How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

[icook4u2]

I have been doing a little reserch on trolling with an I/O. I'm not sure what would be the best method for me. Come spring time I want to troll in the Chesapeake Bay.
I just bought a 1998 19' Stingray with a 135hp I/O.
I am looking at using:
1. Drift Socks
2. Engine Mounted Electric Motors
3. Kicker Motor. Have not found the right bracket for a fiberglass swim deck

Any imput (pros/cons) on the 3 methods would be highly appreciated.

 

[JimS123]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

I have the same boat, though an older model. I've been trolling for 26 years now using a 9.9 kicker with EZsteer and it works fantastic. We troll for bass in the shallows, muskies in the channel and with downriggers out in the Lake for salmon and trout. Thus, my speed ranges from about 0.5 to 2.5 mph and the gas fired 2-stroke handles all speeds without fail.

First off, I'm assuming you want to actually "troll", i.e., run the boat with lines out the back, as opposed to just move the boat around and cast out the side.

A sock is worthless. Sure, it'll slow you down, but you have little speed control with it. Regardless, I don't think you want to run a 4-banger all day long at idle speed. Maybe with a V-8 because it would idle smother, but I still wouldn't want to run it that long.

I've seen a few guys using electric, but I have no first hand experience. Are they quick detatchable? If not, I wouldn't think it would do much good for your high speed performance with the 135 running. Besides, the batteries you would need and all the time to recharge them would be a PITA.

I have a straight transom, so mounting a std. retractable bracket was a piece of cake. It CAN be done on one like yours but it would require some custom building of a bracket mounted on the top.

My 9.9 has about 600 trolling hours on it now and has run flawlessly. On a typical day in the lake we'll troll for 6 or 7 hours, with only a 1/2 hour stop in the middle to eat lunch.

 

[dsiekman]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

As you didn't state exactly what you were trying to acheive, I am assuming that you are assuming that idle speed will be faster than the desired 2-3 knts. You might see just how fast she runs with multiple umbrella rigs out. It could slow you down to the sweet spot. As for the electrics, I have seen these advertised and was interested myself. Pretty cool idea although I have a hard time believing they won't impact "normal" performance when underway.

I have a similar problem, except I have twins. With both engines at idle I run about 4 knts which is a little fast for stripers and a little slow for strippers...sorry, couldn't resist. I have considered running one engine for awhile then switching to the other. I can't imagine she would handle very well, but who knows. I'll be interested to see what other ideas you get. Good luck!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

3. Kicker Motor. Have not found the right bracket for a fiberglass swim deckhttp://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/GAR/GAR71078.html

http://www.shipstore.com/SS/HTML/GAR/GAR71078.html

http://www.baylinerownersclub.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15567

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

the drift sock has limited utility.

An electric trolling motor should be bow-mounted, and salt-water, which could be a problem.

But try trolling in low speed first with what you have.

 

[SMERCHANT]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

Buy a trolling plate. My buddy has a 470 Mercruiser on his boat (My old boat I sold to him) & when he drops the trolling plate in front of the prop it's just like we're trolling with a Minn-Kota electric. They have them at Bass Pro Shops, check their website or just google it. The one my buddy has is called "The Happy Troller"

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

The Bay has anywhere from a 2-3 kt current with the tide running. Couple that with a persistent south wind that time of the year and an electric trolling motor useless. On a boat that size you might get by with a 9.9 but most people I know that use kickers to troll use a 15 hp or better.

I troll a 200 hp outboard with no problems at all. The 800 rpm idle pushes me @ 2.0 knots cross tide. Normaly troll between 1000 -1100 RPM which put me in the 2.5-3.0 kt. range. Have caught plenty of the fish pushing 3.5 knots.

As other have said, find out what you have first. Turn your idle down as low as it can go and troll into the tide if you have too. The speed isn?t an important as putting the bait right in front of their face.

BTW: Why wait until Spring? Best fishing of the year between now and the end of the year.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

My esteemed fellow Chesbay boater makes good points, however it is generally better to troll or drift with, not against, the current, as the fish face into the current. This is especially important with flounder. So the OP needs to test his present rig going with the current.
And the drift sock is for wind, when moving, and current, when anchored. It does little good when moving with the current.

How a boat behaves at low speeds is derived from design: those with a lot of mass above the waterline are affected by wind more, and those with deep hulls by current. I'd think a stingray I/O is the latter.

A friend swears by his electric troller on the bow of a 22' bay boat, in the currents under the bridges, but this is for holdnig and adjusting position, not travelling long distances such as trolling a tide line. Also deadly for working the edges, because they are silent, but again more for moving around than travelling.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

My esteemed fellow Chesbay boater makes good points, however it is generally better to troll or drift with, not against, the current, as the fish face into the current.

During Spring trophy season your fishing for migrating Stripers. They are using the tides to move in and out of the Bay so they are moving with the tide on their backs, not facing it.

The most effective, and accepted method of trolling these fish is to troll an east / west pattern. If you troll north / south during the Spring season you will be very unpopular with the locals.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

I have a Trol-a-matic on my 140HP Mercruiser and it gets the boat down to 2mph, maybe a bit slower. It's spring loaded and automatic so you don't have to worry about raising it. The downside, reverse control is diminished, takes a bit to get used to it.

I'm running a 15x19 prop which sticks out past the plate a bit and gives more thrust, with a 14x19 the boat would creep dead slow at idle.

 

[SMERCHANT]

Re: How to troll with my "new to me" boat?

I have a Trol-a-matic on my 140HP Mercruiser and it gets the boat down to 2mph, maybe a bit slower. It's spring loaded and automatic so you don't have to worry about raising it. The downside, reverse control is diminished, takes a bit to get used to it.

I'm running a 15x19 prop which sticks out past the plate a bit and gives more thrust, with a 14x19 the boat would creep dead slow at idle.

That's what I was talking about! They guys after me thought I was talking about an electric trolling motor. No, I said it would feel LIKE using an electric trolling motor. This is the best & cheapest solution for trolling with a larger engine. Trust me it works very good.