comments on trolling plates

[hise]

I've got an I/O bowrider that I and the family love. We still spend most of our time doing watersports; but, my son and I are getting hooked on fishing. There's no place for a trolling motor; but, I saw this in the Cabelas cataloge....<br /><br />http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jhtml?id=0000915012282a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnString=hasJS=true&_D%3AhasJS=+&QueryText=trolling+plate&_DARGS=%2Fcab elas%2Fen%2Fcommon%2Fsearch%2Fsearch-box.jhtml.22&Go.x=24&Go.y=12&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=trolling+plate&noImage=0&returnPage=search-results1.jhtml<br /><br />Anybody have and advice on these devices.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />--Hise

 

[rickyp52]

Re: comments on trolling plates

Go to the Walleye Central website and do a search for trolling plates. There should be a lot of good info on them. Most comments about the Cabelas plates is that they are junk and should be stayed away from. I have a 24' boat I troll with a lot and I prefer to use a trolling bag to slow me down.

 

[Bondo]

Re: comments on trolling plates

Ayuh,............ The Poorman's/ Easy Way Out around here is to tie-off a couple of Plastic 5gal. Pails off the bow cleats................<br /><br />The Pails are about Free, anywhere you want to look........<br />And,<br />You can use them to Haul Your Catch Home............... <br /><br />I troll 95% of My time on the water,.... I Agree with Rick, Drift Scocks aka; Trolling Bags, are the only way to Go................

 

[hise]

Re: comments on trolling plates

I appreciate the feedback. I didn't like the idea of drilling holes in the cavatation plate anyway.<br /><br />The buckets sound perfect.<br /><br />--Hise

 

[jmeydenbauer]

Re: comments on trolling plates

How do you use the drift socks while trolling? 2 smaller socks off of the forward cleats or do you use 1 off of the stern in the center? It would seem that using 1 of off the stern would get in the way for fishing and only using 1 off of the forward cleats would create steering problems.

 

[Bondo]

Re: comments on trolling plates

Whether you use 1 or 2, Always tie them off the forward cleats....... Tie the tail-lines to the aft cleats........<br /><br />2 are Better than 1,....... Bigger is Always Better........

 

[rickyp52]

Re: comments on trolling plates

What I purchased is not a drift sock but a trolling bag. It is much more heavy duty (canvas) material than a drift bag (nylon). I have 2 of them, in a 28" and 36" size. Running both of them together off the sides gets me down to about 1.1.to 1.3, which is too slow for my needs. Running the 28" by itself off the middle of the stern gets me to 2.4 to 2.6, with the 36" I get to 2.0 to 2.2. I usually just run the 36" as 2.0 to 2.2 is fine most days. If I need to adjust up I just use a little more throttle. I have not experienced any problems with the bag interfering with landing fish (walleyes). I suppose a larger more agressive species might cause problems with this set up. If you run only one bag, it does have to be in the middle of the boat, as one bag off the side makes it impossible to steer properly.

 

[jmeydenbauer]

Re: comments on trolling plates

How far back do you run the 1 bag off of the stern? I'm not sure that this would work for me as it would mostly be used for trolling for trout, sometime toplining and sometimes with a downrigger.

 

[mooregecko]

Re: comments on trolling plates

Where can I get a drift bag / trolling sock for under a $50 spot? I may need two. Buckets are the way I have always gone but not with my 110hp (I tried). Would my mother in law tied to the stern work? Gosh, I am thinking about making/sewing one myself at the prices I am seeing.