Question for FreeByrd

[Ronnie]

I've seen pictures of your new boat (center console with twins). I'm wondering - what is your technique for trolling? I don't think you have a kicker motor. Do you just use a single engine? What about trolling bags? How's the precision on your speed control? Thanks for any info you can provide.

[ETT.]

I'm not Steve, but I've fished with him enought to answer, and he'll correct me when he gets back from Florida.

Steve uses Awmish Outfitters Trolling bags 36"ers (I would guess). He is set up with a bag for each side and they are rigged so that the rear of the bag is even with the transom, and there is no way for them to get to the props.

He trolls with 1 engine, and depending on the speed desired run either the bag on the same side as the operating engine, or if he needs to go slower, he'll put both bags in the water.

His boat has a Raymarine ST5000 plus autopilot and everything works quite well together. His speed control is no problem because he can get down to the slowest speed he wants with both bags out, and then use the throttle as needed.

With this arrangement he can run small boards, big boards, Dipsys, whatever the situation requires.

Hope this helps. And good fishing.

[Johnnie Candle]

I too fished with Steve and this set up. WOW! Does it work. At the WC gathering last fall it worked good enough for 1st and 3rd in the big fish contest. That says a ton right there.

It really made me miss my BIG boat days. Great boat, great set up. It is very common to see two trolling bags off of the bigger Great Lakes boats. Not only does it slow the boat down, but it creats a more stable fishing platform as well.

[FreeByrd]

Ronnie,
I have two 28 inch "Beefy Bags" from Amish Outfitters. www.amishoutfitters.com

I troll with one engine at a time - usually switch engines every few hours. For summertime speeds (2.3+)I often don't even need a bag. With one bag deployed (on the same side as the engine that is running), I can normally get down to right around 1.7 to 1.8 depending on wind. If I want to get slower I deploy a second bag and can get as slow as 1.3 if I want to. My boat has huge trim tabs 12 x 18 (maybe even bigger) that I can tweak to finetune speed.

I have talked to the owner of Troll Master about building a throttle control for my twin 200 HPDI trolling motors, but so far they aren't interested. The bags work fine. I run Yamalube and Ringfree and don't have a problem with the 200 HPDIs trolling down.

I do have one of the 36 inch bags from Amish Outfitters but have never needed to use it.

NOTE that most of the time when I recommend people get two smaller trolling bags this is more necessary for the smaller boats that won't be able to hold a course if they just deploy a bag on one side. The larger boats have enough weight to not drive around in a circle with one bag deployed. For most of the smaller boats, I'd recommend two 22 inch bags from Amish Outfitters. Above 23/24 feet then two 28 inch bags.

Johnnie brings up a great point that I forgot to mention - by deploying a bag out each side it does create a more stable platform.

My steering is hydraulic and the Raymarine ST5000 Series Autopilot does an incredible job in most any conditions. It works a lot making lots of small corrections but the boat tracks great.

Steve

[Ronnie]

Thanks for the replies, gents. I am currently planning on adding a kicker to my 22' center console for trolling. I have used a drift bag and the big motor in the past. It worked OK, but the bag was a nuisance, mainly due to my inexperience with the trolling techniques of setting more than 2 lines and landing fish. I've considered changing my plans and going with the dual bags, but I think I'm going to try the kicker setup. Hopefully, the rigging will turn out OK.

Also, I hadn't thought about using the trim tabs to tweak the speed. That's a great idea. If/when I upgrade to a bigger boat with twins, I'll feel confident that I can use 2 bags and still be effective.

[FreeByrd]

Key to the bags is rigging them from the middle / springline cleats and keeping them ahead of the transom so they can't get in the way of props, lines, fish.
Steve