Just another question about my recent purchase, the boat is a 16' Sylvan side console and has a Minn Kota 55lb thrust bow mount power drive. Previous owner claims up to 6 hrs trolling time with dual group 31 batteries. Thinking about using this for trolling for walleyes rather than adding a kicker motor. Estimated boat weight around a 1000 pounds, what kind of trolling speed should I expect from this motor??? Will need 2 plus mph typically, even up to 3 mph on ocassion to catch fish....is this doable?? Never actually trolled with a bow mount before, so trying to learn what to expect, thanks in advance for any insite you can give.........
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Expected trolling speed with Minn Kota
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MrGiggles
Well-known member
I have a 24v Terrova on a 17' side console. Top speed is 3.5mph thereabouts. It'll do 2mph on speed 5.5-6.
I'm sure that you will get enough speed out of the 12v, but 24v is the way to go for extended trolling. They are quite a bit more efficient than a 12v motor.
I'm sure that you will get enough speed out of the 12v, but 24v is the way to go for extended trolling. They are quite a bit more efficient than a 12v motor.
I have a similar boat with the same TM.. my fastest speed on the TM is equal to my slowest speed on the outboard (3.5 KM/h). I usually run it at 2.5km/h ( speed 5 or 6) and it lasts all day on 1 group 24 battery
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C&K
Well-known member
I agree with the other two guys - it'll do fine. We don't have a Minn Kota, we have a Haswing Caymen 55lb with the wireless remote control. I prefer to the leave the outboard trimmed down so the boat tracks straight in the wind. With the outboard down and the prop windmilling on the outboard the Caymen will pull our Alumacraft Pro 17 at ~3.2 mph. Which is too fast for walleyes, IMO. When we're trolling a deep edge for walleye we usually run it at about .5 mph and work the bait with the rod to keep the bait on the bottom.
After testing the 55# thrust it will work but needs to run at 80% or more to keep pace, in rough water may need 100%..... I already have a little 2.2 hp Mercury 2 stroke for use on my pond jon boat. Was curious so tried this little motor on my 16' SC. Worked quite well I thought, was able to reach almost 5 mph. What this does is gives me thrust at the stern and then allows the bow mount trolling motor to run at 50% just for steering. This is a big drop in battery usage from the 80-100% I would use without the gas kicker. This little motor uses about a quart an hour in fuel so no big deal there. From my research this is used by quite a few trollers, having a motor in the back and one on the transom, with the I-pilot feature it can steer itself or steered with a small remote hanging around my neck....cant wait to try out the new toys !!!
Hunt2871
Member
airshot said:
It ought to do fine. I have a 24 Volt Terrova 80 on the bow of my 1860 Jon Boat and when loaded for fishing with one other person in it has at least 1000 pounds in it and my trolling motor will keep my boat running 3 miles an hour for 10 hours or more on two size 27 batteries....cheapo everstart batteries from wally world. It will hold my boat on anchor for at least 10 hours in 10 MPH winds...when on spot lock the motor never turns off and is on the highest setting. I use it to fish at night and its in spot lock the entire night. I can drag crappie jigs at 1.5 MPH or less for DAYS between charges.....no kidding i camp three days at the time and drag crappie jigs 12 hours or more every day and do not have to charge the batteries until I get home....and I ain't sure they need charging then, but I do it anyway.
Is the trolling speed dictated by the species or by what works for the best action of the lure being used?
Not species as others from different areas have posted far different speeds. It must be the types of bait/ lures we use.. Crawler harnesses are typically 1-1.5 mph up to crankbaits at over 2.5 mph, some claim even higher speeds. Depending on season and bait types, anywhere from just drifting up to almost 3 mph...
MrGiggles
Well-known member
Depends mostly on the lure, species, and time of year. Many crankbaits can't be trolled much over 3mph or they'll blow out. If I'm pulling cranks I will usually run 1.5-2.5mph, slower in the cooler months and faster in the summer. Crawler harness are pulled much slower, .8-1.5 generally. You can go slower with butterfly spinners.
Guys up north may pull bucktails and spoons a little faster than that for pike and musky. But other than that I don't think it's very common, aside from saltwater.
We snag for spoonbill sometimes at 3-5mph, but not with the trolling motor.
Guys up north may pull bucktails and spoons a little faster than that for pike and musky. But other than that I don't think it's very common, aside from saltwater.
We snag for spoonbill sometimes at 3-5mph, but not with the trolling motor.
Flygaff
Member
With my 16 Sylvan and a 55 Minn Kota I was only getting 1.6. Too slow. I went to 24 vt 80 lb and went up to 3.4 wide open. I now use the motor on my G3 185 and still get 3.2
