First Boat Learning Curve.....Steep

[Michael Moore]

So I’ve been a bank fisherman for the last 15 years, this winter I purchased my first boat. Bait monkey hit me hard using the excise to my wife “guy with a boat has to have a lot of gear” 

 

Anyways, I have got to take it out twice in the last 2 weeks, both days had some decent winds 15ish mph. It was a struggle out there both trips. Finding spot: so many looked good, structure, points, wind blown banks and I threw everything at them, lipless crank, square bill, jerk bait, senko, Ned, etc. and caught 2 total. Second, trolling motor: man this may be the biggest challenge, it really takes some getting used to positioning boat and maintain a course using the foot control (don’t have the $ for some of the new nice spot lock options). There was a moment where I was like hell I could catch more from the bank then this! 

 

I am sure as time goes on I will get better with practice but any suggestions that helped you most as a first time boater? 

[A-Jay]

First Off - wear your life Jacket.

 Next - you haven't mentioned what type / size boat you have; that would help.

So let's start there.

A-Jay

[Michael Moore]

14 minutes ago, A-Jay said:

First Off - wear your life Jacket.

 Next - you haven't mentioned what type / size boat you have; that would help.

So let's start there.

A-Jay

Always wear a life jacket! I’ve been a boater(ski boat/pontoon) with kids so this has always been a must. 

 

16’ Grumman 1666p V-hull aluminum, tiller with 25hp Merc, Minn Kota power drive 54lbs thrust trolling motor. Front and rear casting decks. 

 

Thanks A-jay 

[HenryPF]

Why don't you try what you have confidence in? Use the boat to hop from spot to spot to shorefish? It's actually why I bought my first boat and had fantastic luck doing that until i was comfortable with how the boat is in wind, anchoring, trolling, etc.

[Jig Man]

The trolling motor will get easier to operate.  Just stick with it.  The best advice I can give you is to learn to operate it with both feet.  Use your right foot when fishing from the left side of the boat and left foot when fishing from the right side.  Keep the foot pedal centered on the deck, preferably screwed down so you will always know where it is located.

 

Like any other activity repetition is the way to success.  Good luck and have fun.

[A-Jay]

1 hour ago, Michael Moore said:

Always wear a life jacket! I’ve been a boater(ski boat/pontoon) with kids so this has always been a must. 

 

16’ Grumman 1666p V-hull aluminum, tiller with 25hp Merc, Minn Kota power drive 54lbs thrust trolling motor. Front and rear casting decks. 

 

Thanks A-jay 

Excellent.

You've received some great advice already and most likely will continue to.

My suggestion ~

One way to perhaps make the trolling motor learning curve a little shorter, is to stop doing so many things at once.

Learning while you're fishing can be a little tricky.

Instead, perhaps spend a some time not fishing at all and just use the trolling motor to tool around.

Slowly maneuvering around docks, in & out of tight quarters, holding on a spot in a little wind - whatever you can think of that enables you to get the hang of it and gain some confidence.

So when the situation arise down the line, you'll be ready.  

Same type of deal can be a big help learning to run, dock & trailer a new rig with the outboard motor as well.

In both cases, only go as fast as you want to hit whatever you're maneuvering around.

Power Never Saves.

Good Luck.

A-Jay

 

[gim]

If you've never backed up or launched a boat before at the access, don't do it for the first time on a busy day.  You will not make friends doing that.  Go to the access and do it when there is no one around and do it multiple times so that you are able to do it quickly and effeciently and not holding up the line when others are waiting.  Nothing worse than a rookie trying to learn this when 10 others are waiting.

[Michael Moore]

1 minute ago, gimruis said:

If you've never backed up or launched a boat before at the access, don't do it for the first time on a busy day.  You will not make friends doing that.  Go to the access and do it when there is no one around and do it multiple times so that you are able to do it quickly and effeciently and not holding up the line when others are waiting.  Nothing worse than a rookie trying to learn this when 10 others are waiting.

Completely agree. I have experience backing in and taking out and yesterday I did I solo in very little time so good there. This boat is very easy to load and unload even in 20mhp gusts. 

 

My trouble is once I’m on the lake haha! 

[bogfrog]

Start out by letting the boat drift with the wind using the trolling motor to make occasional adjustments as needed. You wont learn this in a day. Take it slow and try to remember you got the boat to catch fish. 2 of my buddies recently upgraded to fish finders that have GPS, linked to the trolling motor, all the bells and whistles. Both were outstanding fishermen already and since they have the new electronics they literally spend more time fooling with all the options than they spend fishing. They both catch about half the fish as they were before technology found them. I love it! Butt kickings are handed out every time we go out together.

[redmexican5081]

A pre-launch checklist that you use and stick to will help greatly.  Things like unhooking the straps, putting in the plug, turning on the batteries, etc. will all seem silly to have to put on a list but the embarrassment when you need to pull the rig out because you forgot the straps on and can’t leave the trailer or the boat slowly sinking at the dock as you park the tow vehicle is something most don’t enjoy.  Don’t rush it.

As to the boat handling, learning how to dock with the wind, against the wind, with current and against current are all things you should work on and be comfortable with.  Like AJ said, power won’t help if you don’t know the boats response to your inputs.  I can’t help with the tm handling, I use a tiller model.

[frogflogger]

Anyone can make a boat move - keeping it stationary is the deal.

Many great successful fishermen use anchors.

[Michael Moore]

1 hour ago, frogflogger said:

Anyone can make a boat move - keeping it stationary is the deal.

Many great successful fishermen use anchors.

Very true, and I was not afraid to drop anchor, I did about 5-6 times while out there. 

 

I think key will just be practice, really it’s the trolling motor, I need to get that learning curve down so when I get to a spot I can stay there or slowly make my way down the bank. Small adjustment vs big ones, and I think installing a drip pan into the deck so it is flush will make it easier. 

 

Thanks for akl all the help so far fellas! 

[Goldstar225]

Controlling the trolling motor will come with time and use.  Fighting the wind in a tin boat makes it more challenging.  Don't sweat it.  Keep at it and in no time you'll be making it respond to your wishes without even consciously thinking about it.  Like it's already been suggested, find an area out of the wind such as a cove or marina and just maneuver around. 

[Bankbeater]

You’ve gotten some very good advice. I would carry an anchor just in case you need to sit in one spot and rethink how to do something. 

[FordsnFishin]

Do you have a pedestal seat? It can make using your trolling motor much easier. 

 

Learn to use the wind in your advantage not against you. 

[TnRiver46]

point the nose of the boat into the wind , even if you are just slowing yourself down and fishing while the boat moves slowly backwards. 16 foot aluminum boat is a kite in the wind 

[Michael Moore]

16 hours ago, FordsnFishin said:

Do you have a pedestal seat? It can make using your trolling motor much easier. 

 

Learn to use the wind in your advantage not against you. 

I do have a pedestal seat I am using. Still working not to over steer. I think backing down the power of the trolling motor will help to make smaller adjustments.