Surface drive in wild rice?

[Wild Thing]

Anyone have FIRST HAND experience using a surface drive short shaft mud motor in wild rice? I've seen conflicting posts but have yet to speak to anyone personally who uses them under rice conditions. They just don't have rice down south. Any help appreciated.

[chub]

They work, but you will end up with a ball of veg around prop shaft. Best off grabbing a handful of throttle and powering through it. Puttering around slow in it, isn't the best option.

[jentz]

I could be wrong??? but I think I remember reading something about in Mn.no motorized traffic is legal through rice beds.Remember all waters in Mn are public,controled by the DNR.

[Wild Thing]

Chub, what kind of surface drive do you run? It sounds like your experience is no different than a traditional outboard, which defeats the entire purpose.

Let me know what make and model you were in when the rice balled up. I've herd this from some, but others claim they can just spin it off and go, no knife cutting or messing around.

They can go through all the tules or cattails or lillypads they want on their videos, but nothing is like rice on a prop.

Thanks

[water rat]

If I'm running through rice I'm on the gas.starting and getting up can be tricky depending how thick the rice is.yes,sometimes you can tilt the motor out and spin of the veggies,sometimes you have to cut em off (if rice,most of the time!) Rice is like rope.

Still a lot better than an outboard but not miracle machines either..

[Gordie]

I don't have the surface drive but had the long shaft beavertail and talked with a couple of guys that said it does ball up but not much different than the beavertail motors . As was stated power thru it is the best option with either style motor.

You can not run a motorized boat in rice beds during dicing season.Rice season is typically done with by the time duck hunting roles around.

[chub]

Chub, what kind of surface drive do you run? It sounds like your experience is no different than a traditional outboard, which defeats the entire purpose.

Let me know what make and model you were in when the rice balled up. I've herd this from some, but others claim they can just spin it off and go, no knife cutting or messing around.

They can go through all the tules or cattails or lillypads they want on their videos, but nothing is like rice on a prop.

Thanks

35 hyper. I'm thinking that even though some does ball up, it's still far and away better than an outboard. I will navigate through it, and don't have to worry about burning up the engine. Alot of times most will spin off, but it seems like some always remains. If you're looking at taking the plunge, I would seriously consider getting one with reverse. Not so much for getting "unstuck", but it would come in handy in a few situations.

[Wild Thing]

Thanks all! Appreciate the info, keep it coming if more of you out there have experience with these things in rice.

Anyone have issues having work done on surface drives? With the manufacturers way down south, what happens when something goes wrong? Is there much of a dealer network up here?

[Feathers Rainin]

I got checked by a c.o. That had one and he had no trouble running through the thickest rice in the swamp which was as thick as it gets. It took him a bit to get going but they moved fine once going.

If u don't have a huge boat buy yourself a 1950's evinrude or johnson three horse. They have a weed less prop and they work great in rice. We have a duck shack in rice country and every member at the camp runs em. You can find em on hsolist for 250-400 bucks. I just got a 16 ft to hunt big water and I plan to use it as a kicker to get through rice and pull decs. Not sure why they quit making those motors, they still run like a champ.

[water rat]

Thanks all! Appreciate the info, keep it coming if more of you out there have experience with these things in rice.

Anyone have issues having work done on surface drives? With the manufacturers way down south, what happens when something goes wrong? Is there much of a dealer network up here?

just about any small engine shop can work on most mud motors.same motors as most commercial mowers....

[fishuhalik]

Never run one, always just rock a canoe with good old' paddle/push power. Usually end up finishing the bag on the way back to the access jump shooting. Most of the rice I hunt is non motorized anyways. Would be nice on the Bowstring River though!!! Some of those paddles get kinda long when yer loaded down!

[the man]

Anyone know what the rice is looking like up in the northeast part of the state?

[Wild Thing]

Well it's past ripe now..

But the crop was okay in the far northeast.

It's a total washout in Carlton, Aitkin and southern St. Louis Counties because of the June floods. Outside of those areas, it may be okay (for waterfowl, past harvesting now.)

It gets better in the northwest which was much dryer.

FYI

P.S. Saw a friend drive his new mud motor earlier this week on the Ontario opener weekend and boat through our rice like a warm knife through butter! Now I just need to come up with the moola! Thanks all. More reports appreciated!