Ok here is my dilemma: I have a 12 volt Minn trolling motor that is done in no time on speed five. I am thinking of getting a 24 volt. And dumping my 12. Here is the problem I just watch The old coot (Ralph) on the outdoors show Second time. I am guessing they were using his kicker to troll with because I noticed the trolling motor was up. So do I invest in a new 24 volt trolling motor for longer time. Or do I buy a kicker. if so how big. I have the same boat sylvan 16 ft that Whiperhunter (Curt) has. So which way do I go.
Looking for information. never had or used a kicker. [fishin]
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I'd buy a small kicker if you can it's nice to have something
That could also help you get off the lake
If needed plus some trolling to
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Definitely get yourself a kicker.
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We troll with the kicker. I seldom, if ever, engage my electric trolling motor at Willard.
Definitely a kicker (gas motor on the back) is the way to go for trolling Willard.
The electric bow mount is only for supper slow trolling (1.0-2.0 mph), working the banks, and for me I mostly use it as a virtual anchor ([url "http://mk.factoryoutletstore.com/details/45614/minn-kota-1866310.html?category_id=20883"]Minn Kota i-Pilot[/url]) for vertical jigging at Strawberry and the Gorge.
But for trolling at Willard, yea, the transom mount gas kicker is the best way to go.
--- Coot ---
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My thoughts, for whatever it's worth (not much?) A kicker motor is certainly the best way to go, especially if it's linked to the steering. I have a Mariner 9.9 hp on my big Trophy boat that has a Remote Troll on it, so I can steer from anywhere in the boat, with a remote on a cable. Those are made up in Logan. If your boat is such that you can comfortably sit in the stern and steer with the tiller handle, that works too, but you have to sit there in the same position all day, which gets tiresome.
If it's a problem of your battery going dead too soon, you can carry a couple of spare batteries.
I've used the Happy Troller trolling plate, which works OK on the big motor, but I'm personally not real fond of them. But for less than $100 you can troll all day with your big motor, and they do work.
Obviously, electric trolling motors are not really meant to be run wide-open for long periods, and that will certainly run batteries down in a hurry. Even if you bought a 24v 70 lb motor, you probably wouldn't be happy with the result, with either your speed or your battery life.
If you can afford it, you'll be more that happy with a kicker, especially if you're going to fish for wipers a lot. The next best thing really would be a trolling plate, and not another electric.
I think a kicker between 8 and 10 hp would be ideal.
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I have a Suzuki 9.9 it's oil injected so there's no mixing of the oil and gas it also has electric or pull start, used very little and in great shape if anyone is interested let me know. $700 firm
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As a point of reference, I can troll for about 5-6 hours on a 24v system staying between 1&2 mph on a 19' boat. If your trolling longer, or faster, or in a lot of wind, the kicker sure is nice. Smaller boats can get away with a 6hp, but going 8+ is nice when you get into a dual cylinder setup for less vibration. Merc and others have dedicated kickers in the 9.9 - 15 range with some cool features like centering straps, special gear ratios and props.
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I have a 16 ft alumacraft with a 25 hp merc. Im wanting to drop to 1 mph.. I am seriously considering the easytroller plate. What do you think? Thanks.
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They make a spring loaded trolling plate that stays down when you are going slow and kicks up out of the way when you go fast . It is called Trol-A-Matic . They are on Amazon and Ebay .
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Thanks. That one looked good and sounded good, but one customer said he couldnt go in reverse. Not sure if thats true. Also, the easytroller one had fins that help you plane better supposedly. I have a hard time getting my bow down at Strawberry. It is also on Amazon. There is one called the little fella, but its plastic and may get damaged on accidental forward thrust.
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The problem I have had with the one that locks down , is if you forget to unlock it and gun the engine . It bends the troller in half . The spring loaded one just pops up out of the way .
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Thanks for all the great advice. OK now what would be a good size kicker motor to get to put on a 161/2 foot boat .
