Ric66

9 hours ago, paprman said:

Another thing to keep in mind is the 2 modes of autopilot, legacy and advanced autopilot. They are different. For trolling I use the legacy mode. With the advanced mode the motor tries to correct for cross wind and current which can slow the boat way down. The legacy mode will just keep going towards a given heading. 

I did that right away after reading someone else's post about legacy vs advanced. Good to know my motor is working same as others.

seeyawader, I used to clean my fish in the kitchen but finally had to put a sink in the basement so I could clean them there. Now everybody is happy

Sorry about that pap.

My wife took that in our dining room. You can tell she likes modern art from the painting on the wall. Me? Not so much.

I think this is going to be a great year for salmon fishing. When I fished out of Olcott during the derby the depth finder screen was lit up with fish.

It’s from Ecsboats.com. Basically extends the skeg already on the motor

I'm going to try and put a skeg on and see if I can use a lower setting. I'll let you know how it works.

That's the speed I had mine at. I was hoping I could get by with it at 1 or 2 setting to save battery power. Also looking into the possibility of a skeg to help the motor.

I have a 17 foot aluminum boat with a 5 hp kicker

Pap. what setting do you have the TM set on?

Got to the launch around 5pm and it was deserted. Not a good sign I thought. I knew most of the salmon were still on the west side but wanted to try out my new terrova trolling motor so catching fish would just be a bonus. Definitely a learning curve using the i-Pilot. Trolling motor would get over powered by my kicker if I didn’t have the TM set on at least 4. Got the hang of it and had a rigger release after awhile. Started taking line out so thought it could be a salmon but turned out to be a big laker. Put out a 10 color LC with mag Carmel dolphin on planer board and got a small salmon that I ended up giving to a woman fishing on the bank. Let out the core again and within a few minutes got another hit this time with the planner board being dragged backwards. Finally got enough line in to take the board off and landed this guy. Was fishing in 125 to 140. Was about 53 degrees on surface and 46 down over a hundred feet. Ended up 3 for 3. Very pleasant day on the water.

On 4/18/2022 at 6:54 AM, Prof T said:

I also run kicker for propulsion and bow mount, 80 lb Terrova with a big rudder to steer. I troll current and think the rudder provides a lot truer course with less course correction. Note that when using the autopilot feature, there are two modes.

 

One lays down a virtual course. If you drift or are pushed off of it, the trolling motor will work to bring you back onto that "line" and then continue. Very choppy on a windy day.

 

The other (on mine it's called Legacy") you lock in a direction only. If you drift or are pushed off of it, it maintains the direction only even if you are 30 ft to the side of your original plan. That's the one I use. Saves a lot of over correction.

I've now install my bow mounted trolling motor. Wondering where do you put the rudder on? I've seen ones attached to the shaft but then how do you stow it on its bracket? And this question is from left field but why aren't there sacrificial anodes on a trolling motor? I believe I've read they do put them on ones used for salt water.

Thanks guys. Very helpful information!

2 hours ago, chowder said:

I strongly advise you to consider all aspects of the bowmount purchase:

1.) A bowmount system is composed of 4 parts a) the bowmount b) the batteries c) the controller (foot, bluetooth remote etc) and d.) the onboard charging system.

2.) Think hard thru all you will want this system to accomplish because there are several factors to consider; a) Are you going to be using the bowmount only for rod in hand fishing (drifting rivers, jigging, bass techniques, etc) or are you going to be using it for the aforementioned purposes as well as for trolling? b)  If you are using it for trolling, will you be using it alone to provide propulsion or in conjunction with a main or kicker motor doing the 'pushing' and the bowmount doing autopilot duty?

3.) How big (lbs thrust required) and tall (shaft length required) is your vessel and are you going to stay in that boat for quite awhile.

4.) the answers to all these questions are pretty important if you want an integrated system that will meet all your needs. 

-Tight Lines!

