Trolling w/ Bowmount w/ Main Motor Down

[eyepatrol]

I was just wondering if there is any rhyme or reason to leaving the main motor down while trolling with the electric bow mount? I see a number of people troll this way. Personally, I prefer to raise the motor up out of the water so as not to snag my line on it, or if fishing very shallow, not to hang up on the bottom.

Anybody have thoughts on this?

[Gus]

Personally I think the big motor acts like a rudder and keeps the rear of the boat from wandering. Realistically I have no idea if it actually helps or not. But most times I just dont feel the need to raise it unless I'm up shallow.

[Fishin4Life]

I leave mine down due to the lazy factor. My little boat has no power frills. So getting the motor up can be a bit of a pain. I haven't found it to hinder my trolling at all, somtimes it does act as a rudder and counter stears, but then I just move it the other way.

[Ely Lake Expert]

Good question.

I always troll with mine up, most other people I fish with troll with it down. I troll with it up because that is the way I learned growing up. I am curious if anyone has any reasons other than the above stated.

[LoonASea]

I have the control for my bow motor in the back of my boat and steer with my big motor as a rudder ,,that way snags dont happen and Im always close to my tackle,,, electronics and my cooler and any thing else I may need ,,,works great for me

Randoid

[big musk411]

I often keep it down and use it as a rudder. When fishing shallow weeds it goes up.

[Angler Don]

13" diameter prop creates a lot of drag, pulling it through the water. My boat slips along easier with the motor up. I can tell the difference.

[PerchJerker]

It works as a rudder, I leave all or most of it in the water whether using my kicker or my bowmount.

[ScottND]

Down if Im trolling one way a long distance for a rudder/keel. Up if Im working a piece of structure. When down I make sure I put it in gear so the prop isn't turning. Makes it easier to get my partners/Dads line out of the prop

[prov1900]

I keep mine down if I am fishing in windy conditions...with an aluminum boat. It seems when the wind is blowing, any help I can get on slowing down the back end from swaying, the better. Might just be my imagination, but it works for me.

[Bobby Bass]

Always have mine down unless I am cruising really shallow trying to get back behind the reed line. Much better control with it down.

[eyepatrol]

So this concept of using it as a rudder, is it basically what prov1900 stated? Helps keep the back end from swinging around on windy days?

I found on my previous boat that it really seemed to make the back end drag through the water and I wasn't able to turn as sharply and as quickly as I would have liked. That's why I always kept the motor up. If I'm misunderstanding the benefit of having the motor down, I'd certainly like to know. I'm always open to hints and techniques for improved boat control.

[cylinder]

One thing you may also want to consider is to leave the motor in gear, especially if you have others trolling with you. That keeps the prop from spinning, and if a line comes in contact with the prop while the boat is turning it usually doesn't create a problem. I always leave my motor down because of the rudder effect, but I always leave it in gear. If I had a 13" prop (like Angler Don) I might reconsider though.

[Ufatz]

The lower unit of the outboard acts as drag, slowing the boat. It will also make the boat's stern more stable-it won't wander. What this will do is make your boat pivot more quickly around the bow. See what I mean-stern solid,bow moves. Set big motor dead amidships and it won't affect steering.

[solbes]

I leave it down when in heavy wind ^^^ also to keep it from moving sideways. I also sometimes just use the steering wheel instead of the powerdrive to alter course.

Sometimes I forget about it though and it's turned. Then I suddenly realize why the boat is not tracking correctly.

[eyepatrol]

Thank you to everyone for all your helpfull comments. It's nice to learn something new every day, especially when it involves one of my passions - fishing! When I get a boat next year, I'll give the motor down technique a try and see how it goes.

[wayne123]

The other thing I did not see added is with the motor up you will save the charge on the trolling motor battery. On my boat you can definitely see the main motor slows down the trolling motor. Set the trolling motor to a certain speed and then raise the main motor and you will see the speed difference. I do agree having the motor down helps maintain your course especially if it is windy.