Trolling with buckets to slow down.

[saxrulez]

I've heard of people doing this and would love to see some pictures of how they attached the buckets to the boat, as well as the rope to the bucket.

I troll a lot and do fairly well catching white bass and wipers, however I would love to see how I did trolling slower.

2 buckets seems a lot cheaper than a trolling motor or kicker and would get the job done.

 

[ajgraz]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I sometimes use a 2.5 or 5 gallon bucket as a ghetto drift sock. 15' dockline to cleat, then to a heavy carabiner attached to the bucket's handle.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I've heard of people doing this and would love to see some pictures of how they attached the buckets to the boat, as well as the rope to the bucket.

I troll a lot and do fairly well catching white bass and wipers, however I would love to see how I did trolling slower.

2 buckets seems a lot cheaper than a trolling motor or kicker and would get the job done.

What speed are you trying to get down to? Wipers and Whites like stuff going pretty fast so you shouldn't have any problems getting them to bite at idle speed on the big motor.

Trolling with buckets or drift socks is 90% trial and error, you have to find what works for you.

I have found that a large remote controll bow mount trolling motor work best for slow trolling, they have the variable speed and you can operate it from anywhere in the boat. They are quiet, very low maintainence, and no exhaust fumes.

You'll spend enough on gasoline, oil, and engine maintainence idle trolling with the big motor in one season to pay for a nice electric bow mount TM.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

What speed are you trying to get down to? Wipers and Whites like stuff going pretty fast so you shouldn't have any problems getting them to bite at idle speed on the big motor.

Trolling with buckets or drift socks is 90% trial and error, you have to find what works for you.

I have found that a large remote controll bow mount trolling motor work best for slow trolling, they have the variable speed and you can operate it from anywhere in the boat. They are quiet, very low maintainence, and no exhaust fumes.

You'll spend enough on gasoline, oil, and engine maintainence idle trolling with the big motor in one season to pay for a nice electric bow mount TM.

Yeah I have no problems catching tons of wiper and white bass. I am mainly looking at trolling for walleye next season. I need to start saving for an electric telling motor now.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I troll for Crappie (southern walleye) and it's my favorite thing to do. The presentation is nearly identical to trolling for Walleye.

My most productive speeds are between 0.8 - 1.4 mph.

I use minnow head jigs between 1/32 - 1/8 oz depending on the depth of water I'm fishing.

I use 2" curly tail grubs, Southern Pro Hot Grubs http://chuckanddeb.com/2_inch_hot_grubs.htm

Color depends on water clarity and the amount of sunlight. Muddy water means dark colors, clearer water means light colors. Dark day means dark colors and a bright day means light colors.

The fall bite is coming up and I can hardly wait 'til October! I actually like the fall bite better than the spring spawning bite.

 

[Psandherr]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

http://www.basspro.com/Lindy-Drift-Control-Fisherman-Series-Drift-Socks/product/74034/137777

20-30 bucks better then a 5 gallon bucket

 

[BonairII]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I troll a lot

Sounds like you need to get yourself a kicker motor to use for trolling. Much easier on fuel, too. Worse case, get a trolling plate for your big motor.

You're not going to like dealing with the hassle of buckets and/or trolling socks.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I am having a hard time deciding between a outboard kicker and electric trolling motor. The electric would definitely be bow mounted, which would be good when my boat gets used for skiing and tubing.

I'm not sure how a gas kicker would fit when doing water sports.

 

[BonairII]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

If you troll for hours...you're gonna need multiple batteries onboard. Can you fit a small kicker on your transom?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

If you troll for hours...you're gonna need multiple batteries onboard.

That would be true with the little rinky dink 5 speed trolling motors, but the new variable speed TMs are much more efficient.

My 12v Motorguide Wireless 55 lb. will pull my 17" Tracker Deep V around the lake all day and still have 50% or more of the battery life left at the end of the day.

I have a buddy with a small Tracker tournament 16 and a 46 lb. Motorguide 5 speed. He has to take 3 batteries with him to go Crappie trolling and can only get about 6 or 7 hrs. in before all 3 batteries are completely dead. My 1 battery is still going strong and I'm still catching fish when he has to load up and go home.