 

P.S. FYI I use a 22' aluminum outboard boat w/ 220 hp main, 9.9 kicker to do charters on the Niagara river, Finger lakes, Long Island Sound and Lake Ontario and Lake Erie .This vessel is equipped with a 115 lb thrust Min Kota Terrova AP Spotlok, Saltwater 36 volt unit, 3 batteries and a 4 bank charger (the 4th bank charges 1 of this boats starting batteries) I use both a bluetooth controller and a corded foot pedal,. I have learned the hard way to think as much as I can about overall considerations and what I might do next that I'm not doing now before making a bowmount investment.

Thanks for the info chowder. I think I've considered most of the things you mentioned. I will be using a kicker for propulsion and the TM for direction. I've heard people put a rudder on the TM to save battery power. I've also learned the hard way (wasted money). The best way I've found to make decisions like this is to talk to others who have similar boats/set ups.

2 hours ago, Frogger said:

I think it’s a good question and yes everyone has different opinions. I ended up isolating mine from the boats starting battery (12v) but found out that the ground from the 24v trolling motor system made its way back to the 12v system when I connected the depth finder (wired to the boats 12v) to the trolling motors (24v) transducer via a connector cable. Remember your 12v is grounded through your hull with the outboard. Nothing I could do other than run the depth finder to one of the (2) 12v trolling motors batteries. I decided not to. I stayed with the setup as is with keeping it on the boats 12v system. I wasn’t seeing any interference and after talking to a tech at minn kota he confirmed it as well I would be good. Just a little frustrating at first realizing the grounds were connected.  They do suggest to run the trolling motor batteries isolated from your starting battery as the draw is inconsistent on the batteries and not good for them. For example, if your trolling motor is 24v, and you tie another 12v to make 24v for the trolling motor, but leave one of them tied to your main starting battery, you may find that you can’t start your main motor after a few hrs of fishing or have problems down the road with inconsistent draw / charging on them. Just one of many opinions out there. Congrats on the retirement. 

Thanks for the feedback Frogger. It's hard for me to believe the answer hasn't already been determined and it would be standard for all trolling motors. Probably because everybody's boat is wired differently. I guess the best thing is to try it one way and if I see interference, change it.

Hi,

I'm retiring at the end of this year and my plan was to buy a bow mounted trolling motor with ipilot and spot lock as my reward for the 30 years I've put in at my work. Well, I said the hell with it, if I'm going to buy one anyway might as well buy it now.

The question I have is with regards to the TM battery. My boat comes equipped with a plug at the bow. Do I have to worry about connecting my starting and TM battery's negative posts or just keep the batteries isolated?

I'm worried about the electrolysis between my aluminum boat, the starting battery and all that is connected to it, and the trolling motor when it is in the water. I've searched online and everyone seems to have a different opinion. Am I overthinking this?

I also have one but its about 6 years old.

Thanks Les and NYbassin. I got my boat stuck in that muck one year not knowing the south launch got so shallow. Luckily I was able to use my boat hook to push myself out to deeper water.

Never used the Union Springs launch. I'm assuming if parking has been full, the perch fishing must be pretty good.

I want to take some friends fishing who've had limited fishing experience-and would rather take them to Cayuga where I'm pretty confident we'll have good action as opposed to taking them to Lake Erie where it can be hit or miss, not to mention the seasickness possibility.

Anyone launch out of the State Park recently? How is the water level and are the docks in?

Thanks.

Also North end of Cayuga Lake in the channel. Sodus and Port bay are good also like regulator mentioned.

If you go to Cayuga, be prepared for pickerel.

I have one. I've only used it a few times. I think it really needs the external compass to work  well so the main motor doesn't interfere with it. I'm going to get a bow mounted trolling motor so I can use it for trolling and perch fishing. I have the 1000 which I would be willing to sell for $150. I have some extensions for the arm and all the other parts.

Text me at 585-362-6510 if interested.

