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| I have had some success doing this a lot in past years, back when I had a 60 tiller. But now using a 9.9 kicker and my main basin trolling is fine, but my propwash stuff is almost washed up.
Is there a reason why I cant do as well propwash trolling with a kicker? |
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| That's a good question there Jason, I know folks that use a 9.9 as there main and catch them in the wash as others like me who use a 115HP and get them as close as just a few feet behind the prop. I know I play with the angle of my motor to create different wash and I don't think you have that option with your 9.9 but if you do try a different angle for your motor, try raising it a little to creat a bigger or loader wash.[:sun:] |
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| Would you recommend an upwash or a downwash? |
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| I think by raising the motor that would give you an upwash. I discovered this from trolling shallow unknown waters, I would raise my motor to save the prop in case I was to hit a stump but it ended up getting me more fish.[:sun:] |
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| What does it take to keep the bait in the propwash. I mean if you put it that tight, wont the actual propwash blow the bait out of the water? |
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| Jason, any lure with a lip will dive naturaly and even a sledge can be as close as 10' behind the boat and do its thing in the wash. You can also stick the rod straight down in the water with any lure to keep in down at any speed or any distance. This is where the downeasters rod holders come in handy, you can angle them right down and still not worry about a rod popping out or the rod holder breaking on you. Just remember to pull the rod away from the boat and not up when you get that hit.[:sun:] |
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| I've gone the other way Jason - was using a 35hp for years, now a 150. That big prop really stirs things up. Like Richard, I've found that somedays a deeper wash (creates the bubble stream) works best, while sometimes a shallower wash with more of a current works better. I've actually seen more activity with the bigger motor than with the smaller one. I suspect this is because the bigger prop generates more sub-surface turbulence since it is almost twice as big. Some days a bait in the side of the wash seems to be preferred, while others days it's a bait right in the rough stuff. I run baits as short as 4 feet back (generally lipped diving baits - this puts them right under the turbulence), to as far back as 50 feet. The spoons need more room as the turbulence and current will cause them to spin.
Next year I am going to put a large trolling plate on my motor so I can slow my speed about 3/4 mph. This will again alter my wash somewhat, so it will be interesting to see how the fish react to this.
I use the Scotty Striker rod holders, and may angle the rod tip down low and right back behind the motor, or keep it higher, depending on where and how I want the bait to be in relation to the surface. I can also position 2 rods on either edge of the wash. ALWAYS wise to keep your options open.
Steve Wickens |
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Muskies in the propwash