Aluminum Prop for LOTW

[Shep]

Going up to LOTW next week, and with the low water level, I've been advised to not use my SS Prop. Boat is 2002 1700 Angler SS, 135 Opti, 9.9 Kicker. Current prop is 23P Laser II. Want to get an Aluminum, but not really sure what to get. One dealer said Black max, same pitch. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[PJM]

Shep


The water level is lower but it's not like it is dangerous. If you hit a rock you are going to damage the lower unit along with the prop so if you were to make an insurance claim what difference would it make if it was aluminum or stainless. I was thinking the same thing where I went up there but after going up there it was no big deal. Just look at a map, use your head and depth finder and if you are not sure go slow..........

[Shep]

PJM,

I understand what you are saying. The problem as it was explained to me is hitting a reef at slower speed, idle to just above. I am pretty familiar with the area, and drive reasonably, but reefs that I would clear easily before, may now jump up and bite me! I do worry about possibly bending the prop shaft should I contact a reef with the SS prop. An aluminum would get chewed up, but wouldn't transfer the shock to the shaft like an SS prop would. Am I all wet here?

Besides, I thought it might be a good idea to have a spare, anyway.

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[spartan]

Well the difference is that if you use an aluminum prop and hit something, you can probably throw on your spare alumimum prop and be back out fishing the same day.

Sure, if you use a SS, you might turn it along with the lower unit damage in to insurance, but how long does it take to get your lower unit replaced?? It can take several days, weeks to get a motor serviced depending on where you live and what time of year it is.

I have never thought the small performance gain you can get by using SS props is worth it. Especialy on fishing boats with lower HP engines. You spend more money on the SS prop and then you spend even more when you hit something big. And it is just a matter of time if you spend enough years on the water...

[mps]

I picked up an aluminum prop on the way to Lake of the Woods this spring due to the shallow water but ended up taking it off after the first day since I did not like how my boat ran with it compared to stainless. If you are at idle speed and hit something is probably the only time an aluminum prop might save you. If you hit something going with any speed I can't belive that it makes any difference if you are using SS or aluminum. I just shut down the main motor a little further off the spots and used the electric to move in.

[MoWalleyeguy]

I just got back from 2 weeks of fishing LOTW. All I have to say is we had a great time and the water being down did not hurt us in the least. Just subtract 3 feet from your lake depth map.

If you hit something its because you are NOT paying attention to what you are doing. And like the other post says.... if you hit something then whats the difference which prop you have on its going to damage the lower unit.

During the 2 weeks I was there we saw 3 boats that got lower unit damage! Was it because of the lower water level?... NO None were... they were all because guys were dumb and not following there maps! It was my FIRST time on LOTW in years and I was scared to death the first day. After that I trusted the map and my own abilities to use the map as a guide and also a LOT of common sense. A lot of the areas that show just 2 or 3 feet depth on the map were sticking up out of the water and I found that helpful in pin pointing where we were... so it really helped in the long run.


We went out one day 35 miles from camp and still hand no problems...... thats 70 miles round trip!

Our map was very accurate and we didnt even have one single close call.

Good luck and have a great time!!!!

[Cooker]

I learned not to 100% trust my Hots Spots maps at LOTW. It showed one reef as 6 feet deep. Trusting the map I was going to slowly move over the reef to see if I could mark fish and low and behold I bumped into a rock (fortunately no real damage to boat or motor). The lake was only a foot below the map reference at the time. I looked at the 6214 map and it showed the reef properly at 1 foot deep. In another case, the FHS map did not show an island that existed. I have forwarded this info to FHS and they said they will include the changes in a future update.

A note on the original thread. I ran my stainless prop at LOTW and tried to be real careful (with the exception noted below). Be careful driving over reefs particularly if you have never been there before and know that the map is correct.

[hgmeyer]

I always reccommend the Turning POint Hustler props... a hub and two props will set you back about the same price as a decent aluminum prop... And, the TP props outperform most other aluminum props... I have been using them for three seasons of river walleye chasing and I never worry... If I hit something.. I slip on a new prop same hub... saves big money cheaper than repairing any aluminum prop...

[ex pup]

Hi. I had the same thoughts going up to LOTW in June. I have A v6 IO mercruiser with a 24 pitch SS prop. Last thing I want to do is wrap that prop around anything. I saw the ad for Paranha props and got one of those with a repait kit. I did not hit anything so it was not a problem but it was cheap and I had peace of mind. Its an interesting concept. The hub in guaranteed forever and the blades are separetly replacable at $20. each. 4 blades to my prop. it worked so good i still have not put the SS prop back on. Its made of some kind of plastic composite.

[catchNrelease]

Shep,

I'm heading up to Eagle Lake on Sat and I thought about the exact samething. I figured anytime we are shallow enough and running slower the 9.9 will do the work anyhow. Have a good trip.

