Prop/Skeg Saver

[Keith/MN]

I do quite a bit of fishing on the mississippi (St. Cloud area) in the fall when the water levels get real low. Would like to find a good way to protect the prop and skeg of my 9.9 Merc from the rocks on those occasions that I manage to find bottom.

I've heard of a device with tines like a pitch fork. Also saw a metal guard like device that was mounted to the skeg of another fisherman's motor.

Does anyone have a recommendation for something along these lines? How much do they cost?

[Jim/UT]

Cabelas has one design that I've always wanted to try for when I head down to Lee's Ferry. I think it was about $49, bolts to the skeg. How is the smallie fishing in the river by you. Can you float down the river in a float tube and flycast?

Jim

[Keith/MN]

Jim,

I primarily fish small-mouth and walleye on the river. Special regulations on the smallies on my section of the river. You can only keep them under 12" or over 20". I have never kept one in all my years of fishing (I'm a Catch-Photo-Release CPR fisherman where smallies are concerned) and the special regs make for very good small-mouth fishing; some of the best you will find anywhere.

The walleye fishing can be quite good at times as well. Not to many big ones, but plenty of eaters if you look for them.

A lot of people canoe down the river and fish as they go. They put in in St. Cloud and float down to Clearwater. Apprx 10-12 miles of river. A very nice one day trip.

I've never seen anyone try to float down in a tube though. Many sections of the rive are quite shallow. That's why I still manage to tap bottom occasionally with my motor.

Thanks for the Cabellas suggestion. Good fishing.

Keith