Using a Bass Tracker in the wind

[Dan-K]

I have a 1999 Bass Tracker PT185 (2nd year of the revolutionary hull) with a 50 hp Mercury. This year has been quite windy in my neck of the woods and fishing from this boat has been tough. Any wind over about 3-5 mph seems to blow this boat all over the lake. If it is a stiff wind I have to position the boat head on into the wind and stay on the TM. Any other tracker (or similar) owners out there have any suggestions to help stay in position in the wind? FYI, I do have an anchor and use it when I am fishing stationary spots. 

[Catt]

Anchor, cast 360 degrees, lift anchor, drift casting distance & re-anchor or fish with the wind

[Long Mike]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option.  It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

[Wayne P.]

I have a 2009 Tracker PT 170 TX and have no trouble in the wind with the 36V trolling motor I installed. I rarely use an anchor. Where I fish most of the time I would never get the anchor back after deploying it---trees, stumps, laydowns. If the wind is over 15 or so mph, I just point the bow in the wind and keep on fishing. In the lighter winds, I use the drift as part of the presentation.

"The wind is your friend"

[K_Mac]

I have an 18'6" aluminum with a modified V hull, much like the older Trackers. I also went with a larger TM. I have a 24V 80# MK. I can fish all day in the wind. It takes a little work, but having enough TM makes all the difference.

[Nice_Bass]

I have a 175txw and was out the past couple evenings in about 17mph wind. 

It was a pain, but still managed to fish, just ran into the wind the whole time.  It has me thinking that I may buy a wind sock to throw over the side of the boat and drift with the wind, and use the tm for minor adjustments to the structure/cover i am fishing. 

Have not heard much good or bad with the drift socks, so your guess is as good as mine in that regards.

[Dan-K]

nice_bass, that is what I was mainly wondering about, the drift sock. The anchor will work if I am fishing a spot loaded with bass, but cruising the shoreline gets tricky. If I go with the wind, it seems to push me along too fast the majority of the time. If I go into the wind I am on the TM the whole time, then when I land a fish or have to retie I am way aout of position by the time I am ready to fish again. Do fiberglass boats really buck the wind that much better?

[Dan-K]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

[Taylor Fishin 4 life]

ever thought about investing into 1 or 2 drift socks?

[skunked_again]

ever thought about investing into 1 or 2 drift socks?

i would try a sock, but are they worth the trouble if youre not fishing open water?

[cart7t]

... Do fiberglass boats really buck the wind that much better?

They're heavier thus more wind is needed to push them around.

[Long Mike]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

I am one of those aluminum boat owners who would NOT call switching to a glass boat an "update."  Personally, I would call it a downgrade.

[Fishes in trees]

I fish out of an aluminum boat  (18"Lowe) and I think the best way to deal with the wind is a strong trolling motor, the biggest you can afford.  I've fished in other guys boats where we used wind socks, they work ok in open water situations, storage is an issue.

I've tried drag anchors, i.e  a length of rope, 40'or so with 5' of heavy chain.  The idea is to drag something that is difficult to hang up.  Again, the issue with the drag anchor is storage when it isn't deployed.

Sometimes you can tie up to trees or stumps to really fish a small area thoroughly, but overall I think the best way to deal with wind is a strong trolling motor.

[Jig Man]

Sometimes you can tie up to trees or stumps to really fish a small area thoroughly, but overall I think the best way to deal with wind is a strong trolling motor.

X2  The stronger the better and with a bit longer than normal shaft.

[Fishing Rhino]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

I am one of those aluminum boat owners who would NOT call switching to a glass boat an "update." Personally, I would call it a downgrade.

We all know you're one of those aluminum snobs.   ;D

[SoFl-native]

A 24v trolling motor and a power pole are a big help.

[Long Mike]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

I am one of those aluminum boat owners who would NOT call switching to a glass boat an "update." Personally, I would call it a downgrade.

We all know you're one of those aluminum snobs. ;D

Thanks Tom, I consider that a compliment.   ;D

[done]

It is what it is. One of the trade-offs with the tin boats is the weight. I specifically wanted a lighter boat so with the pros associated with it (easier to tow, spend a LOT less on gas, etc) I get the negatives which is, wind blows you all over the place.

I have just come up with more strategy around dealing with it. Go head into the wind, I have also learned to use the wind to help me out. You can point into the wind and let it push you back slowly, use your TM every now and then to slow the drift to a sane pace.

[njbasstracker]

I  have  a  06 pro crappie 175  great boat  it has a 24v tm  and wind can still be a pain  depending on where i am fishing 

[junebugmn]

I had a 89 pro 17 tracker I found a "take off" maxxum 65lb 24 volt for 450.00 I think it was a 48 inch? But I had no trouble fishing in the wind with it, if cost is a concern, check craigslist and your local marine dealer's for deal's on trolling motor's. Junebugman

[done]

I got a 2009 pt175 txw.

I will either go head in into the wind. Or go with the wind. If you position the boat facing the wind and use the TM to slow you down and keep you pointed in, you can get less use out of the TM. Course as soon as you catch something you half a lake away by the time you get reset.

[Tin]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

I am one of those aluminum boat owners who would NOT call switching to a glass boat an "update." Personally, I would call it a downgrade.

We all know you're one of those aluminum snobs. ;D

Thanks Tom, I consider that a compliment. ;D

Same here. I love my aluminum.

[Nitro 882]

Fishing in the wind requires more time on the trolling motor whether your in a fiberglass boat or an aluminum boat. Obviously, the wind affects the lighter boat more but fiberglass is not immune to the wind. I had a 17ft.tracker for 18yrs until 2005 when I bought my 18+ft. Nitro so I've had the opportunity to be blown around in both. My son now has the old tracker and got to where he wouldn't go out on a real windy day. I bought a new trolling motor for the nitro and put the old nitro 70# thrust 24volt on the tracker. Your still going be affected by the wind but the stronger motor and the 24volt system will allow you to react to it better and you can stand on her all day with battery power to spare.

Just don't let the wind keep you from fishin'.

[Dan-K]

Thanks for all the replies!! I will upgrade to a 24v TM as soon as I can. On a side note, I have noticed that when I trim the OB out of the water, I am more susceptible to being blown around. It's odd how having the OB in the water creates enough friction in the water to make a difference.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Buy one of the new Minn Kotas with the i-Pilot option. It has an "anchor" mode that will keep you on station.

If I had that kind of money laying around I would update to a glass boat.....

I am one of those aluminum boat owners who would NOT call switching to a glass boat an "update." Personally, I would call it a downgrade.

We all know you're one of those aluminum snobs. ;D

Thanks Tom, I consider that a compliment. ;D

Same here. I love my aluminum.

But you love my Stratos more.