Trolling motor usage

[KentuckyFriedAngler]

I'm 19 and been fishing most of my life but am now wanting to get into specifically bass fishing. I have a 12 ft Jon boat and have been trying to fish with a 35 lb trust minn Kota trolling motor. My problem is even on the lowest Speed I'm going too fast to fish the shore line really and I am constantly adjusting the motor direction so I can't even get a complete cast in. One last thing if I turn off the motor the wind or something just spins my boat around and pushes me to the bank pretty fast. Any tips or something on how to fix this.

[iabass8]

Get an anchor to hold you in place.

[fishnkamp]

You could look at manual shallow water anchors like this. I have a much bigger aluminum bass boat with a 70 pound trolling motor on the front deck but still have trouble when fishing docks in tidal current so I have bought one like this and a similar one that mounts to my trolling motor. You could shove one or two in the ground then fish an area completely and move again. 

http://www.shallowwateranchors.net/  Just an idea.  If the water is faster running rivers than an anchormate and a mushroom anchor works.

 

[KentuckyFriedAngler]

Thank you I do have an anchor and when j throw it down I just do circles around it but getting a couple would make sense but It would have never crossed my mind. Thanks brother!

[WIGuide]

You can try running your tm in reverse, or carefully shorten your prop blades. Either of those will help slow you down. 

[Jig-Man]

Are you fishing down wind or into the wind?  That makes a big difference in boat control.

[mcgreavster]

It sounds like a transom mount trolling motor? If it is you could always try to move it to the front of your boat with something like this - http://www.walmart.com/ip/19604094?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227014897823&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40969555232&wl4=pla-78912388112&wl5=1019313&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=19604094&wl13=&veh=sem

Then you can wire in a - http://www.basspro.com/Big-Foot-Trolling-Motor-Foot-Switch/product/16071/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions

and you should be able to control a lot better from the bow and get some better casts in. The wind can be tricky, going into it is easier to control your speed/direction then going with it. As for it going too fast, the only option you probably have is just trying to give it intermittent burst of power instead of just holding it down, the foot switch should help with that also.

 

[Ohio Archer]

I had a jon boat a few years ago that I had similar problems with spinning in the wind.  I liked sitting up front vs in the back which raised the stern up a lot.  I made a plywood rudder that I clamped unto the transom.  Helped keep me from spinning around all the time and also helped the boat track straight.

I lengthened the TM wiring so I could keep the battery in the back.  Helped balance the boat somewhat.

[Further North]

On 8/15/2016 at 6:35 PM, mcgreavster said:

It sounds like a transom mount trolling motor? If it is you could always try to move it to the front of your boat with something like this - http://www.walmart.com/ip/19604094?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227014897823&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40969555232&wl4=pla-78912388112&wl5=1019313&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=19604094&wl13=&veh=sem

Then you can wire in a - http://www.basspro.com/Big-Foot-Trolling-Motor-Foot-Switch/product/16071/?hvarAID=shopping_googleproductextensions

and you should be able to control a lot better from the bow and get some better casts in. The wind can be tricky, going into it is easier to control your speed/direction then going with it. As for it going too fast, the only option you probably have is just trying to give it intermittent burst of power instead of just holding it down, the foot switch should help with that also.

 

This is the best answer - right here.

I had a 14' aluminum boat for a while...tried to make it work like you are doing...complete PITA.

...then someone pointed out I could spin the head on my Minn Kota 180° and hang it on the bow...Instant, huge difference.  Other than possibly on a canoe or a kayak, I can't think of a single reason why I'd ever own a transom mounted trolling motor again.

[Fishing Rhino]

I fish with a 55 pound thrust Minnkota Traxxis on the stern of my canoe.  The wind is not a problem if you do this.

Place the canoe upwind of the area you want to fish.  Orient it so the stern faces into the wind.  The bow will be facing the area you want to fish.  Use reverse as needed to hold the canoe in place.  You can "slide" the canoe from side to side.  I wouldn't want the trolling motor mounted on the bow.  It forces you to keep the boat into the wind, with you casting into the wind.