He's also a slave to his foot pedal control on the bow of his boat when I can move around and operate my TM anywhere in the boat.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

That would be true with the little rinky dink 5 speed trolling motors, but the new variable speed TMs are much more efficient.

My 12v Motorguide Wireless 55 lb. will pull my 17" Tracker Deep V around the lake all day and still have 50% or more of the battery life left at the end of the day.

I have a buddy with a small Tracker tournament 16 and a 46 lb. Motorguide 5 speed. He has to take 3 batteries with him to go Crappie trolling and can only get about 6 or 7 hrs. in before all 3 batteries are completely dead. My 1 battery is still going strong and I'm still catching fish when he has to load up and go home.

He's also a slave to his foot pedal control on the bow of his boat when I can move around and operate my TM anywhere in the boat.

Ouch! The only way I see a kicker going on my transom is mounting a bracket for it. The cutout portion of the transom is almost full with my Johnson 120 in it. Kinda discouraging that I would have to spend that much on a trolling motor to troll for 4-5 hours or carry that many batteries.

The wireless TM's are pretty pricey which kind of makes me want to go the kicker route, but I will have to do some measuring to see what I could fit on a bracket. I have a very good setup for an extra gas tank which I was planning on adding anyways. I already have the tank, I was planning on using it as a 6 gallon reserve for my main.

How much did you pay for your wireless TM?

Here is what my transom currently looks like:

I worry that a kicker on the right side would really be in the way for tubing/skiing/etc. Are they relatively easy to put on/remove from the bracket? Also, how do most people control their kickers mounted like this? Would 5hp be sufficient for a 16.5ft boat?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I paid $550 for my Motorguide W 55 and it only takes one 12v deep cycle battery to run it.

You'll have fun mounting a bracket to that transom.

Price your bracket and steering connections for a kicker and see what you come up with, I'll bet it isn't going to be cheap. Then you probably have to take the kicker off whenever you want to tube and put it back on to fish, where a bow mount will stay put all the time.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I believe you are right. I think the electric TM is going to make a lot more sense practicality wise. This boat has to do it all for my family, and I believe the electric TM would be a whole lot less trouble and cost effective in the long run. It would be nice to troll along whisper quiet as well instead of listening to a little 2 stroke.

Thanks for the help/advice.

How fast does that TM take your boat?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

I get about 0.1 mph per click and 2.3 mph top speed on the GPS. Do you have a GPS? I've found that they're worth their weight in gold when it comes to trolling and speed control. The "magic" speed is like the "magic" lure color, when you find the right one you can load the boat.

 

[saxrulez]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

Sure do.

You have made me definitely decide on an electric TM. Thanks for all your help and advice. It will be awhile before I can spring for it, but hopefully before spring(first kid is due in 2 weeks).

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Trolling with buckets to slow down.

Trolling speed has a lot to do with the action of the lure at "x" speed. But speed at the lure is what you are after which does not allows relate to speed on the GPS. I am trolling 97% of the time BTW.

I troll for walleyes with an electric electronic controlled 45# MinnKota. Anything over 1.6/1.8 is asking too much of a 40-55# electric for a sustained period of time. I don't know anything about trolling for Crappie but use the electric to troll for walleye at 1.8 or below.

I do use it for 2.3 or so occasionally, but add any wind and you won't have enough directional thrust upwind to not frustrate you to death. I have an "automatic" trolling plate that I use with my 40hp Suzuki for 1.8 to 2.4. With downriggers for 2mph and above I use the trolling plate and 40hp. but most anything about 2.3 and up is main motor only. That is what I need to do for later season (summer) walleye and salmon - my usual targets. Unless slower speeds (under 1.8) are your primary use, a gas kicker and bracket will be better for you. I do get the "quiet" trolling of an electric as that is one thing I like when targeting walleye- the silence and quiet without the gas motor and lack of fumes.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy some tight lines!