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How many guys are using your big motor instead of the trolling motor for pulling or pushing cranks. I have not made the switch to the Ipilot so going the foot pedal route on the trolling motor causes some issues for me. When I put the drift sock out and use my outboard I can maintain 1.6-2 MPH easily and maintaining speed and direction are a lot easier, but I'm worried that the motor will spook the fish though.
I fish out of 16 ft stick steer with a 4 stroke 40 HP engine.
It will work..I dont feel it will spook many fish..I caught several last year with 30 ft. Of line out
What's your main issues with the foot control? Brand of TM?
It's a motorguide 45lb thrust. My issue is when I take my foot off the control it doesn't continue on a straight path and ends up tangling my lines.Quote:
Originally Posted by E-Z Poleholder
Take a large pool noodle and split it open, wrap it around the shafts where they come together and tired the top and bottom with some big zip ties. Will make your foot pedal harder to mash which it turn will make it harder to get off coarse.
Thanks for the tip!Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
I've done it with my 4 stroke 40hp, it will idle along at 1.8 to 2mph. It's a lot easier controlling the wheel than it is keeping my foot on the tm pedal all day, in my opinion. I'm looking at a new I pilot tm now, cause the way I look at it's no use putting extra wear and tear on my outboard if I don't have to. Only problems I've heard with using the big motor is if it's a 2 stroke engine (which you said yours isn't). 2 strokes have a lot of noise and vibration that can spook the fish.
I did it for 5 years with a 115 four stroke with a trolling plate on it......I caught a lot of fish.....I dont think it spooks them much.
What Rees said. I did that for many years, finally saved up enought for the Ipilot. I found guiding with the TM was a lot easier than using the big motor after gettin it where it would stay straight. MK has a screw under the front to adjust the tension.
I tried the tm foot control method when we first started 3 years ago. Like you said, tangles up the wazoo. 60hp yamaha 2 stoke, 17.5 ft G3 and two 5 gallon buckets with 2&1/4 inch holes in the center off the sides of the boat get me right on 1.8 mph. One thing about using your big motor, the wind doesn't blow you around near as much in my experience. Caught plenty of fish in this rig cranking. Some behind boats with i pilots. :cool:
Did it for a long time with a trolling plate. You do lose some turning control with the plate though. Sock is fine., you won't spook the fish. Only problem using the big motor is you're running hours up on it.
Two strokes are not designed to do that much idling ( will foul plugs ) but its fine with the four strokes.
I run big motor. Never have issues. It's a 25 etec purrs like a kitten been pulling with it for 5 years. Had a 9.5 before pulled with it for 10 years.
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
Make a small wood wedge to keep the power button "on", not having to keep your foot on the pedal all the time will also make Rees suggestion work better. It's not Ipilot, but it will do a decent job.Quote:
Originally Posted by Rees Guide
Thats the same plate I used....worked great....its automatic so you don't have to remember to pull the latch. It steers good going forward.....in reverse.....well...you just got to get used to it but its ok.
You are right G, put new plugs in at the begining of each season.Quote:
Originally Posted by "G"
Main thing I didn't like using big motor trolling with it was the exhaust you would occasionally breath plus all the gas that was burnt all day trolling with it. I quit using the big motor many years ago and really like my co pilot v2 min Kota and now use a Jon boat- works like a charm for me and still have the foot,control if I want to use it.
90 carb 2stroke with a trolling plate,been using it off and on as needed for 4-6yrs no problems.When I use my big motor I steer with my ipilot
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Troll A Matic and a Terrova on my toon. Works perfect. I run my main engine all the time and steer with the TM.
I fish out of a 16' stick steer. I like a tiller type TM. once I set it straight, I use the big motor to steer. I also use a Big Foot button in the negative wire to keep from having to twist the handle to stop or go. DP
I never liked it cause of the noise
The big motor can help sometimes, it stirs up a lot of food and bait fish. 4 stroke motors should are fine, because they idle so smooth. 2 Stokes load up a lot, my :twocents
I bought a "trolling mode" switch with my 140 Suzuki 4 stroke. It allows me to adjust my RPM up or down 50 rpm with each click when the motor is in gear at idle. I can maintain 1.7-1.8mph all day with it. The Terrova/RipTide is a much better option and I'd much rather put the hours on the RipTide than the Suzuki.
I used a Troll-o-matic plate on my 75 Yamaha on my Horizon 1860 and steered with my Terrova on my previous boat. I had an eye-screw below my steering wheel and would use a bungee cord to lock the steering wheel in straight position.
my 30 hp etec has a trolling feature on it....its got an rpm adjuster on it to help dial in exact speed needed...it will also lock into place so that the motor wont turn.....I lock the motor into place dial in the rpms and then use my Trolling motor to steer the boat (dont even turn the TM on)
Thanks for all the replies. I'm excited to go out and see if I can catch a few with this technique!
I run a 4.5 kicker motor for last 5 years and steer with tm. Catch a lot of fish and doesn't spook them
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