Trolling

[tmise]

Am new to trolling and have little experience. This year we are going to be trolling for rainbow and brown trout at Lake Jocassee, SC. I have an older Evinrude 18hp that will eventually be put on my boat as a kicker and to use for trolling. But for now my boat is a 22' deep v hull with an Evinrude 225hp. Don't have an electric trolling motor yet. I've been looking at possibly getting a trolling plate to put on the big engine to troll with. Guess my question is for the trollers out there is this a good approach to trolling with the plate or should i use drift socks, etc...I'm sure a trolling motor will work fine when I get one but for now what would be best way to go about trolling. Speeds need to be in the 1.5 to 2.5 mph range. Have heard that the trolling plates cause a lot of fouling with the spark plugs, poor gas mileage, etc...also will be trolling with down riggers, jet divers, and lead core.

 

[82rude]

Re: Trolling

used a trolling plate for years no issues .i might suggest that you open the gap on your spark plugs if you intend to troll for long periods of time with the big boy.

 

[mtorts]

Re: Trolling

I have a kicker motor but many of my friends use a trolling plate and never had a issue. Most of them strictly troll for walleye so they use them often. No problems at all

 

[saumon]

Re: Trolling

A lot of trollers prefer the Easy-Troller vs the Happy-Troller, the first being hinged to prevent bending it in case you forgot to raise it (that WILL happen).

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Trolling

Trolling at 1-1/2 to 2 mph with an electric troller is going to place a big demand on the battery and run time will be relatively shor -- especially since you are using lead core line and boards. The 18 HP would make an ideal troller.

 

[tmise]

Re: Trolling

Appreciate the input! Yeah I think that 18hp will be great also! Just replaced the entire ignition system and rebuilt the carb. Runs like a champ and is electric start. Now I have to replace the lower unit seals as water is getting into the LU oil. It's a 1957 Evinrude! Anyway if the seal kit gets here soon I can get it going then install on boat and use it. Probably will get an EZ steer so I can connect it to the big motor and steer from the console. Will also increase the spark plug gap as advised.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trolling

Appreciate the input! Yeah I think that 18hp will be great also! Just replaced the entire ignition system and rebuilt the carb. Runs like a champ and is electric start. Now I have to replace the lower unit seals as water is getting into the LU oil. It's a 1957 Evinrude! Anyway if the seal kit gets here soon I can get it going then install on boat and use it. Probably will get an EZ steer so I can connect it to the big motor and steer from the console. Will also increase the spark plug gap as advised.

Replace the prop with the lowest pitch you can get so she runs at a high rpm. Then maybe you won't have fowling problems.

I use a 9.9 and set my trolling speed at 1.9. Usually troll for 4-6 hours with only a little break for lunch. Changing the gap didn't help me at all. I switched to Splitfires and that has completely solved the problem.

 

[tmise]

Re: Trolling

Do you guys think I would still need a trolling plate even with the 18hp? Need to troll from 1.5 to 2.5 at the most.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Trolling

You would use a trolling plate on the 225 if you didn't have the 18; not needed on the 18.

 

[tmise]

Re: Trolling

I'm going to have to check into those splitfires!!

 

[JB]

Re: Trolling

I'm going to have to check into those splitfires!!

Not a good idea, tmise. Use Champion J4C (specified plug) or J6C (recommended for extended low speed operation) gapped at .040".

A '57 "Rude 18 is not a 9.9 of unspecified make and model.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Trolling

As previousely stated you could use the electric for trolling but even if you had a 24 volt system your run time would likely be pretty short. Bump to a 36 volt and you might buy yourself some more time.
Very simple answer to your fowling or in this case not fowling plugs. Use a quality plug in the specified heat range, I always use NGK, and heres the big thing, , run Amsoil HP Marine synthetic (another synthetic may work too, all my experience is with Amsoil) mix the oil as specified on the container (even 100:1) for the old motor and I GUARANTEE you will never foul a plug or disappear into the cloud of smoke. I've run that oil at 100:1 in 50's, 60's, 70's era premix out boards and have had nothing but outstanding results. Even in my 70hp oil injected OMC I could troll all day with no problems whatsoever.

