View Full Version : Fishin w/o a kicker
King Fisher
08-21-2002, 03:03 PM
Need help, I've got a friend who has a sled with out a kicker and wants to fish. Seems the only thing going on is trolling. It is a 90hp merc, so it may troll, but I do not think at a slow enough speed. He does have a good anchor system, but we may be waisting time. Any ideas.
Is it a jet or prop? 2 stroke or 4 stroke?
He could use sea anchors on each side of the stern which would help slow the boat especially if it's a 2 stroke motor which IMO are difficult to troll at low RPM's, causes plug fouling. A four stroke might not need sea anchors and he could put it into gear at low RPM's and take it out of gear if it speeds up to much.
Why don't you just buy him a kicker motor, what are friends for!! graemlins/eek13.gif
crabbait
08-21-2002, 03:17 PM
Is it a jet? If so, you can pull sea anchors to slow it down. The more sea anchors and the bigger the size, the slower you go. If you tie the downstream ends closed or close to closed you will slow down some more. Put some floats on them so you can retrieve them if (when) you throw them over without tieing them on first (DOH!).
Remember to haul them in when you hook up or you will end up filleting them out of your pump (the voice of experience). graemlins/eek13.gif
Prop? Put on a trolling plate. You can still use the sea anchors if you need more drag but the trolling plate ought to do it.
Smily
08-21-2002, 03:25 PM
I've got an 8hp kicker.(not for sale) but will trade loaner kicker for a seat on a boat. :grin:
:smile: Smily :smile:
King Fisher
08-21-2002, 03:41 PM
I may take you up on that smily. I don't know a lot about the boat yet, I tried to get more info but couldn't reach him. Thanksfor the help.
Fish4Fun
08-21-2002, 03:52 PM
Used to use my 140 Suzuki with a pump to
troll all the time. Now I use my inboard 350 Chev with American Turbine pump for trolling. I still use my kicker, but not all the time.
k9jeff
08-21-2002, 04:23 PM
there are many cheap kickers out there. I have a 6hp johnson and love it. I am not able to troll with my jet. I could, but it would not be a consistant speed and it wouild fould plugs and use a large amout of fuel.
If its salmon you want, wait a couple weeks,, then you can go to the St. Helens area and anchor. Just an idea...
I would make a seat avail for smily,,, thats a pretty nice offer...
Thick-N-Thin
08-21-2002, 05:31 PM
I have a 21ft jet sled w/a 9.9 kicker, but use my 350 Kodiak jet most of the time trolling for salmon without the need of drift socks. Mostly use the 350 when in the ocean and in the tidal bays. I feel I have more control in any situation that may arise.
Walleyed
08-21-2002, 05:45 PM
Here's one for everyone. How fast do YOU troll for the big guys? I herd slow slow slow but I was at .5-1.8mph and almost everyone around me was zippen buy.(Having the same luck "zilch")
"Walleyed"
Silver Hilton
08-21-2002, 08:05 PM
Walleyed, we were hitting them well when I was trolling between 1.2 and 2 mph.
k9jeff
08-21-2002, 09:52 PM
lines at a 45, and nice bait action.....
eightball
08-21-2002, 10:40 PM
I've been doing better on chinook at 2.5 to 2.7 mph. Using the gps so currents make this unreliable. Was trolling to slow for a while. Speeded up and fishon.
When we bought our 90 hrs 2 stroke we were told NOT to troll with it. As these motors need to vary in speed even after the "break in" period.
Also it could get expensive with the plugs, we just bought a new set. 10.95 each :shocked:
Walleyed
08-22-2002, 06:13 AM
Look's like I might pick it up a notch.
Thx "walleyed" :grin: