Trolling motor weed guard ?

[N Florida Mike]

I have a Mk 40 lb thrust. Trying to find relief from the weedy lakes I fish. Saw several on line but don’t want to buy that way without a recommendation or two. A local TM repairman didn’t even know about them.

My nieghbor has the same motor and he found something on line for 18.00 . I’m not convinced that it will be compatible or work well.

Any recommendations would be much appreciated…

[cyclops2]

It is VERY  VERY dependent on the types of weeds you are running in. I find there is no need to ride a grass cutter into weeds. If the space is too much between prop & metal case ? You will get strings of weeds deep inside that Build up & cause friction. Feels like motor or battery is slowly dying.  Remove prop & weed clump.

I stay out. Cast to the weeds. Less problems.

[BayouSlide]

I have run Precision Sonar's Ninja Grass Blade successfully on two trolling motors of mine and even bought one for my BIL, an ex-boat mechanic who's "on call" when I run into boat issues ?.

 

It really helps reduce weed fouling. Before I got it I was often pulling up the TM to remove vegetation; seldom have to now.

 

If you get one follow the installation instructions carefully on placement for greatest effect.

[N Florida Mike]

43 minutes ago, cyclops2 said:

It is VERY  VERY dependent on the types of weeds you are running in. I find there is no need to ride a grass cutter into weeds. If the space is too much between prop & metal case ? You will get strings of weeds deep inside that Build up & cause friction. Feels like motor or battery is slowly dying.  Remove prop & weed clump.

I stay out. Cast to the weeds. Less problems.

The problem is navigating around all the weeds. Ours is primarily eel grass and clumps of algae that are floating around. Sometimes it’s sub-surface and you run through it without seeing it. I keep the TM as high as possible, but even then it gets clogged up. 

[N Florida Mike]

There used to be the old basket type ones that would cause the weeds to go around the prop. Those aren’t showing up on any searches I’ve done.

I’ll look into that ninja blade next… 

[Captain Phil]

23 minutes ago, N Florida Mike said:

There used to be the old basket type ones that would cause the weeds to go around the prop. Those aren’t showing up on any searches I’ve done.

I’ll look into that ninja blade next… 

 

Years ago, I fished in a bass club with a man named Steve Porter.  He and his partner invented the "Weed Master".   This was a plastic basket that covered the trolling motor prop to prevent it from fouling in thick weeds.  It was a godsend at the time, but it had some disadvantages.  The main disadvantage was it significantly reduced the thrust of the motor.  Later weed cutting trolling motor props came out along with stronger more powerful motors.  Today, modern 24 volt trolling motors reduce this problem to a minor annoyance.  What you need is a stronger motor.  

[TOXIC]

I have one that is called The Grass Goat.  Have run it in all kinds of vegetation.  Kissimmee grass, eel grass, pads, water willow, millfoil, hydrilla, and a few more I’m sure.  It has worked well. 

[N Florida Mike]

3 hours ago, Captain Phil said:

 

Years ago, I fished in a bass club with a man named Steve Porter.  He and his partner invented the "Weed Master".   This was a plastic basket that covered the trolling motor prop to prevent it from fouling in thick weeds.  It was a godsend at the time, but it had some disadvantages.  The main disadvantage was it significantly reduced the thrust of the motor.  Later weed cutting trolling motor props came out along with stronger more powerful motors.  Today, modern 24 volt trolling motors reduce this problem to a minor annoyance.  What you need is a stronger motor.  

It would definitely help with the weeds, but the 40 cracked the transom on my old bass hunter, so Im scared to put anything more powerful on it. 

It would help with my JB though.

[Way north bass guy]

I also have a ninja grass blade on my motor, and it works fantastic! I can go through just about any type of weeds we have, and it’ll clear it all off. I often used to have to lift it and clear weeds, but now I hardly ever have to. 

[GreenPig]

I have "The Shank" on my Terrova 80 and it literally never has weeds on it. 

[txchaser]

+1 for the Ninja Grass Blade. 

[J Francho]

23 hours ago, TOXIC said:

I have one that is called The Grass Goat.  Have run it in all kinds of vegetation.  Kissimmee grass, eel grass, pads, water willow, millfoil, hydrilla, and a few more I’m sure.  It has worked well. 

This is the only thing that I've seen that actually works.

[casts_by_fly]

If you don't already have one, pick up a weedless wedge MK prop.  Versus the standard prop, the WW prop has a larger blade surface and different pitch.  There is also a lot of edge curvature on the blades.  All of it adds up to the prop pushing weeds away rather than wrapping them.  It makes a huge difference on my motor.  I also put a ninja blade on mine, but have yet to test it in weeds since I only just put it on and we don't have surface weeds here just yet.

 

rick

[TOXIC]

Just a note to my post.  My buddy with his front facing sonar monster puck up front on his ghost troller, the Grass Goat would not work.  Per his research there is a product that would work but it is in the $200 range. ?

[N Florida Mike]

2 hours ago, TOXIC said:

Just a note to my post.  My buddy with his front facing sonar monster puck up front on his ghost troller, the Grass Goat would not work.  Per his research there is a product that would work but it is in the $200 range. ?

Yeah, I read about it.

I got some good feedback on the Ninja , including some videos, so I just ordered one from amazon. More in my price range too.

I’ll let y’all know how it does…

Thanks for all the help!

[N Florida Mike]

Well, I got it installed. Planning on trying it tomorrow afternoon. I’ll report back…