Side Pulling Questions

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05-30-2018, 08:22 AM
Crestliner08

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Side Pulling Questions

Interested in talking to anyone here with experience side pulling. Yesterday was our 3rd. trip out using this technique. We fabricated a false transom for use on the starboard gunnel on the Tracker Panfisher16. We fish off the port side, two rods per fisherman (all that is allowed by law!). That has worked out fairly well so far.

The learning curve we are now going through is how to maintain a perpendicular course to maximize the line/rod spreads. We are operating the electric in reverse mode, vs. forward, to allow us easier access to the motor handle:

Attachment 305074

When we engage the TM, it starts out ok, but tends to move us right or left as opposed to keeping the boat perpendicular to the direction you want to travel in and keeping our lines perpendicular as well. Small changes to the TM handle sometimes equal varying degrees of direction change, from dramatic to subtle. Especially with a light breeze to contend with.

Just would like some insight into the use of a side pulling electric and any tips or techniques you guys employ. I just want to spend more time fishing and less being overly concerned about course corrections.

Thanks for any feed back guys. Crappie.com is indisputably the best!
05-30-2018, 10:11 AM
"G"

PM sent
05-30-2018, 10:56 AM
crp4570

You can turn the control head and handle around on the shaft and have access to forward thrust
05-30-2018, 01:23 PM
"G"

Yep...remove screw....turn a half turn...put screw back in

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05-30-2018, 04:35 PM
SuperCorona

Great idea. I've got a Panfish and was thinking about trying something similar ever since I saw Roger Gant side pulling on a Brushpile Fishing episode. Can you move the false transom up and down the gunnel? I was wondering if you'd stay a little more perpendicular by sliding it back just a bit.
05-30-2018, 06:16 PM
Crestliner08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCorona

Great idea. I've got a Panfish and was thinking about trying something similar ever since I saw Roger Gant side pulling on a Brushpile Fishing episode. Can you move the false transom up and down the gunnel? I was wondering if you'd stay a little more perpendicular by sliding it back just a bit.

Yes! We designed this particular transom to be moveable fore & aft. However, this particular Tracker's rod bench tapers considerably fore & aft, so in order to secure it's location we had to pick a spot. Which we did, figuring on our experience over the years. It can still be moved, but will not be a perfect fit as it is now. Relatively easy to design actually, but the challenge was in keeping top rod storage in tack, which we accomplished.
05-30-2018, 06:27 PM
Cray

Think if you reverse the steering head you will find it much easier to control.
05-30-2018, 06:49 PM
Snubby

theysaid And goes without saying, do it at home or in the garage as opposed to on the water. I swapped (turned the head) on my old BP Prowler over to a bow mount in about 10 seconds at the shop one time. Decided to turn the head on my Minn Kota like yours this spring while on the water one day and let's just say it was frustrating. Be careful of the wires, don't wanna force the screw back thru.
05-31-2018, 05:33 AM
Crestliner08

Quote:

Originally Posted by G";3643432]Yep...remove screw....turn a half turn...put screw back in

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G891A using [URL="http://r.tapatalk.com/byo?rid=87936

Crappie.com Fishing mobile app[/URL]

OK.....where do I find this "screw" to change the head or motor around? Is it where the prop is? I don't see anything on the head (tiller end) of the tm.
05-31-2018, 05:38 AM
"G"

Should be right below the head the tiller is on.....i can see it in your picture...right below the tiller head...rim on bottom of it...its on the side opposite the tiller handle

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05-31-2018, 06:04 AM
pescador

This might help you Mr. crestliner08 :ThumbsUp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwjZ6xBkMUQ
05-31-2018, 06:20 AM
SuperCorona

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crestliner08

Yes! We designed this particular transom to be moveable fore & aft. However, this particular Tracker's rod bench tapers considerably fore & aft, so in order to secure it's location we had to pick a spot. Which we did, figuring on our experience over the years. It can still be moved, but will not be a perfect fit as it is now. Relatively easy to design actually, but the challenge was in keeping top rod storage in tack, which we accomplished.

I'm going to try mounting the TM on the port side so I'm facing my starboard mounted sonar while fishing. What size TM are you using?
05-31-2018, 10:23 AM
Crestliner08

Quote:

Originally Posted by SuperCorona

I'm going to try mounting the TM on the port side so I'm facing my starboard mounted sonar while fishing. What size TM are you using?

I'm using a 12 V. MK 40# thrust motor that we bought this spring. After 3 trips out, using a series 24 Deep Cycle Interstate battery, we are getting 4 hours run time with Walt's heavy (old style) Tracker 16. So the 24 size battery is just fine for our fishing needs. A bit under-powered if I were fishing 8 hours, obvously, but these days, at our age, 5 hrs. of fishing is about all we can manage. :)
05-31-2018, 10:41 AM
Crestliner08

THANKS pescador! That's a great video. We're going to do that this weekend.
05-31-2018, 10:52 AM
Big John in TN

If it were me, I'd mount the motor on the front and turn the head around like everyone has suggested. Boat will run straight and you can fish out the entire back. Get an extension handle for the motor and you could run it from the front seat. Just my $.02.
05-31-2018, 11:23 AM
"G"

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big John in TN

If it were me, I'd mount the motor on the front and turn the head around like everyone has suggested. Boat will run straight and you can fish out the entire back. Get an extension handle for the motor and you could run it from the front seat. Just my $.02.

He could...but thats not side pulling. He wants to go across the lake against the wind sideways and fish on the leeward side of the boat.
05-31-2018, 11:30 AM
"G"

Here is a good side pulling video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olq4pgkV17Q
05-31-2018, 12:29 PM
Javelin 180

Quote:

Originally Posted by "G"

Here is a good side pulling video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Olq4pgkV17Q

A good video of one of my neighbors and Brad Whitehead can get you anything you need for sidepulling or answer any questions you might have.
05-31-2018, 03:50 PM
pescador

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crestliner08

THANKS pescador! That's a great video. We're going to do that this weekend.

You are very welcome, glad to be of some help. :ThumbsUp
06-01-2018, 09:20 AM
Crestliner08

We switched the motor head around on the electric this morning! "Piece of cake"! LOL! Will give it a whirl this coming Sunday. Check "The New England States" forum for the results. And THANKS again guys. :)
06-17-2018, 07:31 PM
pop

I can't figure out why the false transom. The motor appears you could just mount the motor on the side gunnel. I am not very mechanical, so I am sure there is a logical reason I am not seeing. Pop
06-18-2018, 06:45 AM
Crestliner08

If you look closely at the photo of our set up, you will see it is designed so as to allow the rod holding shelf to still be used. Best of both worlds! It's working out great btw. Just wish we had more time on the water with it. Seems like "RL" is getting much more complicated than when we were working! :)