Getting a kicker is a very good idea BUT getting a tow service is also a good idea. My family and I were stranded out in the lake several years ago, and both my main motor and kicker had issues. I had the tow service through my insurance so I didn't have to eat the $800 towing fee.

 I think Towboat is $79 a year last I looked. So if this is available in your area, I would highly recommend it.

1 hour ago, ShawnJ said:

This is my rookie season and has proved to be really tough. Learning slot every time out on the water. Can find bait and fish Everytime but convincing the fish to bite is another story.

Sent from my Nokia 8 V 5G UW using Lake Ontario United mobile app
 

There is a learning curve. You will get better. I suggest reading the Dan Keating books. That will increase your knowledge and give you more confidence on the water.

On 8/8/2021 at 9:23 AM, ShawnJ said:

 

Struggling out here today. Ran out to 190 and haven't seen much. Marked a bunch of bait in shallow but do far only landed one small brown. Caught the brown on a slider on a rigger in 120 fow.

 

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I think that was the same brown I caught last week. And the only fish brought to the boat that day. Don't feel bad.

I started having trouble with my fishhawk with the transducer mounted on the same side as my kicker. Don't know why it started acting up because had been fine for the past 3 years. I switched the FH transducer to the other side of transom with my fishfinder transducer and now no problems. I can even use the 83 hz setting with no problems.

Very different water temps than the last time out. Set up in 140ft and it was 43F 75 down. Had to change my game plan. Had 5 rods out- 5 color with a 2 oz snap weight with a spoon; dipsey with f/f set out at 200; kevokian spoon on rigger set at 90; mag dipsy with mag spoon and f/f on the other rigger. The kevokian spoon took 4 of the 5 hits we had. The dipsy with f/f took the other hit with what seemed to be a decent salmon on but he got off soon after. Fished from 5:30pm to 7:30. Was supposed to calm down towards evening but never did for us so we called it a night after getting our last fish.

Brought my neighbor's two sons out fishing Lake O for first time. Launch at Sandy's at 4:30pm and set up in about 140ft trolling east. Had a 6 rod set up with two riggers, 6 color leadcore, on planer, a 350 copper on a planer, and two dipsys on wire with f/fs. Had a hit right away on the copper before I could get the second rigger set. 16lb king. Little did I know that would be our only fish. Warm water all the way down until 120ft. Only a couple other boats out. Very nice day out there. Anyway, the younger of the two sons had a great time bringing in the only king of the day. His biggest fish by far.

Started at 7:30am fishing with my son in about 120ft with a 6 rod spread. 63 degrees on top and had to go down to about 80 to get some cooler water.  Had a 3 and 5 color leadcore out, 2 dipsies with FF, and two riggers, one with spoon and one with FF. Didn't move a rod until we move out a little deeper and we hit this laker on a green dolphin on the rigger set at 80. Turned around and started west and we got the nice salmon on the other rigger with powder blue spin doctor. Got one more small king on the dolphin and called it a day after 3 hours going 3/3. Didn't hammer them but it was nice to get out with my son. Later he played violin for my wife's church for father's day. Pretty perfect way to spend the day. Hope all the fathers on here had as nice a day as I did.

Started in about 120ft around 7:30am. Very calm today. I have never caught a coho so I set up a 6inch red dodger with a peanut fly on a 5 color leadcore on a board. Before I could get my second rod in the water I had one on the dodger. Ended up losing that fish but soon after got one on f/f off my rigger about 60ft down. Didn't get another hit for about an hour so I started out towards deeper water- went out to about 200 when the same rigger goes again. Better salmon this time. Every year I try to get a new type of presentation in my spread so this year I wanted to start using torpedo divers with 3 color leadcore with a church board. As I'm setting this up, my other rigger goes with 3 color leadcore and a spoon. Turns out to be a nice rainbow who got tangled in my torpedo line. Ended up going 3/4. Nice way to start the season on LO.