What to do about weeds?

[airborne_angler]

I took my 10ft Jon Boat out yesterday for the first time. Had a blast,One problem though. I was cruising shallow and got into some weeds. What do you at a time like that? I have a 30 Motorguide TM. I eventually got out but was paniced because I was stuck for a minute. Eventually the weeds fell off. Can weeds ruin the TM? I thought it might because of the additional strain it puts on the motor. I suppose it can wear your battery down too...Right?

[Chug Bug]

Just pull the motor up and clear the prop by hand.

[jb_from_texas]

when i get in the muck it just reverse the motor.  that tends to spit the weeds off the prop.  or change directions too.

and as chug said you can always pull it out.

i dont think it does anything to your motor or else we would all be sending our TM in for servicing.

[Grey Wolf]

Just use a weed eater ! Sorry I just couldn't help myself.

[NBR]

Yes weeds can overload the motor. You need to clear it when it gets weed choked. My boat has a bow mount and I just pull it up and run it for a few seconds out of the water and the weeds clear. If you can't do that clear them by reversing or by hand but clear them.

[Siebert Outdoors]

The only thing that I have found is to pull it out like the other guys said.  Then hold the cable and motor to a clearing and put the motor back in the water.  If no open area you will just have to keep cleaning it off.  Sometimes you can crank the motor power up and turn in in a circle fairly quickly and it will shoot off most of the weeds

[floridabassboy]

I also have a 10 ft jon with a 30 pound thrust troling motor!!!!!! I guess you have to hand clear it thats what i do . As for putting the toling motor in reverse and jolting the weeds off i dont do that because of grinding the gears. Just a quick question is yours aluminum or plastic?

[Travlin_Man]

There are no gears to grind when reversing a trolling motor. The fwd/ rev switch simply changes the polarity to the motor causing it to turn in the opposite direction.

[airborne_angler]

My Jon  Boat is Aluminum .Its a 1969 Sears model. I have a  1979 4hp Chrysler Outboard and will use it once I can figure out the operation of it.

[Pa Angler]

I just pull the bow mounted trollong motor out of the water and hand clear the prop. My motor has no reverse switch.

Chow

[Guest avid]

getting older has one big advantage

it forces you to rely on cleverness rather than strength

i use one of those long gripper thingies that they use in grocery stores to reach items on top shelf

i just dip it in the water grab the gunk and pull it off

look below the tm

that green tubular thing is my "avids famous no hassle prop cleaner"

[floridabassboy]

Thank you traviling man i just got my first boat and troling motor a few months ago and i was just was making the assumption that it had gears

[Travlin_Man]

Your welcome Floridabassboy. You might want to consider a Kipawa prop. I have used one for over a year and find it to be more weedless that the prop that came with my MK trolling motor. Also it gives me more speed.

[Guest avid]

I have heard good things about the kipawa prop, but I have the MK ww2 and it's not the prop that gets weedy.  When you get into the thick stuf it will wrap around the shaft.

[mudcatwilly]

When you get in the weeds, START FISHING.  Raise your big motor out of the water and pull up the trolling motor and pick the weeds out.  When you're really stuck, make sure you have a paddle on the boat and paddle your butt out of there (AFTER YOU FISH THE SPOT)

[mercury89]

After a day of fishing in the weeds it helps to remove your prop and clean all the debris that gathers on the shaft of the troller.  This eliminates drag and heat build-up and keeps weeds and junk from compromising the seals in the bottom of the trolling motor.

In terms of keeping it clean while fishing, definitely the most effective way to solce the problem is to clear off the prop by hand.

[flechero]

#1 carry a paddle.

#2  go to Academy and get a weed cutter attachment, it's on the marine isle and you can't miss it.  I forgot the actual name of it.  The work pretty darn good and are cheap.