Help with Lindy rigging with bow mount

[h8go4s]

I'm a die-hard backtroller, but the ranks of bow-mount trollers seems to be growing, so maybe I should give it a try. Does anyone have any how-to tips? Is boat control easier or harder than backtrolling? Is it better to run the motor from the bow or from the stern seat? I have an Alumacraft Lunker 165 with both front and rear electrics but I use the bow-mount only for bass and muskie fishing.

Ron.

[JohnMickish]

What are you having trouble with? I lindy from the front all the time. I point it where I want to go, set the speed and fish. Boat control is easy and spot on. Everything should work the same as backtrolling, just remember to fish with the boat going forward and if the wind is blowing fish the side the wind is hitting, it keeps you from fishing under the boat.

[PerchJerker]

The reason more and more people are rigging with their bowmount motors is because fewer and fewer people are buying tiller boats designed for backtrolling. Without getting into the tiller vs. console debate, the console boats available these days offer a lot of versatility and are a lot more popular than tiller boats --- hence fewer backtrollers and more bow-mount riggers.

Since it sounds like your boat is already set up for backtrolling you may end up wanting to stay with backtrolling ---- but there's no reason not to try using your bowmount.

I usually rig from the front of my boat --- the only time I move to the back are when I'm in really shallow water and want to get my line away from the boat.

[gunflint]

I do both. Most of the time when I'm riggin or jiggin I have both in the water. Unless you get an I-Pilot there's just no way a bowmount can hold you on specific structure like a transom mount back trolled. On the other hand for covering water the bowmount shines.

[LMITOUT]

If it's flat calm or darn near I'll jump up front and fish from there, otherwise I'll be pointing the rear end of my tiller into the wind and using the wind to my advantage by running the transom trolling motor which I feel is superior when the wind picks up. I don't see any reason why you would want to change from what you're comfortable with.

[fishinfey8]

I've used both, it's a trade-off. Bow mount is less work, but a stearn mount backtrolled is more accurate. I know some people that insist to use a stern mount trolling motor to troll forward...talk about line in the trolling motor every outing, not to mention little boat control. Whatever you do don't be undersized. I would keep the current setup if it catches you fish.

[jwmiller33]

the only way you get line in the trolling motor is if someone is day dreaming and not paying attention to their line. and if your not paying attention to your line, you have to ask yourself why you are even fishing. i troll both ways with my transom mount trolling motor and have never once gotten my line in my trolling motor... it must be user error if your getting line in the trolling motor. boat control isnt an issue with a transom mount as long as you are smart enough to know how to use it. i see tons of guys trolling forward [and backwards] with a transom mount and having no problems doing so.

you have a lot more versatility with a transom mount, as you can troll either direction as long as you know what your doing. you can also take off the power head and rotate is 180 degrees to increase speed for backtrolling. but, with i pilot and auto pilot, bow mounts can be a lot less work and much easier to deal with. but, you have to spend a lot more on a bow mount compared to a transom mount.

[sconnyslayer]

Bow mount and transom mounts both have their advantages. My boat is built for back-trolling, so that's what I do the majority of for most of my rigging. However, it is common knowledge that boats are made to go forward, meaning less resistance. As a result, back-trolling causes more resistance and increases the drain on your batteries. If you are going to be out fishing an entire day (over 8 hrs) and need to consider conserving the battery to last for the whole day, that is when you are going to want to troll forward with a transom mount trolling motor. Going 1 mph forward with a transom mount has a lot less drain on the battery then going 1 mph in reverse with the same set up, because of the resistance the boat is pulling on the motor.

Also, if you are fishing in white caps with high winds, it is going to be tough to back troll into the wind all day and still have some juice left over later in the day to continue trolling. This is another instance where, if you have a transom mount trolling motor, you might want to turn around and troll forward. Control is really not an issue, as it is just like driving a tiller boat, as long as your capable of driving a tiller boat, you will learn how to control a transom mount trolling motor going forward. Like I said before, back-trolling is making the boat go in the opposite direction it was made to go in for least resistance, thus, if you add white caps and strong winds on top of it, your going to be running your motor at say 100% back-trolling, while you could turn the boat around and run forward and run it at 75%. This would all cause less drain on your battery if you are a hardcore fisherman and going to be out on the water all day

I would think the only reason you would end of with line in your trolling motor is, as JW said, if someone is not paying attention. It is the captains responsibility to drive the boat, but he cannot be in control of the passengers line. Each person on a boat has the responsibility to watch their line, and if you are not attentive enough to watch your line from going into the motor, then I wouldn't want to be fishing with you. Whats to say a fish isn't going chomp down on your rapala and run in either direction, one of which could be right into the motor? That is your responsibility as a passenger to pay attention to your line while your fishing. Do you expect the captain to bait your hook too?

[slurpie]

The bow mount is the only way i can lindy or jig. I have a console boat and no transom trolling motor. I have no problems lindying but my buddy refuses to use my boat because he is used to transom fishing. You just get used to fishing any way it takes to catch fish.

[shortfatguy]

I have an Ipilot on the bow. I have no clue why someone would rather fish with a transom mounted motor with lindys or jigs. The only time I back troll is when I pull cranks with the big motor.

[Mike Walerak]

I run a tiller boat with wave wackers but sometimes it is best to rig from the front. One tip I have that has helped me is to turn the boat slightly towards the bite. This stops you from getting too far away from the fish if you have to feed them for a while. This is just the same as if you were backtrolling and slow or stop the boat upon the bite. Maybe it really doesn't matter but it is one thing I do.

mw

[james_walleye]

My friend has a rear mount he just put on his boat last year and i'll tell you what, if you are fishing a tight spot or tight break that rear mount is awesome.

[LMITOUT]

That's exactly right. With a bowmount you can sit on that tight spot or tight break too, but in a wind you'll have to work twice as hard and I'd rather concentrate on my line than trying to keep the bow in the wind. That's where tillers shine.

After running a console and then a tiller boat on the same waters I highly doubt I'll go back to console again.....the boat control is like night and day with a transom mount tiller motor for jigging or rigging.

[PerchJerker]

After running a console and then a tiller boat on the same waters I highly doubt I'll go back to console again.....the boat control is like night and day with a transom mount tiller motor for jigging or rigging.

Or ..... put a tiller control kicker on your console boat ..... yeah baby