Slower trolling needed

[rkropp]

What would be the best way to slow my 25' Trophy for trolling. I have tried a drift sock off the back which works okay but I lose steering control. I have to troll with the wind. Has any one put a trolling plate on a Mercruiser 5.7 with Alpha One OD? What HP on a kicker would be good?
Thanks
Rick

[adjusted3]

Before mounting a plate, try 2 socks, one off each side tied to the front side cleats...should even out the steering. I would suggest this route first before you spend the bigger dollars on a plate.

Mark

[Big Nic]

RK ,

If you are truly looking for the "best way " to control trolling speed there is no doubt that the Beaver trol is the way to go . This unit is a cast aluminum plate that is hydraulicaly controlled and is completely adjustable thru a toggle switch
with infinite adjustments up or down and will give you total control over boat speed . Fine enough control to vary speed by .1 mph with just a click up or down. Now for the down side these units are expensive 1400 to 1700 dollars
but a fair price to get absolute complete control over your trolling speed

[Jason Adam]

Nic is right, the Beaver-trol is the best. I would buy one before I strapped a kicker on. If "precision trolling" is what you're after, you cant get much more precise...

[TimT]

Rick, I just commented in the "trolling plate" thread, a couple down. My boat is a 19.5' Lund Tyee with the 5.7 and Alpha One I/O. Jason owned a Trophy and says he hated having it rigged with a trolling plate. The weight or size difference of our two vessels may effect the performance. Having the means, he stepped up to a better product. Those of us on a smaller fishing budget need to get by somehow, though. I'd search the boat rigging section here and review some of the past comments. You're gonna see a lot of responses suggesting that those of us using trolling plates are making due, where the guys with the Beaver Trol couldn't imagine trolling again without it. I can tell you that I have a system down that I'm happy with, and can achieve any speed imaginable for trolling. Having redundant power for venturing out into the great lakes would be nice, especially if you're in an older rig. A couple years ago I had a few more bucks to spend on fishing and was all set to get a kicker. After much analysis, I decided that I didn't want to fish around the kicker. So, I continue to troll with my main motor with a Happy Troller.

[Jason Adam]

Rick, I just commented in the "trolling plate" thread, a couple down. My boat is a 19.5' Lund Tyee with the 5.7 and Alpha One I/O. Jason owned a Trophy and says he hated having it rigged with a trolling plate. The weight or size difference of our two vessels may effect the performance. Having the means, he stepped up to a better product. Those of us on a smaller fishing budget need to get by somehow, though. I'd search the boat rigging section here and review some of the past comments. You're gonna see a lot of responses suggesting that those of us using trolling plates are making due, where the guys with the Beaver Trol couldn't imagine trolling again without it. I can tell you that I have a system down that I'm happy with, and can achieve any speed imaginable for trolling. Having redundant power for venturing out into the great lakes would be nice, especially if you're in an older rig. A couple years ago I had a few more bucks to spend on fishing and was all set to get a kicker. After much analysis, I decided that I didn't want to fish around the kicker. So, I continue to troll with my main motor with a Happy Troller.

It's like anything else, you get what you pay for. A beavertrol is not a necessity by any means. I could fish fine without it. I could fish fine without autopilot and alot of other things. I just feel it's the best meathod out there. Others may disagree, and thats what the forum is here for. Any of 10 meathods from free to $3000 will get you down to a trolling speed.

[rkropp]

Thanks everyone. All good points. I'll hopefully install the Beaver-Trol this off season. I'll be in the soft top Trophy near Brest Bay trolling walleye at 3.5 to 4 mph, probably cusing. Stop and say hi.
Thanks again
Rick

[solasylum]

Rick.....have you tried a different pitch prop?

Just a thought,

Scott

[jimbobway]

Have you tried to raise the prop via the power tilt as far up as possible? May loose some steering in tight areas but should slow you down.

[Houghton laker]

one nice thing with a kicker...any motor problems and you can limp in!! Also cheaper on gas then trolling with big engine!