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| Hey all,
I figured I would post this where a lot of people are used to boats of the type I have--around me everyone is in either big center console inshore-type boats or bassboats. I fish a very large lake that typically has several miles of fetch unless you are right up against shore in a sheltered spot...but that's not where the fish are. I have a Lund aluminum boat, been trying to fish a lot of offshore structure this summer for smallies mostly, with a bit of time in the cooler rivers searching for toothy critters, but I have been constantly having trouble in the wind. It's a high-sided aluminum boat, so I know it's going to be blown around a lot more than a comparable glass boat...but does anyone have any tips or tricks for dealing with the wind, especially fishing finesse-type baits like dropshots and the like for smallies or walleye? I'm even having trouble throwing moving baits like bucktails and spinnerbaits along a weed edge/dropoff. I am not new to running a trolling motor or a boat like this, but I'm still having trouble. I think one of those i-pilot spotlock jobbies may be in my not-too-distant future...do they work for what I have in mind? Any other tips or tricks? Or do I need to just save my pennies for a big heavy glass boat? |
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Posts: 797
Location: North Central IL USA | I'm in the same boat as you -very high freeboard on my boat. My plan of attack is auto pilot and a good anchor. |
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Posts: 128
| A BIG trolling motor WILL win against the wind. Point the bow into the wind and use the trolling motor to overpower it. At times I've used a kicker in the back and the front motor (electric steer) to adjust the direction of the boat.
Might be worth looking into drift socks too. |
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| Thanks guys. To be clear, my troller has plenty of power, it's not moving against the wind that is the issue...it's precise boat control that's the issue, i.e. following a sinewy weedline, staying on a piece of underwater structure, etc. |
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| You probably already do this but keep your outboard down in the water while your using your trolling motor in the front of the boat. this acts as a rudder keeping the boat from moving around as much. I fish out of a 12ft modified v with just a 40lb thrust on the bow and as long as I stay faced into the wind I dont get blown around too much at all. Also as mentioned previously I've heard drift socks work well. |
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| I went from the Autopilot to the iPilot this year and it is the best thing since sliced bread for my tin boat. I fish primarily smallies and holding position is key. Spot lock is the greatest invention. My recommendation is that you wait for the iPilot iLink coming out his winter. If you also have the corresponding Humminbird unit and a Lakmaster chip - it is all the control you could ever ask for. The ability to dial in a route, or depth, specific speed, etc and be able to stop and hold position whenever you need to is as close to hands free fishing as it comes. The only thing you do not want to do is to be underpowered, be sure to err on the side of more power on the trolling motor then not enough. |
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Posts: 373
Location: Maine Township, MN | I have an Alumacraft 165 CS and the 55lb PDV2 w/ iPilot does just fine keeping me where I want to be. |
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Posts: 128
| Dave - 9/4/2012 7:55 PM
Thanks guys. To be clear, my troller has plenty of power, it's not moving against the wind that is the issue...it's precise boat control that's the issue, i.e. following a sinewy weedline, staying on a piece of underwater structure, etc.
Nose into the wind and parallel to the structure/cover. With two guys you can do the same but the guy in the bow casts out ahead more parallel while the guy in back works the side of the boat.
Works for me. |
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| Hiya,
Here's a little trick for moving cross wind to help keep the boat more parallel to a shoreline or structure..
If you turn the big motor so that the front of the motor is facing into the wind in a cross wind, it will actually help you keep the boat more parallel to the structure you are fishing. What this does is help to keep the stern from blowing in toward the structure, and allows you to adjust the bow mount so that things track parallel. In most cases, your bow mount will actually be facing out from parallel as the bow will need to be pulled away from the structure. The more wind, the more you turn the big motor. It is not foolproof, but it helps tremendously in certain conditions.
Steve
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Posts: 128
| Check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi-QRXUeLHA
Basically you put a drift sock off the rear corner to keep the back from swinging around, and the trolling motor controls the bow. |
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| smallmouth/musky - 9/5/2012 7:15 PM
Check out this video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bi-QRXUeLHA
Basically you put a drift sock off the rear corner to keep the back from swinging around, and the trolling motor controls the bow.
Thanks, that was exactly what I needed! Also thanks for the "turn the motor" trick. |
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Location: 31 | I've used the "turn the motor" trick before and it certainly helps with any kind of boat. The bottom line is it's going to be a lot harder to control a high sided aluminum boat versus a heavy low sided glass boat.
Edited by Jerry Newman 9/7/2012 12:27 PM
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Posts: 86
Location: colorado | I fish out of a 18' Lund fisherman. Love my boat but yes wind can be hard to deal with. I used a wind sock, kicker motor, Deck hand electric anchor (30 lbs) and have a minkota Terrova with I pilot.The I pilot has helped alot it will hold the boat on a spot well as long as the wind is not real strong. If I was to set up another boat. i would go with the 36 volt elec, trolling motor. mine is 24. everyone told me 80 pounds of thrust was plenty. 110 would hold my boat in more wind. |
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| Weight! Add weight to the front of your boat. I have a glass boat that sits low in the water and can troll around with great boat position. My buddy has a light aluminum that is tough to keep good position because it rides so high out of the water and the wind catches it like a sail. I would put a nice heavy anchor and mount it to the front of your boat. Also, see if you can distribute more weight to the front of your boat. Even if you can get that front end down an inch or two you will notice it a lot.
Good luck.
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| BTW- Leave your big motor in the water all the way down. It helps stabilize the back end and keeps your boat from fishtailing. I'm sure you already do this but I thought I'd throw it out there.
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Steve Herbeck wrote an article that was published in MuskyHunter Magazine ... it's worth finding and reading. He's a master and provides some great tools explaining all applications and how to put yourself in the right position. boat control is something that we all can continue to learn more about and when you have more tools in your bag for handling exactly what you describe, the results pay off.
the mental part of mind over matter and not letting it frustrate but rather aid is key too ...
the wind is your friend!! |
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Posts: 294
Location: New Jersey | Fill the bow livewell to add weight.
Rob |
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Posts: 247
Location: Uxbridge Ontario | My problem with drift socks is just another thing to get in the way of a big muskie. My big 225 Opti is enough in the way when momma swims around the back of the boat. |
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Wind and the tin boat