Trolling Help

[SHickey]

Hello,

I bought a 19' Blue Fin (2.3 Litre OMC I/O ) last fall and I would like to use it for some Lake Ontario trolling. I was wondering if I could adjust my idle carb settings to obtain a decent lake trolling speed or if there was some kind of a trolling plate I could install on to the L/U to displace the thrust and obtain the needed trolling speed.

I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum but I thought it had more to do with a OMC unit than a fishing problem.

Thanks,

SH

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Trolling Help

Hello,

I bought a 19' Blue Fin (2.3 Litre OMC I/O ) last fall and I would like to use it for some Lake Ontario trolling. I was wondering if I could adjust my idle carb settings to obtain a decent lake trolling speed or if there was some kind of a trolling plate I could install on to the L/U to displace the thrust and obtain the needed trolling speed.

I am sorry if I posted this in the wrong forum but I thought it had more to do with a OMC unit than a fishing problem.

Thanks,

SH

Howdy,

The recommended Idle RPM should not be changed on any I/O. If it's too slow, it might quit every time you put it in gear, and if it's too fast, you can damage the dog-clutches.

You're really going to need to use a trolling plate and accept whatever trolling speed you get. If it's too slow, just make the plate narrower. If it's too fast, make it wider or drag a "sea anchor" (both of which have their own problems...steering is awful with trolling plates.)


My dad used to tilt the drive to change the speed but that has it's problems too. the steering was very erratic and if you tilt too high you could damage the U-joints or cause an overheat due to poor cooling water pick-up...He also had a trolling plate which wasn't much better..... (Dad later got a 6hp "kicker")

Your best bet would be to get a small outboard and be done with it.

You can easily connect a steering bar from the drive to the small outboard for steering.

It's really your best choice and if you have problems with your engine or drive, you have a "get_home" motor.

I wouldn't try to troll with an I/O.


ymmv,


Rick

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Trolling Help

We used a plate on my Mercruiser,they make all different kinds.
I really liked the one with a hydrolic motor.
Just gotta make sure it's up when done fishing.
Like Rick said the rpm;s need to stay the way they are.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Trolling Help

Ayuh,.... I prefer drift socks, tied off to the forward cleats, over a trollin' plate myself,...

I use over-sized trim tabs, full down 1st,...
If the tabs alone ain't slow enough, I toss out the socks...

Tyin' 'em off to the forward cleats, keeps 'em outa the way for retievin'/ nettin' fish...

 

[skyking897]

Re: Trolling Help

Smart Tabs makes a set of especially designed trolling tabs. I have a set that I am currently installing on by boat for that very same reason. They are supposed to act like a brake slowing down your trolling speed. Check out their web site for more info.