Troll Plates

[Fried Fillets]

It's never too early to start thinking about open water fishing in Michigan. I would like some feedback regarding trolling plates. I cannot afford a kicker motor, therefore, I am considering a trolling plate. What models are best as far as quality, convenience, easy to install and performance. This trolling plate will be mounted on a 90hp Mercury.

[walleyechaser]

The Happy Troller has been around for a long time and it work on both larger outboards and I/Os as well. It installs with 4 holes that you have to drill and goes on in a snap.
The nice thing about a happy troller is that it will survive several episodes of forgetting to raise it before taking off under full power.
It just bends up and you can easily bend it back to shape.
It'll cost a little over a hundred bucks but that's far cheaper than a kicker.

[mchuber]

Have you given any thought to a sea anchor/drift sock? A few dollars cheaper than a trolling plate and no holes need to be drilled into your motor.

I used a sock on a 22' boat I used on Lake Erie to slow my trolling speed. It was very easy to set up are bring in. It also did a great job at slowing the boat. If purchased in a store, there are different sizes to choose from.

John Sawicky has a great do-it-yourself web site "Big John's Plans" and has directions on how to make your own sea anchor Big John's Plans (http://johnsbigplans.hypermart.net/jbp.html)

If you pick the store bought sock or try to DIY, you can't go wrong for the price from $45 - $60 at Bass Pro Shops. Drift Control Driftmaster (http://www.basspro-shops.com/servlet/catalog.TextId?hvarTextId=7523&hvarDept=200&hvarEvent=&hvarClassCode=3&hvarSubCode=1&hvarTarget=browse)

[DANN09]

Beaver Trol is one of the best on the market but it's not cheep it was about 500.00. It's hydralic so you can raise and lower by way of a switch. I think Lakeside on Jefferson did carry them. I have a 19' with a 125hp and use the bags.

[SCOE]

I have a Happy Troller for sale. It was used for two seasons on a 90 H.P. Johnson. It is in perfect condition, never once forgot to bring it up. Drop me an e-mail if you are interested.
ryanl@saf-air.com

Thanks, Ryan

[DEERSLAYER]

My uncle ties two 5 gal. buckets to the boat and tosses them over. It works with his big inboard motor.