Hey you trolling experts

[quadrafire]

I have a 16 foot deep V aluminum boat 60 hp merk and an electric bow mount trolling motor. The 60 trolls too fast, and the electric will lose power with a long day.
Question is would a kicker be the answer, or one of these?
http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Trolling-Gear/Trolling-Plates-Stabilizers%7C/pc/104794380/c/104784480/sc/104655780/EasyTroller-Trolling-Plate/737690.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Ftrolling-plates-stabilizers%2F_%2FN-1107281%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104655780%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMM%253Bcat104784480&WTz_l=SBC%3BMM%3Bcat104784480%3Bcat104655780

[whackmaster]

Hey Quad,
I have a 16ft deep vee with 40 yamaha the trolling plate works great for me
is your merk 2 or 4 stroke?
i am no expert as you will see by the replys that fallow

[quadrafire]

4

[quadrafire]

certainly cheaper than a kicker

[Antlershed]

I have no experience with the trolling plate, but another option to consider would be to hang a couple windsocks off the front corners of your boat (one each side). This will slow you down quite a bit too.

[quadrafire]

I do have one of those, but never use it... Kinda forgot about it. thanks

[Fishnclifff]

Or you can drag a bucket a little behind your boat.

I had a 2 gallon bucket with small holes drilled in it.
After I got a kicker, I used the bucket to hold lead cannon balls and such in the boat.

[BLUEBULLS]

Additional batteries for the electric for what I do. Speed is critical and much easier to control with electric.

[Stein]

You also have to think about wear and tear on the main motor.  If you troll a bunch, the hours will really rack up, in addition to the fuel consumption.

If I were you, I would look for (in order of preference):

1.  4-8 hp kicker
2.  Extra batteries
3.  5 gallon bucket (or two) or sea anchor

[Mfowl]

All good info given so far! I have a 16' deep V with a 40hp merc tiller and 8hp merc kicker. I use my drift socks quite a bit for trolling even with the kicker. Though a kicker is much more expensive than a troll plate it is more versatile and keeps the hours off your main as mentioned. Also should something happen to your main you can limp back in on your kicker, I have done it. You could definitely add more batteries for your bow mount but I've found they are not responsive enough when you are fishing in crowds or heavy wind/current. Good luck! Hope you find a solution!

[quadrafire]

lots of good info here. Thanks for the responses!

[Come Get Some]

What are you trolling for? I caught kings trollling at 4.9KNTS last weekend. I rarely troll below 3.5 knts. Despite beliefs king like a fast trolled bait. Commercial boats troll fast and all they fish for is kings. Lake fishing is different. Depends on what you are fishing for



 The smallest king was 27 lbs, largest right at 40

[CP]

Get a kicker, save the wear and tear on your main engine.

[C-Money]

A kicker would be the answer. That way you could back troll the river, and you would have a motor that would get you to shore if the main died. An extra battery for your electric would be a very good start while saving for your kicker.

[JackOfAllTrades]

A pair of sea anchors, the trolling plate... Interim options that will work when running the main engine. The trolling plate sort of works as an anti-cavitation wing but not as good.
 
 I would opt for a 4stroke kicker.
 
-Steve

[quadrafire]

Hey steve
I was watching some youtube videos of the sea anchors. Pretty cool. I have one that I have never used, I may pick up another and play around w/ the GPS and monitor drift/troll speeds

[Come Get Some]

Other than not so good on the main motor. TROLL FAST. Wacked em again at Ilwaco. Lost track of how may for 4 days. Trolled today from 3.5KNTS to 4.9KNTS .WACKED EM WACKED EM WACKED EM. We are catching silvers and steelhead 40 miles out trolling at 6.5-7.2 KNTS

  KINGS LOVE A FAST TROLLED BAIT. Oh and so do silvers.
  Dont waste money on items not needed. Trolling motor is good . If not just go with it. I troll with BOTH super charged diesel engines in gear.

[quadrafire]

Get Some. Thanks for the info. I will be fishing small inland lakes. No open water for my boat.

[LipRipper!]

A kicker would be the answer. That way you could back troll the river, and you would have a motor that would get you to shore if the main died. An extra battery for your electric would be a very good start while saving for your kicker.

Drift socks, buckets and trolling plates all work, but they're REALLY hard on your main motor.  My 4hp kicker was the best investment I've made for my 17' aluminum boat.