trolling

[cthru1]

I have a 150hp 4 stroke on my 22' boat and when trolling it is difficult to stay below 3mph. Are there ways to slow the boat other than using a trolling motor? Do trolling plates work well or does anyone have other thoughts to slow my speed? Thought about dragging the wife but she declined that option! Thanks

 

[JB]

Re: trolling

Whatcha trolling for, Cthru?<br /><br />Lotsa options for very slow trolling.<br /><br />Trolling plates, electric troller, kicker, wind drifting and back trolling all work. I have also used in-out of gear at idle and zig-zagging the boat.<br /><br />Most of my trolling is for critters that like fast lures. I have trolled up esox at as quick as 6mph and mahi mahi as quick as 10.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[neumanns]

Re: trolling

A drift sock securly fastened to a reinforced point would also slow ya. But I would think if 3mph is to fast your best option may be backwards...This also gives ya better boat control.

 

[tonyscj5]

Re: trolling

yeah, in and out of gear, backwards, drift sock, it all would work.... but if you seriously troll often for long periods of time that is a pain in the butt alternative. Either tune your motor down, somehow... ask on the proper engine board how maybe lower your idle speed. Our better yet get a small kicker. This way you will have a back up motor should the big guy crap out, and be able to troll real slow.<br /><br />good luck

 

[bbalcer]

Re: trolling

Get a 10 pitch prop....lol.

 

[Bondo]

Re: trolling

I Troll for Walleye at between 1mph,+ 2.5mph.....<br />Trout at between 1.5mph,+ 2.5mph......<br />Salmon at between 2mph,+ 3.5mph.........<br /><br />I manage these speeds with a system I've put together over the last 5 or 6 years.........<br /><br />The System consists of(and in the order of Original Implementation)........<br />1) Drift Socks,....Originals were 44"s accross,...My New Custom Built 1s are also 44"s accross, but with alot of Reinforcing,+ Foam sewn into the hem of 1/2 of the Big openning,+ Lead Wire sewn into the hem of the other 1/2.... They Should deploy Much Better....<br />I Also added a set of Cleats about Mid-ship,+ an extra set at the stern, Just for the Bags.....<br /><br />2) A Torque-Shift Prop,...... It runs at 11"s of pitch, at trolling speeds,.... Till I Hammer the Throttle..... <br /><br />3) An Over-Sized set of Bennett Trim Tabs,.... 12"s X 18"s,.....With the Prop at 11"s,+ the Tabs All the way Down,.... I can Normally troll at 3/4mph at Idle......<br /><br />I Don't use the Bags as often, with the Prop,+ Tabs doing the required job,...... But, there Are the conditions that Still require the Bags..........<br /><br />With the Full System deployed, I can troll down to Under 1/2mph.......<br /><br />If You question the viability of the Bags,......<br />Try tying on 2 or 4, 5 gallon Pails to the forward cleats of your boat,+ Try It..........<br />If you like the Buckets,... Go out,+ Buy a set of Bags(Drift Socks).........<br /><br />Good Luck......

 

[PAkev]

Re: trolling

Cthru,<br /><br />Do you have the F150 Yammie? I've got it and get down below 2MPH in my boat but my rig goes about 3000 lbs with motor and 72 gal of fuel.<br /><br />Although it sounds simple, going into the wind or against the current will also sufficiently slow you down.<br /><br />I also tried the drift sock but found that when bringing in a fish, it can cause things to get quite tangled up and messy.

 

[John_S]

Re: trolling

I have used modified five gallon pails as drift socks. Maily for controlling a drift in stronger winds. They will slow the troll down, but it is pain to deal with. Look closely in the background of the picture. You will see a deployed pail. There were two on the boat that day. I said a little prayer every time that muskie headed around the boat again!<br /><br />

 

[Bondo]

Re: trolling

You guys have got to tie those Pails,+ Bags Off the Bow..............<br /><br />I use the forward side cleats......<br /><br />I do All the Fish Landing off the stern,.... It's Wide Open with the bags tied to the bow.........<br /><br />Nice Muskie,.......

 

[jtexas]

Re: trolling

John_S, you ever been on TV? you look a lot like the Taylor's neighbor, Wilson, on Home Improvement! <br /><br />nice fish!

 

[John_S]

Re: trolling

jtexas,<br />Yea, I was playing hooky from work, so wanted to protect the innocent! ;-) <br /><br /><br />Bondo,<br />Was drifting at the time so the issue is having rope in the water and a fish that determines where it wants to go!

 

[gonfishn]

Re: trolling

Nice Musky JS...Where did ya catch her? I don't care what anyone says the ole ticker goes up a notch anytime a gator takes a liking to your lure..

 

[John_S]

Re: trolling

Susquhanna River, near the Owego NY area. It especially pumps more blood given we were walleye fishing with 8lb XT, no leader, and jigs. We caught a good number of muskies last fall. All following the schools of small walleyes.

 

[Bondo]

Re: trolling

You Lucky Dog You............. <br /><br />I Bet that is a Sphincter Clinching Good Time............

 

[omcdcon]

Re: trolling

Cthru1, I don't have a trolling plate myself, but have heard good things about them. They are a lot cheaper than a kicker motor and will stay out of the way better than a bucket or a drift sock.

 

[jeff13601]

Re: trolling

The bags are the way to go. If you tie them off the cleats in the forward part of the boat as Bondo does they are out of the way. If you still want them out you can pull them in a few seconds. I would suggest though that you do not buy the ones from sport shops but look for someone local that makes a quality strong bag

 

[Bob La Londe]

Re: trolling

I'm surprised nobody put out a big reccomendation for the on motor electric trollers like this navigator. <br /><br />

<br /><br />I haven't taken advantagre of it yet, but my new Optimax Smart Craft gage system allows me to set the continuous idle RPM of the motor specifically for trolling speed control. I mostly cast for bass or stripers or float jigs and bait balls for crappie and panfish.

 

[jeff13601]

Re: trolling

Im not sure how well that would work for trolling for salmon, walleyes etc in a twenty foot plus boat. I dont think it would give you much control. Also it would deplete the batteries quickly

 

[kence]

Re: trolling

Most of my fishing is spent trolling for walleye on L. Erie or king salmon on L. Ontario. I use a drift sock attached at the center or spring cleat on both sides of the boat. I can usually maintain speeds as slow as .5 to 2.5 on the gps. I have never had a problem with fish getting entangled. I am running a 23ft. Trophy with a Mercruiser 5.7 and can troll all day. To ease bag deployment and retrieval, set your lines just long enough to get the bag completely in the water and opened and attach another line to the small end of the bag and attach that line to your stern cleat. When you need to retrieve the bag it is very easy to to pull the bag in and this also keeps the bags close to the boat and out of the way. If you do buy bags, you get what you pay for, cheap bags may work for drift control but you need a good bag handle the stress of trolling.

 

[Bob La Londe]

Re: trolling

I run a 109LB Motorguide bow mount all day long on my 20 BassCat. I have three group 27 batteries, and it lasts all day. My cranking battery is the anchor battery of the three. <br /><br />I expect that anybody running a big trolling motor of any kind would have extra batteries and an onboard charger if they are serious. <br /><br />As to control. I don't see where it would have any less control than running the big motor to troll. Which ever way you point the motor is the way it goes. If you meant when on pad... The electric is out of the water when the boat is on plane.