I fish out of a stick steer with a 50 four stroke. I have a trolling plate. I take a flat bungie cord hook it to handle on my rod box then wrap it around steering stick, then pull forward and pull tight and hook to rod holder. I get it headed in the right direction then work the cord around until it stays centered. I now use my Terrova to steer but before I used the foot control to kinda but it one way or another. But usually I sit facing backwards and it's not real hard to keep it headed in the right direction with bunge aroun stick once you get it set. And with the cord you can just push the stick forward or back to make course change and then it will go back to center.

This is a good plate and inexpensive.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Trol-...te%26CQ_st%3Db