Help New Boat Owner!!!

[lockhart52]

Hello,

I just got my 1st boat and having a hard time. I am fishing from the back of the boat as i do not have a front trolling motor. try to troll and fish to cover water but the front will not stay straight and i am not able to stay parallel to the cover that i am trying to fish. I am hopping that someone can give me tips on fishing from the back using the trans-mount motor. a friend of mine to me to add wight to the front and that will give more control. i have not tried that yet

I plan on building a low deck and adding a trolling motor to the front next season but with so little time left I will have it done this year.

o forgot to say i am bass fishing.

[j.bruno]

What kinda boat is it ?

[Sam]

If possible turn the boat around so the stern is facing forward.

If you have an outboard you may want to turn the motor to the right or left to stop the boat from floating towards the shore. Or, lift the engine's lower unit out of the water.

[NBR]

Sounds like the light bow is blowing around. Since you are going to build a front deck for next year I'd just relocate the gas tank up front if the tank is portable and the hose is log enough.

When you put on the deck keep in mind thar the weight of the deck is encluded in the total weight limit of the boat.

[BKeith]

Sounds like a jon or similar style open boat with most of the weight in the rear, if so, hears some things that will help.

As Sam mentioned, turn around and fish out the rear of the boat and use the rear as the front.

Move as much weight, as far as possible to the front of the boat. Gas tank, TM battery, cooler etc.

Add a second person.

You need to do something to balance the weight. You will find that if you just turn around and fish facing the rear, go backwards while fishing, the front is still going to want to go all over the place but adding weight to the front will help bunches. A second person if the biggest help of all, the added weight, and they can help control it with a paddle.