FORUM RULES UPDATED - The forum rules have been updated to continue to provide a friendly and safe environment for our member community. Please take a moment to review the updated rules and our terms of use and privacy policy. Click here for Forum Rules which has links to the 'terms of use' and 'privacy policy'.
In Other News . . .
You will notice a few enchancements to the forums to make your experience better. These include: Email Notifications, Thread Previews, Thread Starter Notation, and Emoji Options on the 'Like' icon. . .
Additionally, the merchant portions of the website have been updated and are now operational. . . . Check out iBoats for all your boating gear.
What's your definition of "slow troll". Barely moving in search of crappies is one definition. Slow trolling for walleye is quite another and may range from barely moving to 2.5 - 3 mph. For really slow trolling you need a bow mounted electric troller. Anything from 2 mph on up you can use the main engine provided it is not a 150 HP beast. 40's, 50's and even 75's will troll down nicely on a pontoon.
I have a 19 footer that I have a bow mounted MinnKota 55 Autopilot on that will troll from dawn to dusk on 1 charge of a good group 27 trolling specific battery.
I pull live bait at what we call "dead slow" which is just fast enough to maintain control of the boat.
You will not drag a pontoon around all day at 3 MPH with an electric troller unless you have a minimum of two large deep cycles. A pontoon is like a barn door when it gets into the wind so that eats electrical power.
Trolling plates are not used with electric motors because they are not needed. They are simply a plate that drops down in back of an outboard or stern drive propeller to decrease its efficiency to slow the boat. They are typically used on boats with larger engines that simply can't be slowed enough with the throttle . Sort of like dragging a bucket behind the boat.
