I hit Willard today. This was my first time driving a boat on it as I typically ride in Reelfast’s jet boat or fish it from shore. When I got to the ramp I went to remove the transom saver but the motor wouldn’t trim. I quickly realized I left the master power switch on two weeks ago. Looks like no point motor today cause I’m swappin batteries out. After all the Willard prop eating stories and the shallow water this year I was pretty timid not wanting to lose a lower end but once I stopped shaking from the wildness in the North Marina (too shallow, too many boats, too narrow) I had a good time. I definitely need a kicker motor if I’m going to keep playing this game.
For my first time doing the navigating I think we did alright, I kept the boat wet and we caught three in the first 45 minutes but no more for a couple of hours. I’m still learning the wiper game but three were on a glass shad and one on a lipless.
Don’t be afraid to use the riggers in the deeper water. I have used them when we had 3 guys with 2 pole permits in my boat. We just let out 60’ or so of line with a plastic jig on them and caught fish that way.[;)]
That sounds like a good idea. I’m thinkin’ I might be able to run some sideplaners off 'em. Has anyone ever done this or heard of it? I figure if you ran those big doubles it would work alright. Not a permanent plan but it might get by.
High five man. I have to say I would have wreaked several lower units by now and at least one on willard. The first couple times on willard for me and I had proclaimed it the “Dead Sea of Utah”. Now I know I still dont know (&((^^%$ about fishing. So your ahead of me you scored on your first boat captain trip out. That is one nice wiper. I never get tired of catching them. Your main should work fine with a trolling plate if you cant get the kicker, course it is hard to beat a kicker for nice. and those side planers… well multiply your catch by 3…RF
Using planer boards off downriggers is not new. They do it back on Lake Michigan all the time. However, the downriggers are usually mounted on the front part of the boat and then are used just for that purpose. But there is no reason in the world why you couldn’t run boards off them on the back end if you’re a mind too.
As far as trolling speeds, I have a 75 hp Merc OptiMax on my 16 ft Targa Deep-V. It will troll down to about 1.2 or so, but I like 2.0 or so for wipers. But for trout I like a little slower so I put a Cabela’s Hydro-Troll™ Trolling Plate (Item:IJ-017515 - $99.99) on the motor and can troll as slow as .2 mph if I want. The $100 plate is way cheaper than a kicker and mounting hardware and will do the job as good if not better. There’s a lot less hanging off the back of the boat to get fishing line tangled in also.
Hey Jason, good to hear you got that boat, I’m sure it will open up a lot more fun on the water for you. One thing you have to consider when putting a trolling plate on your main motor is over all problems it can cause. Main motors are made to run wide open and in doing so it keeps carbon from building up for the most part. Yes people do use trolling plates and have good success with them in the short term but unless you blow out the carbon every hour or two the long term effects will be bad. I’m sure you will hear different reports on this subject but I got this info from a guy that works at a marine shop and has seen the long term effects of using a trolling plate. If you use one for the short term until you get a trolling motor I’m sure you will be OK. One other thing to consider is the amount of gas you will consume with a trolling plate compared to a trolling motor and with the high cost of gas that could really cost you.
Good to hear you got out there and caught a few, sounds like you did good on your first outing with your new boat.
It’s not quite my boat, I’m just watching it (hehe) for my dad while he galavants across the country in his 5th wheel. He gave me permission to put on a kicker motor but he’s real particular about what goes on the boat. He gave a no on the trolling plate and was specific enough to say that if I did put a kicker on the boat it had to be a 4 stroke Yamaha and nothing else. I have a Merc 9.9 in my storage but he won’t let me put it on. I think it’s a bit large for the 17 ft G3 but it would beat running the big motor. I’ll keep workin’ on him though and thanks for all the good replies.
So there you have it. You’ll either put on a Yamy kicker or go without. Or, there is one other thing you can do to slow down while trolling – drag a sea anchor. They really do work. It’s nothing more than a cloth cone bag you drag behind the boat. Depending on the size, it can, and does, add considerable drag to the boat. Again, way cheaper than a kicker.
Now if you’re in the mood to get dear old Dad a nice gift for letting you use the boat, then by all means get the kicker. As a Dad myself, I HIGHLY recommend it.
And wiperhunter2, your mechanic friend is correct – partially. The older gas/oil mixed motors would diffenently load up and have to be de-carbonized periodically when used a lot for trolling. The same could be said for the first generation oil injected motors. However, as technology has improved and the amount of oil injected is controlled and varied by an on-board computer based on several inputs, that is no longer a concern. I can run my Merc OptiMax 75 all day long at trolling speed, day after day after day with no ill effects. And the same is true of any of the newer 4-stroke engines. I don’t know about the technology in the Yamaha motors, but the new Merc and Evenrude/Johnson 2-cycles will not be a problem.
Hey Jason that silver engine on the back of the boat is a 4 cycle right? I spent the day back there and I swear it was. LOL I guess I was paying more attention to my fishing pole. Focus focus focus!!! I have a big 30 inch drift sock that I have to use every so often. It has saved the day for many bass fishing trips. I keep it in the mesh bag for bringing bass up for wieght in. The mesh bag turned out to be a good place to put the wet drift sock. Drift socks are cheap. I only snagged a few lures on it but always got them back. I got these side planers that I have to finish. I will try to get them done by this weekend and you can try them out. I got the curtain hooks like the ones from the movie psycho to put lines out too. I should have enough light parachute cord too. Should be able to try pulling some stuff out on the side anyway. Later RF
