North of 8 - 12/20/2020 10:35 AM
medy - 12/20/2020 10:23 AM
I have a tiller, and my one complaint I have when trolling is boat control when I get a fish on. It is a long way from the tiller handle to deploy the trolling motor and turn on autopilot to avoid blowing onto rock reefs.
If I didn't enjoy back trolling for walleye, I would probably have gone the route of a side console which still has ample open space/port side storage, but for late season musky fishing provides slightly more protection from the elements when trolling/driving
I would also make the argument Tom Boley should probably have a console boat for his style of fishing since he rarely back trolls (I cringe at his lack of splash guards).
The issue of holding position after hooking a fish is a problem, but would it be any better with a console? Still have to get up to the bow. I am getting an Ulterra in spring, that should make life easier. What I do now is have an anchor in the back, right under the kicker handle, tied off. I throw the kicker in neutral, toss the anchor over the side.