon trolling. I also own an AFW planer that I have never used. There seems to be much more online regarding the Deep Six but little about the AFW--certainly, nothing I could find in the way of a comparison.

Does anyone here use an AFW planer for trolling? If so, could you help me understand how it differs from the Deep Six?

Thanks.

I think a planer is how you spread your line out, but doesn't dive your line.  So if you wanted four lines off the back of your boat, the two outter could be on planers, and pull several feet from your boat.  Divers dive down for reaching trolling depths.

Interesting. This is AFW I am referring to

https://www.fish307.com/afw-stainless-steel-blade-planers/

The AFW Planer is an innovative and precisely balanced piece of fishing gear. A lead weight acts as a keel and balance to keep the planer running straight at controlled depths. When the planer is in the water in diving position, water pressure against the blade forces the planer down. When a fish strikes, the balance is changed. The planer then trips and produces a slight upward drag, which allows you to fight your fish rather than a heavy lead sinker.

I'm curious about AFW planer and have never seen one until now.  I've used DeepSix a lot lot.  Both will likely have a fair amount of resistance, I'd think.

Please report back on what you find.

I recall the AFW is impossible to trip if you don't catch a fish...

Anyone use something like this in the bay for halibut, instead of using heavy leads? Seems like might work ok for somewhere with flay even areas, like Southampton shoal or the flats outside ARW?

I've used the deep six side planer that Al was talking about, while fishing for steelhead in Oregon. We used it in high current areas from shore - got our line out to the strike zone while keeping bait intact. Works pretty slick for that, carries line out to where you want it without needing to cast it there, and the current pushing against it keeps it there. It also provides a bit of a wiggle motion, creating a sway action on the bait. A sharp tug from either end disengages it.

I am using the AFW if I don’t use downrigger.
It works.

Here is how you trip it.
Free spool it quickly, then jerk. Do it again if it doesn’t trip. If find using braid is much easier to trip it.

I am using the AFW if I don’t use downrigger.
It works.

Here is how you trip it.
Free spool it quickly, then jerk. Do it again if it doesn’t trip. If find using braid is much easier to trip it.

Great info, interesting technique. I prefer the banana weight method over the diver, a lot of which may be I’m in a paddle ‘yak w/o rudder.

I am using the AFW if I don’t use downrigger.
It works.

Here is how you trip it.
Free spool it quickly, then jerk. Do it again if it doesn’t trip. If find using braid is much easier to trip it.

Boom!  Thanks for that.  Maybe I shouldn’t of returned mine…