With a little practice you'll be able to hold position or slide it side to side.  If you have someone in the canoe, you are both casting downwind, without casting over a trolling motor.

If you want to fish along  shore, you can use the tm to hold position, and turn it off to let the canoe drift  with the wind.  It will not blow in circles using this technique.  I've done the circle thing, and it's definitely a pain.

[Further North]

On 8/16/2016 at 8:19 PM, Fishing Rhino said:

I wouldn't want the trolling motor mounted on the bow.  It forces you to keep the boat into the wind, with you casting into the wind.

Yep, on a canoe, I can see it...but by running the motor in reverse, you're essentially advocating the same thing: Pulling is way easier than pushing.

Ever try to push a rope?

On my boat with a bow mounted trolling motor pulling, I fish with the wind, against the wind and across the wind...and every angle in between with a bow mount on a boat...

Much, much more effective and efficient to pull than to push.

[Fishing Rhino]

6 hours ago, Further North said:

Yep, on a canoe, I can see it...but by running the motor in reverse, you're essentially advocating the same thing: Pulling is way easier than pushing.

Ever try to push a rope?

On my boat with a bow mounted trolling motor pulling, I fish with the wind, against the wind and across the wind...and every angle in between with a bow mount on a boat...

Much, much more effective and efficient to pull than to push.

My square stern canoe naturally faces downwind when not under power.  I'm not pushing with my trolling motor, it is pulling the stern into the wind.  I am always casting downwind, which is much easier than casting into the wind.  The trolling motor acts like a rudder.  In your case, it causes the bow to lie into the wind.  In my case, it causes the canoe to face downwind.

When I hook a fish, the trolling motor is behind me, out of the way.  I also have a bass boat, with the typical bow mount, so I have plenty of experience fishing with a bow mount and a stern mount.  To hold the boat in place with the bow mount, the boat has to be facing into the wind.  I much prefer casting with the wind.

As with most other things in fishing, we all get to do it our way.  There is no wrong way, or right way that fits all.  I've tried it your way, but I happen to prefer my way, and those who fish with me get to fish the bow of the boat, and on breezy days they have the best access to the fishing at the bow.

 

[VolFan]

Tie a baseball sized rock in a t-shirt, and then to anchor rope. Drop that over with 10 ft or so of rope, depending on your depth. You now have a drift (or in shallow water-drag) anchor.

[Further North]

3 hours ago, Fishing Rhino said:

My square stern canoe naturally faces downwind when not under power.  I'm not pushing with my trolling motor, it is pulling the stern into the wind.  I am always casting downwind, which is much easier than casting into the wind.  The trolling motor acts like a rudder.  In your case, it causes the bow to lie into the wind.  In my case, it causes the canoe to face downwind.

When I hook a fish, the trolling motor is behind me, out of the way.  I also have a bass boat, with the typical bow mount, so I have plenty of experience fishing with a bow mount and a stern mount.  To hold the boat in place with the bow mount, the boat has to be facing into the wind.  I much prefer casting with the wind.

As with most other things in fishing, we all get to do it our way.  There is no wrong way, or right way that fits all.  I've tried it your way, but I happen to prefer my way, and those who fish with me get to fish the bow of the boat, and on breezy days they have the best access to the fishing at the bow.

 

Right..like I said, we're agreeing.

I'm with you 100% on a canoe.

[fishnkamp]

For river fishing I used a drag chain.  It starts with a long piece of rope tie to about 3 feet of 3/8 inch chain. I used a quick link like this and could connect a 3 foot piece of 1/2 inch chain. Most of the chain was wrapped in duct tape to make it quieter. This is really effective in moving water as it allowed me to fish around the boat before the chain came thru the area. The other nice thing is it all fit in a small bucket so when it was not in use it was neatly stored.

["hamma"]

 Im assuming the trolling motor used has designated speeds like: 1 thru 5 forward, and 1 thru 3 reverse,...maybe a variable speed trolling motor would rectify the issue. No "speeds" per'se,... just percetages that allows him to manipulate the desired speed.

I have a variable speed up front for fishing, and a "speeds" model on the back for cruising,.. of my basshunter . Works great for me.