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Tie a 5 gallon bucket to each side of the boat and drag them, see if that slows you down enough. If it does then a trolling plate would be good for you.
If you are having trouble planning at the berry it is because of lack of HP at that altitude. I have the same problem. I run a 19 pitch prop at the berry, a 21 at Willard and local lakes including Rockport and Jordonelle and a 23 at lake Powell.
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Im definitely avoiding the one that locks. Thanks.
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Thanks. I will check into a separate prop for Strawberry. What happens if you use the lower numbered pitch prop at Willard? (The same one you use at Strawberry) I imagine you still plane, but just don't go as fast. Not sure how that works.
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Sorry boatfisher, I don't want you to think that I hi-jacked your post on purpose. I have been wanting to ask these same questions for awhile, but I keep forgetting. Thanks for asking the question.
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No problem. The questions you are asking is all so enlightening me as well. Thanks for asking them. You guys are great for offering some insight and direction. Thanks For all the comments[fishin]
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Here is how I troll greater than 1.5 mph, hopefully you find it helpful:
I have a 1875 Lund Impact, a very wide boat that I have a Minn Kota iPilot on the front and a Honda 5 hp kicker on the back.
I lock the Honda straight forward and set the throttle just below the speed I want to troll by a couple tenths of a mph. I then deploy the Minn Kota and using the iPilot I set the electric at the speed I want to troll.
This way I use the gas kicker as my pusher and the electric for steering and course plotting. I can just kick back and use my iPilot remote to do all my steering.
Since I fish mostly on my own this method allows me to set a course and then get busy setting lines and riggers. I can fight fish without making any changes to my gear but I do have to baby the fish in against the current.
Any trolling less than 1.5 mph I just use my Minn Kota.
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[quote SBennett]Here is how I troll greater than 1.5 mph, hopefully you find it helpful:
I have a 1875 Lund Impact, a very wide boat that I have a Minn Kota iPilot on the front and a Honda 5 hp kicker on the back.
I lock the Honda straight forward and set the throttle just below the speed I want to troll by a couple tenths of a mph. I then deploy the Minn Kota and using the iPilot I set the electric at the speed I want to troll.
This way I use the gas kicker as my pusher and the electric for steering and course plotting. I can just kick back and use my iPilot remote to do all my steering.
Since I fish mostly on my own this method allows me to set a course and then get busy setting lines and riggers. I can fight fish without making any changes to my gear but I do have to baby the fish in against the current.
Any trolling less than 1.5 mph I just use my Minn Kota.[/quote]
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I do it the same way I have the I pilot link 24 Volt 80
if I just use the Minn kota the batterys will go dead in 4 hr.
if I use my 9.9 kicker moter the batterys will last all day.
The I pilot link is a dream come true. I can make a route, follow the contour are put it on auto pilot and just fish, and fish on week days and hope I don't run over another boat
I just found this it looks good
Precision Electronic Kicker Throttle Control to Maximize Your Angling Success!
[url "http://www.itroll.us/iTroll.downloads/iTroll.G2.intro.pdf"]http://www.itroll.us/iTroll.downloads/iTroll.G2.intro.pdf[/url]
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I also use my electric in the same manner with my gas kicker, I don't have an I-Pilot but I do have Auto Pilot Minn Kota. I just turn the Auto Pilot on and adjust the kicker to the speed I want to troll, then I turn up the speed on the electric just enough so the Auto Pilot steers the boat and the only changes I need to make is to avoid other boats or to make a changes in the heading. I do not lock my kicker but I do connect it to my main motor with a connecting rod, this is because at times when it is windy, it can over power the steering on my electric, especially when going into the wind, in those cases I can steer with my steering wheel, until I get it going in the right direction again or turn up the electric speed if needed. In most cases I can put my 12 volt electric on 5 to 5.5 to control the steering and my single battery will steer the boat for the time I'm out fishing, usually around 6 hours. I know these are similar methods but what speed do you use on your electric Shane?
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