 

[tmise]

Re: Trolling

I have the J6C plugs in now gapped at .030 and will gap them at .040, thanks for that. Just want this good old motor to run its best and what's best for it at such low speeds. The plugs are Champions and my guess is they should be fine to use or would the NGK be better? I do have synthetic oil that i mix 50:1 for the 225hp. Should be able to use that for the 18hp too. I think its Prestone synthetic marine oil from Walmart, comes in 1 gallon containers. This 1957 Evinrude calls for a 24:1 mix though, so your saying I could actually be using a lot less of a gas to oil ratio mix without damaging the engine? I sure would if I could because that 24:1 is a boat load of oil! If that's the case where do you get that Amsoil HP oil from?

 

[airshot]

Re: Trolling

My recomendation is to use the smaller trolling motor rather than the big motor. Here is my reasoning...big motors cost much more to maintain and repair so why add extra hours onto them, the smaller motor is much cheaper to operate and maintain and here is the best part
if you have an engine problem the little motor can get you back. My 22' has a 15hp troller and it will push the big boat at a little over 10 mph which will easily get me back in if trouble occurs. Would not go out on the big lake without my troller backup.

Airshot

 

[saumon]

Re: Trolling

Stick with Champion. Old JohnnyRude were designed to work with them, as is Merc with NGK. The substitute will work, but not as efficiently than the original...

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trolling

Not a good idea, tmise. Use Champion J4C (specified plug) or J6C (recommended for extended low speed operation) gapped at .040".

A '57 "Rude 18 is not a 9.9 of unspecified make and model.

I know Splitfires are an evil quantity around here, just like whaletails and Engine Manufacturer's oil. I didn't know about the devil before I got here, I just knew what worked well for me. Real life experience is the best teacher.

The unspecified 9.9 is a 1984 'Rude that calls for L77J4 plugs. After a couple of years of fouling (like I said 4-6 hours trolling at a time), and consulting with the factory (they said open the gap) I just happened to meet an OMC factory R&D tech at a buddy's house in Waukegan, IL. He recommended the Splitfires and OMG it was like night and day. I've been using them now for 20+ years with fantastic results.

My other toy fishing boat has a 1970 'Rude 9.5 that calls for J-4's. I rarely troll with this one so fouling has never been an issue. I've run J-6's in her just because, and after the huge success with the Splitfires I tried them as well. They worked fine, but saw no improvement, so I switched back. Bottom line is the SF's didnt cause any problems either.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Trolling

I have the J6C plugs in now gapped at .030 and will gap them at .040, thanks for that. Just want this good old motor to run its best and what's best for it at such low speeds. The plugs are Champions and my guess is they should be fine to use or would the NGK be better? I do have synthetic oil that i mix 50:1 for the 225hp. Should be able to use that for the 18hp too. I think its Prestone synthetic marine oil from Walmart, comes in 1 gallon containers. This 1957 Evinrude calls for a 24:1 mix though, so your saying I could actually be using a lot less of a gas to oil ratio mix without damaging the engine? I sure would if I could because that 24:1 is a boat load of oil! If that's the case where do you get that Amsoil HP oil from?

The OB "experts" recommend using 24:1 regardless of the type oil you use. I do use synthetic in my '52 Big Twin (25 HP) and it does reduce the smoke a bit. I don't see a difference in fowling either way.

Its up to you. My view is that my classics are too valuable to gamble with just to save a few pennies.

 

[airshot]

Re: Trolling

I'm going to have to check into those splitfires!!

Be very carefull using those plugs, for short term use they are fine but over a long time use they can and will burn the tops of the piston.
They are an extremely hot plug and that is the reason they rarely foul, but any serious mechanic will tell you they will be a problem over the long haul. Just a word of caution..........

Airshot

 

[dingbat]

Re: Trolling

I troll an 200HP Evinrude Ocean Pro, 8-10 hrs a day, 6 days a week during Striper season. Water temps in the mid 30's to around 60 degree.

Stock plug, factory gap, but it wants nothing to do with straight dino oil. It wants semi-synthetic minimum. I run Evinrude XD50 with good results. Pennzoil Premium Plus works but doesn't perform as well. smoke more.


Drag a pair of 5 gallons buckets off the rear cleats to slow you down.

 

[redneckpunk]

Re: Trolling

dinbat nailed my suggestion with the buckets. When fall trolling for salmon in the rivers I have two 5 gallon buckets with several holes drilled into the bottom that I will drag. Current and tides dictate one or both buckets to get me down below 1.8mph. Of course a kicker is a much better option, but until I get one, buckets work great

~RNP