.5-1.5mph trolling,best way?

[Troller]

I have a 60 hp. motor,I troll at aprox. 2-2.25 mph. now ,but need to bring speed down for Lead core fishing. Wonder if putting a fixed position trolling plate would help, I can't really afford a kicker motor right now.What is the best aproach ?.

[hugh]

You could also try using a sea anchor or two off the bow of the boat. This should bring your speed down.

[mbrandt]

I use a trolling plate on my 90 and can get less than .5. You do lose some manuverablity, but not to bad. If your trolling tight contours, the trolling plate isn't the way to go, but if trolling open water or flats, I think it's great.

Mark

[Crankin]

I have a good trolling plate for sale. If interested email me dbeach@sendit.nodak.edu

[Dave S]

I have the same problem with my big motor. Started out using a trolling plate that worked fine except kept shearing off shear pins. If you speed up your motor when coming over a sudden shallow bottom or submerged trees you will either snag your lures (when you dont speed up) or shear pins (if you speed up).

In the last year have gone to two heavy duty trolling bags (Not drift bags which are allot ligher and not designed for high stress of retraining a trolling boat). With trolling bag out each bow side the drag is symetrical and hence easier to steer versus 1 bag.

I asked identical question on WC to yours and Capt Ric who runs charters everyday on Lake Erie for 25 years suggested I contact Joe Burchs at Tuffy Pad Company, (330) 688-0043. Capt Ric uses these bags DAILY and you will never break or wear them out. I purchased two 24" diameter bags. Also makes 48" bags for large 30' plus boats. Bags were around $20 - $25 each a year ago. Nice thing about them is they can easily be stored and can be used on any boat. Also trying to back up with trolling plate does not work well. With trolling bags no problem.

[Paddy]

2 different modifications to your trolling plate will offer more control at low speeds.
Either cut another notch in the positioning bar so the plate is only half way down or cut a hole in the center of the trolling plate about 4" dia.
Both ideas work and provide more thrust at low speeds.

[bernie]

i drag 2 5 gallon buckets right behind the boat doesnt take much room in the boat cheap and many uses when not trolling good luck

[JKJ]

I drag one 5-gallon bucket under the boat, tie off to the bow eye. Works great.

[MIKE M]

Dave is right about the trolling bags.Its the way to go.To many negatives with T.plates.I gaurantee you'll forget to bring it up and end up bending it on blast off.Also, excess drag will cause loss of top end speed.Go with the good ones Dave talks about.Buckets are OK but handles break off in rough water,and there gone.Use good quality rope.I like a heavy duty swival to attach rope to bag.Should have two bags.Speed is everything!

[MB]

Is an electric motor out of the question for slow speed trolling?

[Sparky]

If you're running a 60 hp motor an electric bow mount autopilot should work well to get that speed. I trolled with one for three years until I neede to go faster for Salmon fishing. I then added a 4 stroke kicker with an autopilot. I still use the bow mount in spring when real slow trolling is what I'm after. I have a 21' open bow with a 175 hp main engine. If it works for my boat it should work for yours. Get a 24 volt model and you can troll all day at that speed if you aren't bucking the wind. If it is windy troll downwind and just use the motor to keep the bow pointed in the right direction.

Sparky

[Gary]

What brand, model of trolling bags? And where are they Available? thanks

[Dave S]

Gary: You can contact Tuffy Pad Company at the phone number I listed. Like I say I have the two 24" diameter bags for my 18' boat with 150 hp motor. The bags are hand sewn with very heavy vinyl reinforced fabric and heavy straps (much heavier than drift bags which just have to restrain a floating boat not under motor power). They can be easily folded and placed in a storage compartment as versus buckets which are difficult to store. I tie them on each bow side of my boat with heavy nylon rope and in line swivel. With the trolling plate I guarantee you will forget its down sooner or later, take off across the lake and damage the trolling plate and/ or motor. When I sheared off trolling plate pins then I could not control my speed until taking the motor out of the water and replacing the pins. Someday I will have a boat with kicker motor which is the ultimate way to troll.

[Hawgeye]

I just traded in my 1700 pro-V and it had a 60hp Johnson that I could get down to .5 MPH while backtrolling. I guess I learned how to backtroll and got used to that. I would even jig in the river by setting down the idle and backtrolling into the current occasionally kicking in and out of reverse. I could hold that boat on a rock in current if I had too.

Just another option for ya...

[Den]

A good 24 volt electric motor will work, depending on the size of boat, and the water you are going to fish. but if you have to buy one, check out the small gas motors and you may just go with a kicker, also a kicker can be used if the main motor has a problem. good luck and good fishin.
Den

[Captn Ric]

glad they have worked for you,, THey are really a wise choic for controlled trolling,, Also alows you to speed up RPMs on motor to alow for a longer engine life.
Ric

[dale]

I've got a 1993 yamaha pro 60 and it gets down to 650rpms and you can sit there all day and it never misses a lick.