CatnhNrelease

[rpieske]

Well, I congratulate you on avoiding reefs. I am a summer resident on LOTW and have fished this lake for 50 years. I have hit 3 rocks this year and familiarity breeding contempt was responsible for 1 of those. I can guarantee you that there are MANY underwater reefs that are not on the map. I find new rocks every year. I currently have at least 25 reefs and rocks marked on my GPS that are not on any of the maps or are in different positions than shown on the maps. These make for excellent fishing but expensive finding them by touch. Believe me....there are rocks in areas you travel that you have probably missed by a boat length. It will humble you when there is low water. Dick Pearson, the well known muskie fisherman, made a comment about the lake being more dangerous the better you know it, because you don't expect to hit rocks in areas that you normally go right over. Hope to avoid anymore this year. I have a replaceable skeg that pops off when you hit something. AT $100.00 it's cheaper than a new skeg. I use a SS prop and haven't bent the prop shaft this year.

[Shep]

Hi Bob,

We're headed up Saturday. You gonna be able to stop by? Be good to see you, and maybe share some stories and info on the patterns. Maybe even a beverage or 2!

Tight Lines All,

Shep

[MoWalleyeguy]

Sorry to hear some of you have hit rocks and such on the LOTW's. Like I said earlier I didnt have ANY problems and fished a average of 13 hours EVERYDAY for 2 weeks. We went out 15-30 miles from "home" and so the round trip was 30-60 miles minimum everyday and we explored lots of water.

Note we did NOT use a Hot Spots Map. We did have one but our camp told us to us the map published by The Canadian Hydrographic Service. I can tell you its a superior map over any Hot Spots map. You can see a lot more marked areas of reefs, bouys, etc.If your interested in this map you might try doing a search for it or even try locating info on one of there web sites w w w. charts. g c. c a or w w w. cartes. g c . c a (take out the spaces)

These Charts ARE considered Navigation Charts unlike Hot Spots. Hot Spots normally has some kind of disclaimer that says not to use for navigation and only use for reference.

Water level was down about 3 feet when we were there and reefs that were marked on our map 3 feet under the surface were now visible!

Just use common sense guys. For you guys that have 50 years experience on LOTW and are still hitting rocks and reefs I would invest in a jet boat thats used for shallow rivers!

LOTW is a blast to fish and I will be going back for years and years to come.

Good Luck and be safe.

[Recon]

>I find new rocks every year. I currently have at least 25 reefs
>and rocks marked on my GPS that are not on any of the maps or
>are in different positions than shown on the maps. I have a >replaceable skeg that pops offwhen you hit something.

First, Semper Fi, Sar'nt, from El-Tee.

Second, maybe you should take up prospecting if you can find underwater rocks that easily. Those above water rocks are easier to see and with that kind of luck you might find some leftover gold missed during the gold rush days. My condolences.

Third, I just got back from my 3rd LOW trip this year. Like the guy says, I used my map, my mapping GPS, some common sense, and used the main travel routes (as marked) when going from a fishing area to a fishing area. I have hit NOTHING this year yet, knock on wood. In the prior 10 years I have hit 2 underwater logs (that was a big log transportation lake earlier in the century). The first time I took out a prop (aluminum). The second time it popped a seal and eventually my lower unit ate itself and totaled the motor (aluminum prop). I said to heck with it and when I bought my new boat I decided to run a steel prop. If I can total a motor despite using aluminum, then I might as well use steel.

Fourth, like the guy also said, subtract 3 when looking at the navigational maps depth readings. I was VERY concerned when I got there for my first trip this year. But now I realize the navigation is interesting but not terribly different. At least that is how it has been working for me.

[JDR]

To MOwalleyeguy:

I've fished lake of the woods most of my life... 25+years. I can assure you the CDN hydro maps have lots of mistakes, and don't mark all the rocks.

There are 2 kinds of people that fish lake of the woods on a regular basis. Those that have hit em, and those that are going to. The lake has a way of humbling even cocky, smart guys like you. That is if you dare to venture off the main channel.

Sorry, but your jet-boat comment riled me a bit.

[MoWalleyeguy]

Hey no sweat... You say and do what you want and know what and I'll do the same.

But I have a feeling you guys that fish LOTW as much as you say but still havent "learned" where the danger spots are, must be very forgetful or just goofy as heck.

By the way, no we didnt stay "in the main channel" the whole time, but I will say when it looked like a problem area we idled through it or even drop the trolling motor! Everything that was shallow that we found WAS on our Canadian Hydo Map.. EVERYTHING! Use common sense... but then some just plain don't have any. If a area is marked 10 feet and the water is down 3 feet... BE CAREFULL!!!! I care about my boat and wouldnt put it in harms way. We had the chance to go out with a guide the first day on lake of the woods. We spent 14 hours with him on the water and learned a lot. He said he fishs 150 days a year 10-14 hours everyday for the past 9 years and has NEVER hit anything. He said the important thing is the Ca. Hydo Map and common sense (as I explained). I am not saying that there is NO possiblility of hitting anything but if your careful then you will limit the chances a great deal.

Lastly- LOTW is huge, you may be fishing a area that is different from the one I am in.I am fishing the Northeastern portion. Also as I said before if your using the Hot Spots map for Navigation you are doing yourself wrong... use the Canadian Hyrdo Charts!

"a"