Posts: 906
Location: Warroad, Mn | It depends on where you troll. I would guess that if you fished open water with planner boards a console would be great. However, I troll the shield with only one line per person allowed, and never use boards. The shield (LOTWs) has some very abrupt and unforgiving depth changes (read rocks) that sometimes require very rapid changes in direction and speed. The rapid direction change that you get with a tiller is many times a prop saver, and allows you much more control than at the console (I tried).
I use a long jointed extension (sold by both Cabala's a Bass Pro I believe). This allows me to sit in a nice seat some ways of front of the motor and gives me instant steering control. The old Merc that I use has the shift in the handle controls so to reverse I just turn the handle the other way. Sitting in the back also allow me to see all my rods, with out turning around, and allows me to look ahead and at my electronics at all times, very important when trolling the shield.
If you are going to troll the shield a tiller is the way to go.
Doug Johnson |
