Electric fishing trolling motors Tips - Part 2 of 2

Electric fishing trolling motors Tips - Part 2 of 2

Props

Electric fishing trolling motors props typically come in either 2, 3 or 4 blade versions. A 2 blade electric fishing trolling motors prop is made for speed and power. This would be the prop of choice when fishing open water, deep water, and/or big water.

However, a 2 bladed prop does not fare well in the weeds. The weeds will simply get wrapped up around your 2 bladed prop, and will eventually prevent it from spinning. This means you will need to constantly stop fishing, take your electric fishing trolling motors out of the water, clean the weeds off your prop, and then get back to fishing.

Not much fun and definitely not how you want to spend your time especially if you're in a tournament! Besides absorbing your invaluable fishing time, your fishing trolling motor will also be working much harder, trying to turn your prop which is choked by weeds. This will end up using double the amount of battery power, meaning you will run out of power sooner.

A 3 or 4 blade prop will actually eat through weeds, chewing them up along the way. This will allow you to fish the weeds very effectively. Your boat will go where you want it to go, and the prop will remain generally free of weeds allowing you more time to fish.

So although a 3 or 4 blade prop does not have the same power as a 2 blade prop, it gets the nod for fishing weedy areas and typically shallow water lakes or bays.

Bow Mount or Transom Mount

Whatever your preference, bow mount or transom mount, be sure to have a fish finder in close view. It is essential to be able to see the structure you are fishing, as you are moving along with your electric motor... it's actually a must!

Personally, I prefer a bow mounted electric fishing trolling motors as I like to fish form the front of the boat & I find that the boat is easier to control from this position. A bow mounted electric fishing trolling motors also gets the nod if your main use for your electric motor is working structure.

If you are actually using your electric fishing trolling motors to slowly & quietly troll along, then a transom mounted electric fishing trolling motors is ideal for this situation.

Brands and a Key Tip to Consider

I personally use a Motor Guide, but Min Kota also makes a good electric fishing trolling motors. These 2 brands seem to be the top 2 on the market. I would suggest that if you are comparing the 2 brands, pay close attention to the foot pedal.

The foot pedal is the key part of the operation and you will be spending most of your time using the foot pedal. So you will want to look at both models & ask if you can "test drive" them. Select the one you are most comfortable using.

Foot pedal comfort and ease of operation are important factors to consider when choosing an electric fishing trolling motors.

Electric Fishing Trolling Motors Tips - Part 1 of 2

Electric Fishing Trolling Motors Tips - Part 1 of 2

One of the most useful pieces of equipment on any boat is an electric fishing trolling motors. Although they can be used to troll with, their main purpose is for boat positioning, or for working structure.

Size

When looking to buy an electric fishing trolling motors, there are a couple of things to consider. The first of which is size/power. You will want to ensure that your electric fishing trolling motors is not undersized... oversized in this case would be better.

Keep in mind that fiberglass boats are heavier than aluminium. Therefore on a typical 17' ½ foot fibreglass boat, an electric fishing trolling motors with 60 lbs of thrust (or more) would be ideal - but for a 17' ½ foot aluminum boat, 50 lbs of thrust (or more) would do.

Some other factors to consider when deciding on which size electric fishing trolling motors would be best, would be to consider the type of fishing' 'angling you will be doing. If you are using your fishing trolling motor in river conditions with heavy current - or in tidal conditions or heavy wind conditions, you will want a strong fishing trolling motor in order to fight the current.

Shaft Length

Another very important feature to consider is the length of your shaft on your electric fishing trolling motors. If your shaft length is to short, as soon as you coming upon some wind and wavy conditions, your prop will be constantly bouncing in and out of the water, with each wave. (assuming your electric motor is a bow mount)

Not only is this bad for your electric motor (i.e. it is not recommended that your electric motor be operated out of eater) but you will also be loosing boat control. An fishing trolling motor with a longer shaft may be more cumbersome to lift & retrieve, but it sure does have many rewards.

How high the bow of your boat will be above water, must also be taken into account. The bow of a bass boat will sit very close to the water, so a shorter shaft size on your fishing trolling motor may be o.k. Where as a "deep V" boat, like a walleye boat, will sit higher on the water and a long shafted electric fishing trolling motors is almost crucial.

Power

If you have a choice between a 24 volt and 12 volt electric fishing trolling motors, the edge should always go to the 24 volt model. The difference between the 2 models is that the 12 volt model will use 1 deep cycle battery, whereas the 24 volt model will use 2 deep cycle batteries.

The biggest advantage of a 24 volt electric fishing trolling motors besides offering more power, is the simple fact that it will last at least twice as long. There's nothing more frustrating than running out of electric power half way through your day of fishing... especially if you are fishing a tournament!

Until next time, good fortune and good fishing!