OK guys, help me make up my mind. I'm buying a new 19' fish & ski boat with a 135hp I/O motor. My question is: for trolling should I add a small gas motor or a bow mounted electric? Why? Any suggestions on size?
Are there any volunteers to help me find some fast fishing on Bear Lake when the marina de-ices? [cool]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Get both. Each one serves different functions. Gas trolling motors are great for just that, trolling. Bow mounted electrics are great for precision jigging.[/size][/black][/font]
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][black][size 3]Fast fishing on BL is hit or miss. Some days it rocks and some days it's a lot of wishin'. Either way, I'll go.[/size][/black][/font]
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I have a 74 pounds 24 V Minn Kota trolling motor, and I can use it for trolling for about 5 hours. Electrics are designed for vertical jigging or for casting along a shoreline, but for serious trolling you need to go with gas.
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Get Both, the elec. motor will limit you to about 5 hours of trolling depending on the wind and a few other factors, boat size, 12v/24v, lbs. of thrust. elec. trolling motors are great for holding over some structure or working along a shore line, weed line. gas powerd motors are great for that all day trolling in the wind. later chuck
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If it is a choice between one or the other, go with the gas. That is unless you plan on specifically targeting bass or vertical jigging specific spots. If the majority of your plan is to actually troll, you will be much happier with the gas as you can go all day on a tank of gas, as opposed to a few hours on a battery charge. You generally also need an extra deep cycle battery (or 2 for 24v) just to run the electrics. One other thing, the electrics generally don't do a lot of good with trolling in the wind. You need the power of the gas ones to fight the wind. I have had many days that really tried my patience trying to keep the boat in a straight line while trolling in the wind. I now have the remote troll and wonder how I ever went without it.
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