How to slow troll an I/O ?

[putback]

Have a 19ft 140 mercruiser. Can't get it slow enough to pull flutter spoons for Lakers properly. Any suggestions. Will a flop down trolling plate work as on an outboard?

 

[Scott Danforth]

I used to swap to a 15p prop

 

[fhhuber]

Drag a "sea anchor" of some sort.
Could just be a couple of 5 gallon buckets on about 20 ft of rope.

Not sure if you can find a trolling plate for an IO drive.

 

[putback]

Tried a 15P prop today, Still to fast. Can,t use a sea anchor it will interfere with my line. I'm "pulling" lead core by hand off the stern. every 10 yds line out, gives aprox.10 ft of depth. 40+ f o w with spoons flat on the bottom. Similar to flipping a jig for walleye, but has to be dead slow to work. I just found trolling plates for IOs. A bit pricey but I'd try one if anyone knows they work, and don't cause problems.

 

[ondarvr]

You can run a drift sock off each side of the bow, this will slow you down and keep them out of the way.

Or you can put a kicker on the transom.

 

[Teamster]

You can run a drift sock off each side of the bow, this will slow you down and keep them out of the way.

Or you can put a kicker on the transom.

^^^ This is good advise,....

Although my personal preference is to use trolling bags,...I've had drift sock shred when used only for trolling,...

Google up "Amish Outfitters",........They make heavy duty trolling bags that should last a lifetime, They can also double as drift socks should you want to,...

 

[ondarvr]

Here drift socks and trolling bags are about the same thing, I hate using them so I'm set up to troll slow enough without them.

 

[Starcraft5834]

ive got same set up, bought a trolling plate.. it works perfectly.... idle speed down to 2mph. socks and bags just something else to get fouled up with fishing lines.... IMHO

 

[putback]

ive got same set up, bought a trolling plate.. it works perfectly.... idle speed down to 2mph. socks and bags just something else to get fouled up with fishing lines.... IMHO

All things considered I'm leaning to the trolling plate for simplicity and control issues. BUT, I got into this fix by swapping out my fishing boat for something big enough to accomidate the family and all the things they like to do. You know, Dads come second! Do'es your plate stay in place out of the way on a family cruise or pulling the rug rats on a tube? Do'es the prop blow it up and lock it w/ RPM increase like an O B? Can you just bolt it on and forget it, drop it when you need it?

 

[redneck joe]

Trolling plate or I'm a fan of the kicker. Second power to get you home...

 

[Teamster]

Here drift socks and trolling bags are about the same thing, I hate using them so I'm set up to troll slow enough without them.

The drift socks I see called drift socks are a lightweight nylon that works great for drifting, But will tear if used long term under power for trolling,..

Trolling bags are a heavier material that wont tear while trolling,....

 

[ondarvr]

The drift socks I see called drift socks are a lightweight nylon that works great for drifting, But will tear if used long term under power for trolling,..

Trolling bags are a heavier material that wont tear while trolling,....

The ones around here can be marketed either way, with good and bad quality of each.

 

[Starcraft5834]

All things considered I'm leaning to the trolling plate for simplicity and control issues. BUT, I got into this fix by swapping out my fishing boat for something big enough to accomidate the family and all the things they like to do. You know, Dads come second! Do'es your plate stay in place out of the way on a family cruise or pulling the rug rats on a tube? Do'es the prop blow it up and lock it w/ RPM increase like an O B? Can you just bolt it on and forget it, drop it when you need it?

take the plate off when your just out for family fun time,, put back on when you go fishing.. if you plan on doing both, yes, it locks up out of the way and will not cause u any issues at all. there is drilling involved on the installation, -->on "fins" above your prop.. easy to do and locks on well, there is a rope and spring mechanism to pull it up and release it back down, just remember to lock it up before you "take off"!! or you wont do anywhere to fast.. lol and probably bend the plate..

 

[bruceb58]

Trim your drive up..that will also help slow you down.

 

[putback]

Trim your drive up..that will also help slow you down.

Yep that helped last weekend. Got it slow enough so the kids picked up a couple small lakers. I'll get a plate and give them some campfire memories. Thanks for all the help.

 

[mxcobra]

Ive tried it all, nothing beats a nice trolling motor I can get any speed needed from .5 miles an hour up to 2.5 or more, <a href="http://s586.photobucket.com/user/maddhouseproductions/media/20160521_124133.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss306/maddhouseproductions/20160521_124133.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20160521_124133.jpg"/></a>

Edit: mxcobra, you need to post the IMG file from photobucket to post pix.....

WIMUSKY

 

[putback]

Installed an Ironwood Easytroller. Very well made product. Easy install on an Alpha 1. Functions flawlessly. No need to remove for uses other than fishing but I will add some type of positive lock up to eliminate any chance of it dropping down on nonfishing days, Murphys law. However I can't get the idle down less than 1100 rpm, it stalls. [I'm going to post that ? in mercruiser forum]. This gives me 1.5 mph by GPS, barely slow enough for my need. 1.0 mph I'd like, 0.5 I'd love. Once you let it down how do you have full control of an OB troller on a sterndrive. I have a good 6 hp Johnson on the rack but it would be out of reach over the stern on this hull.

 

[fishrdan]

I can't get the idle down less than 1100 rpm, it stalls. [I'm going to post that ? in mercruiser forum]. This gives me 1.5 mph by GPS, barely slow enough for my need. 1.0 mph I'd like, 0.5 I'd love. Once you let it down how do you have full control of an OB troller on a sterndrive.

Yep, need to get the idle RPM down and it should crawl along. I have a Troll-a-Matic plate (spring loaded - full automatic) on my 140HP and it's actually too slow at idle for fishing, have to get it off-idle to troll. I'm running a 4-blade 18Px14.5"D prop that's pretty much completely blocked by the plate, and it trolls slower than when I was running larger diameter 3-blade props. (i made a SS cable lanyard to hold up the plate a bit, since the plate was too efficient.)

Loss of boat control is one huge disadvantage of a trolling plate, a blip of the throttle is needed to help correct course at times, just don't over-steer and then blip the throttle. I have heard of people using a bow mount trolling motor for steering, then the main engine for propulsion. I have both, but have never tried it. Takes a while to figure out boat control with a trolling plate, especially in wind/waves, but you'll get the hang of it (or rip off the trolling plate).

 

[bruceb58]

I have a Troll-a-Matic plate (spring loaded - full automatic) on my 140HP and it's actually too slow at idle for fishing,

Out of curiosity, how does it behave in reverse? I am thinking about a trolling plate for my pontoon.

 

[putback]

This plate only covers about 2/3rds of the prop and the lower half of the drop down is hinged w/ heavy springs for some give if you need a bit of acceleration. Only have about 6 trolling hours with it. So far even with a bit of wind and chop no problem with course control, able to follow contours same as with out the plate. Did a quick try in reverse to see how it behaves if I want to try back troll with jigs. Just a brief try but noticed no problems. No idea how it would preform with pontoons, this is a heavy 19 ft glass V Hull. However up here in the north east I notice plates on pontoons trolling lakers, bows and salmon they seem to go well.