|
|
Posts: 431
| I'm thinking forward to trolling down here in Missouri/Illinois. My goal is to fish through every month of the year, and I'd like to do some serious trolling. The problem is it's really hard for my run my boat below 3.75 miles per hour. To get down to 3.5 miles per hour I have to put the trolling motor down to create drag. I have a tracker tv18 with a merc 9O 4 stroke. Anybody have any suggestions for slowing down the boat. I want be able to troll below 3 mph when the water gets good and cold. Thanks. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 547
Location: Oshkosh | Drift Sock, but could cause a big problem with fish on unless you can keep it in the front of the boat.
Peter |
|
| |
|
Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | 2 drift socks set on forward cleats to deploy one on each side of the boat amidships. Many walleye and salmon guys use this. One bag off the back would almost surely cause grief with a musky on. One on each side, and held a bit forward, allows for relatively steady handling. If only one sock is used the boat will want to pull to the side which the sock is deployed. Some guys even use two 5 gallon buckets but I happen to like the paint to remain on the side of the my boat. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1316
Location: Madison, WI | Drift socks work well as they said. If you have another guy fishing with you, have him stand in the back of the boat to create more drag. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 2323
Location: Stevens Point, WI | As everyone said, using drift socks will definitely slow you down. If you tie it off your front hook of the boat it should run under the boat and stay out of the way better also.
Couple other thoughts, make sure your Mercury is tilted all the way down in the water, that will also create more drag too.
If your not wanting to use the drift sock(s), I'd suggest a trolling plate. Here is one, these can be bought at just about any good sporting goods store.
http://www.cabelas.com/p-0000915012282a.shtml |
|
| |
|
Posts: 431
| I'd considered throwing a couple of 5 gallon buckets out the back, but hadn't thought of drift socks out the sides. The next question is what size drift socks would be reasonable?? I've never used a drift sock. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 1270
| IMHO using drift socks or 5 gallon buckets while trolling is a royal PITA! They are always in the way and ussually make your boat steer like the Titanic. You mentioned you have a trolling motor, have you considered using that for trolling? This is what I use when I want to troll slow like when I troll crawler harnesses for walleyes. If your trolling motor has auto pilot you will really be surpirsed how good it works. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | You might want to try a trolling plate. Here is a link to Cabelas web site with several different types.
http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/index/index-display.jsp...
I would probably use the Troll-A-Matic because it seems you could just put it on and forget about it. You could then just drive your boat like normal, except it would go much slower at closed throttle.
Just be careful not to confuse the Troll-A-Matic with the Veg-A-Matic, Fish-A-Matic, Shave-A-Matic or any other "A-Matic" devices. 
Edited by Herb_b 8/10/2009 2:07 PM
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 431
| I thought about a trolling plate. Anybody out there run a trolling plate? What kind of speed reduction did you get? Do they pop on and off pretty easy? I don't particularly want to permanently install anything. |
|
| |
|
Posts: 295
Location: Southern Ontario, Detroit River and Lake StClair | momuskies - 8/10/2009 3:17 PM
I thought about a trolling plate. Anybody out there run a trolling plate? What kind of speed reduction did you get? Do they pop on and off pretty easy? I don't particularly want to permanently install anything.
I have a trolling plate on my 50HP Merc 2 stroke. It normally trolls at 2.8-3 but with the plate it will get down to 1.5. They can be a bit of a pain as well but are a lot better than buckets or socks. You have to drill 4 holes in your motor for it to be mounted. But comes off by removing 4 nuts and takeing it off, about 5 minutes work. Have you tried turn down the idle on your motor? That seems pretty quick for a 90 on that size of boat. Especially with a 4 stroke. My buddies 90 4 stroke will get down to 2mph on his 18ft Lowe. Try trimming up your motor. That will slow you down as well. That's what I did before I had the plate. Trim it right up and it really cuts your speed. It's a little harder to steer but it also makes a nice surface wake if you short line troll.
Tim
|
|
| |
|
Posts: 1169
Location: New Hope MN | buy a different prop... Go to your local dealership and explain your problem. Simple as getting a prop with different pitch. |
|
| |
|
| Something is definitely going on there, you should be able to idle that 4 stroke right down. I was out trolling cranks for walleyes last week in a friend's 20 ft. Lund with a 225 yamaha, and he can troll down to 2-2.5mph. He doesn't even use his kicker. I would definitely call your dealer for some suggestions ...
Good luck |
|
| |
