Question for jiggers in the Trenton Channel/Detroit River

[HeavyF150]

Bear with me on this one, but when you guys are vertical jigging the river or channel are you under power of your main motor or outboard, or are you using a trolling motor of some type?
I realize that depending on your boat it could be either, but I'm wondering what most of the guys with smaller boats are using, say in the 14 to 18ft aluminum range.
I would hazard a guess and say my MinnKota bow mount should be able to keep my 14ft pretty steady, but I'm wondering how long my battery will last.
Any comments?

[Ju30-30]

Mosy people use electric trolling motors, however, some use smaller, gas powered, "kicker" motors if their boat is bigger or if the conditions call for it. i.e wind The key to not draining your battery is to use the motor in short bursts. I'm pretty sure most trolling motors have the option of only turning on when the pedal is stepped on. Is you use it like that and keep the bow pointed into the wind you shouldn't have any problems but if you do it's nothing a little practice/experience won't fix. It all boils down to what works best for you.

[bolodunn]

just the bow mount for jigging. enough to keep your line vertical. chase the line with your motor. i have a 17.5 tracker deep v & the 12 v battery will last 3 days roughly. keep it on around #3 for power . don't take much to move the boat around.
point your bow into the wind, drop your jig & have at it.as they say, boat control is 90% of jigging.

[Captain Tan Can]

My 25' Crestliner wants to drift bow down so I leave the kicker running in reverse to slow the drift enough to keep the lines vertical. It also gives me steerage when necessary to get around other boats. The 4 stroke Merc will idle all day without loading up but It requires someone to be at the controls 100% of the time. My regular fishing partners all can run the boat so we take turns on each drift. My buddy's boat (18" Lund) has a bow mount Minn-Kota and I can keep the bow up and slow the drift or steer in or out with short bursts on the pedal. I've seen it where I've had to power downstream when a big wind is blowing up the river. We usually fish 5-6 hours and have never run out of juice. Just have good batteries and charge them full before you go out.

[Homie]

Bear with me on this one, but when you guys are vertical jigging the river or channel are you under power of your main motor or outboard, or are you using a trolling motor of some type?
I realize that depending on your boat it could be either, but I'm wondering what most of the guys with smaller boats are using, say in the 14 to 18ft aluminum range.
I would hazard a guess and say my MinnKota bow mount should be able to keep my 14ft pretty steady, but I'm wondering how long my battery will last.
Any comments?......Alan if you are in a 14' aluminum my best advice would be to get a stern mount elect. I think you will find it much more user friendly. One advantage is that you will not have to stand up and change positions when get to the hole. simply put the motor down and start fishing without leaving your seat. You will like it even more in the summer when all the A??holes are ripping up and down the river..( Boaters not Fisherman ) If 12 volt only do yourself a favor, and keep an extra battery in your boat. Do not want to get blown out if the winds pick up but the fish are hammering. This will happen to you if you only have one battery...Just some ideas..See you on the river.

[jighead36]

I use a bow mount elec. and on real windy days have killed the battery after a short time. Thank goodness for the spare I keep fully charged right next to the main one.:fish: