Trolling motor On/Off on a follow

[cjac]

Here's a spin off question from another post......

You're working a piece of structure using the trolling motor and you see a fish following, let's say you pick it up visually 30 feet away from the boat, and it's not very windy.

Do you kill the trolling motor, leave it on, or does it depend?

If it depends, on what factors?

Chris

[Esox_Magnum]

We normaly drift structure so trolling motors normaly not a factor other than getting it stowed when a fish hits. We use it to micro position but most days use the wind to put us where we want.

[Rebel9921]

Cant really answer that as I dont have much experience... but what I think is that I probably would leave it on but do some presentation from different angles for 4-5 more casts then just move on but mark the spot and come back later...

[musky_tail05]

Depends. Boat control/conditions rule my decision.

I run my trolling motor on "momentary" about 90% of the time. If I see a fish like described in the scenario, (calm conditions) I just take my foot off the pedal and the motor is off. That way I have an even footing and I'm squared up and in good position to start the figure-eight.

If I'm in 20+ mph winds and waves are crashing all over the place, I just leave it on constant. I'd much rather keep my foot on the pedal and worry about controlling and positioning the boat safely instead of possibly spooking the fish. So far, I haven't noticed any difference.

[50inchpig]

my motor is on momentary too, usually will have it off as I'm nearing the end of my cast, regardless, the fish that eat at the end of the cast or on the 8 are usually so focused on the bait I don't think it makes a difference, my experience anyway.

we think a musky gets spooked seeing us, but think about what they see following a bait with a boat in the background. they know we're there and what we're doing long before we see them and if they are interested enough to make it all the way in to the boat I don't think it really matters at that point.

on the other hand, buddy had big fish nibble and follow in and looked like she was going to eat until he hit the backlight with his rod and she spooked. this was at night though, different ballgame. he's probably sick of seeing this story online on various websites but it's something to think about. don't worry buddy, we'll get them this year!

[JRedig]

I usually don't shut it off, might slow it down.

[AWH]

Even though I responded in the other post that my theory is shutting the motor off is more likely to spook them than having the motor remain constant, it does depend on the situation as far as what I do. It mostly depends on boat control for me. As a general rule of thumb if I can maintain boat control, I'll keep running as normal. If I have a really hot fish or I've been figure eighting a hot fish for 3 or more 8s, I'll usually shut the motor off so I can just worry about the fish. Also depends if I'm fishing solo or with someone else. If someone else is fishing off the back of the boat I'm going to be more likely to try to maintain boat control while doing a figure 8 than I would if I was fishing solo.

Aaron

[MUSKY18]

The only time the trolling motor gets turned off is when a fish is actually hooked. I believe that having it running gives you that much more speed during your figure eight. Besides if you are trying to mess with the trolling motor and not concentrating on the fish, Murphy will show his head and something is going to go wrong.

[Nick Kuhn]

I often fish water where it is tough to see fish far enough out to turn it off. It doesn't seem to phase them unless your 8 goes pretty close to the prop.

[cjac]

Here's my thinking and why I asked......

I'm in the bow and fishing out the left side. I have a follow and either on the initial "L" if I go right or if I go left I'm headed down the straight-away into the trolling motor on turn #3. Depends on how deep I go on the straight-away, but as I come up on the turn I'm coming under, past or at the TM. Both cases I'm turning the fish towards, sound, movement, and moving water off the prop.

I think (100% my opinion) that I've turned fish into the motor and they bail. It just seems like it's not natural, or course going in circles after a piece of metail and tinsel isn't natural either.........

So, I try to kill the TM if I pick up a fish following, unless doing so puts my boat in jeopardy of rocks, etc.

Make sense? Or am I overthinking, or overly bored?

Chris

[Nick Kuhn]

My thinking is a boat is an unnatural enough structure that a TM doesn't make a whole lot of difference. Then again our boat is smaller than what a lot of you guys have and I'm typically running at a pretty low speed to just maintain control and slowly work an area.

I don't know though, I wasn't seeing many follows at all last year. It may vary from lake to lake (pressured vs unpressured).

[Dano_the_jigasaurus]

TM on is definitely a deterrent if you are going to be bringing the bait within a few feet of it. Otherwise I wouldn't bother flippin it off. I have found its pretty much situational for me.

Dan

[delmuts]

my $.02!

usually when i get a hit or follow, my first move is off the TM and towards the side of the boat that the fish is on. gives me room to work and away from the trolling motor.

[MUSKY18]

I see what you are saying Cris and guess I have never really thoguht about it like that. Ever since I have been fishing, we have always just kept the TM running. I have hooked fish at boatside (fish the same method you do, being on the left side) and it didn't seem to bother them. I think that the big thing is to read the fish and see how hot they are on the follow. To me, it seems that they turn off early enough where the TM doesn't even come into play, or they are hot on the bait and are more focused on it rather than the TM.

The other big thing is personal preference and what a person feels comfortable doing. Go with what is going to give you the best chance at catching the fish.........

[cjac]

Just left you a phone message, give me a ring.......

Chris

[RK]

Hiya -

I have my motor on momentary (I use a cable drive) and sort of out of habit take my foot off it when my bait's about 2/3 of the way to the boat unless I'm really in big wind (in which case it probably doesn't matter either way). I actually think either on or off is probably fine, it's the constant on/off that they don't like. Try this sometime: if you ever have a fish that doesn't want to swim away after you unhook it, tap the trolling motor switch and see what happens. Then grab a towel..

Back in the day when we all wanted to fish like Mark Windels we used to run tiller boats and fish out of the back - you'd run the tiller with your knees and backtroll. I caught many, many muskies on figure-8s next to a running outboard, either in gear or idling. Caught far fewer next to a running trolling motor. I think the outboard bothers them way less for some reason.

Cheers,

Rob Kimm

[Dances with Walleye]

Considering that I've hit two musky with my trolling motor while taxiing around some weedy bays, I don't think they're overly concerned with the trolling motor.

I also start my figure 8 going away from the motor.

Granted I had over a dozen frustrating follows, 3 Hook and Lost last year, but only boated 1 Musky... So what do I know.

*This is my last year Musky fishing, if I don't get into them I'm out!

[MUSKY18]

Dances:

NO WAY!!!!! You hit the right time out on Alex and they are practically jumping in the boat! LOL But seriously, you see fish and have hooked fish, so you are right on the track. I only caught 12 muskies last summer (end of July through Sep) and all but one were caught on Alex. It is a great lake with some very healthy fish. You ever see a black Lund with an Opti on the back pulled by a white Yukon, its me. Give me a holler. I know that Dan-the Jigasarus fishes Alex quite often and does very well also. Dont know how often he hits it, but I usually try to get up there at least 3 times a week. Now Miltona is a different story.....lake takes me to the cleaners just about every time I get on it, but I know they are there and I will find them sooner or later!!! Just keep plugging, you will get your due amount of action!