trolling plate instead of trolling motor

[rolmops]

Does anybody have experience with using a trolling plate instead of a trolling motor?
Please share it with us.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

I tried one, and it worked, but I had fouled plug issues because I was using it on an old 2 stroke. I think it would work fine on a four stroke. It did give a slight drop in top speed and induced a difference in handling. Overall, a kicker works better for me because the plate doesn't slow things down enough.

 

[rolmops]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

Jason,was that with your 125 horse tower?

 

[jimh6278]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

Don’t laugh at this. I troll with a 150 Force on a 2002 trophy. I have 2 drywall buckets tied to 2 10’ ropes that I drag behind the boat. Functions a a sea anchor and lets my troll at much higher RPM. I never use my 7.5 kicker anymore and it never fouls plugs.

And I painted a worm in the bottom of each bucket and tell my skeptical friends the buckets are to catch fish.

 

[Fishin' Jeff]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

I won't laugh at your method, but the worms in the bucket? Now that's a good one!

 

[Pescadora]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

On my Mirage 2000 use a Yam F150 with a Happy-Troller plate. Running at 800rpm,(just off idle) is a bit fast (2.2mph) until you get the downriggers in the water. Then it's too slow at 1.3mph from dragging all the weights.

However, I deploy the Minnkota on the bow and set it for 60% power with the CoPilot/Autopilot combo. 1.75mph. Perfect.

The benefit of steering with the copilot on your wrist while fighting a fish has to be experienced. This is a great set up. Especially on windy days.

 

[roscoe]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=8;gtid=1187462

 

[JasonJ]

Re: trolling plate instead of trolling motor

Rolmops, yeah, it was on the 125. I also tried it on an 85 horse I had on the other boat.