I have found the forward and reverse on the engine to be a bit hard on it. Does anyone use their trolling motor to ease their boat from one pole to the other.
I do. Sometimes do solo trips and hang the remote around my next and just ease up and back off. Much easier than using the motor.
‘90 Maverick 18.5’ Master Angler/'03 Evinrude 150
'14 Hydra Sports 3400/ 2 350 Yammys
I use mine all the time. I normally use 5-6 poles and set them using the drift. Works great for me and i dont have some jerk buddy saying hey man i got two bags of ice you know since you got the gas. And the boat,poles,nets,bait,license
quote:
Originally posted by gotitbadI use mine all the time. I normally use 5-6 poles and set them using the drift. Works great for me and i dont have some jerk buddy saying hey man i got two bags of ice you know since you got the gas. And the boat,poles,nets,bait,license
And expect you to split the catch 50/50 because “I also threw the net 1/2 the time”… 
'06 Mckee Craft
184 Marathon
DF140 Suzuki
Y’all need to pick better partners! I supply the boat and lic. and mine buys gas and throw the net! and heads most of the catch.
I’ll pay for gas and beer! I just want to fish
Tiger you got that right. They never forget their cooler. Or if it’s a 1/4 cooler trip they quick to say they won’t take none. If we’re partner’s we both gonna have 2 bags of shrimp that cost 25 bucks a bag. Most people I hopped on board with I split money expenses and would only accept a third of the catch
But to get back on topic I pull an 18’ boat with an 82lb motor guide 24v. I almost like that method better because if you need to pick up and move with only five or six poles out it’s easy.
I’ve been considering this. I imagine it is like driving a fwd vehicle on ice vs a rwd. It seems pretty practical on a jon boat or something that you could clear some space in the middle/back with.
I use my trolling motor whenever tide and wind are not too strong. I have the wireless control fob, so person driving can be out of the way.
It is quiet, saves gas, wear and tear on gears and if conditions are good, can get to poles as quick as on the main motor.
21 SeaPro Bay Boat
“That’s why they call it fishin, not Catchin”
I used my trolling motor for years. Had to whenever I shrimped alone. Used it with poles and deep hole shrimping. Someone mentioned mild wind and tide. This is a real concern. I tried shrimping in a strong tide once - made several nearby shrimpers angry when I ran over their poles.
It saved my motor and a whole lot of gas.
I did this a few times several years ago. Set out my poles in 2 staggered rows with bait inside the poles like this:
x x x x x
x x x x x
I can’t get this to format right. There are 10 yards between each pole with the bottom row starting 5 yards behind the top row giving a zigzag pattern to the poles. Looks right until I hit submit, then it puts all the x’s together.
You need a flat bank for this, but the advantage is the boat stays in the middle of the poles and you throw left, right, left, right and the boat is easier to control - if there is no wind!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Coastal…We found that most shrimpers will run up to poles…then slam it into reverse. Try this…we circle the poles. Some say it scares the shrimp but we don’t stir up the pluff mud or havoc on the motor. We still get shrimp-been doing it this way for 7 years now.
Poles to the right…I throw of the right of the boat, drop it over bait, pause a sec and then Matt kicks the back end around lining me up for the next pole. You do not hit the other pole with the motor at all. Works great in strong current and it gives me time to lock and load for the next pole. In super strong current you just start to turn right as soon as I throw. Works like a charm for the thrower. Just keep the 10-12 feet distance between. It is so much easier on the motor and it stays low, slow and quiet all afternoon. Also he hasn’t thrown me in the drink yet and no sailor words!
Creek Girl
www.Heather-Jordan.com
Vibrant Coastal Artist
Creekgirl, I am having difficulty visualizing how you are approaching the poles. Is this correct? With bow into the current, I am guessing the bait is to the left of the poles. You “aim” for the right, backside of the pole, then make a hard left turn to arrive “broadside” just downcurrent of the pole, cast, pause, then hard right turn to line up on the next pole??
I am guessing you meant that you set the poles 10 to 12 yards apart, not 10 to 12 feet distance between. If this would work with my 21 ft boat, it would save a lot of wear and tear on the motor foot.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Ok we have been shrimping for years like this and it works for us. We have a 17ft KW. It may look complicated but you are not jerking the motor for 8 hours and no nasty looks from the thrower.
Creek Girl
www.Heather-Jordan.com
Vibrant Coastal Artist
Got it! Thanks!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
CreekGirl, nice drawing, easy to follow, couple questions:
- Do you adjust for different wind directions?
- How many forward gears does your KeyWest have?
Glad I read through this, I wasn’t planning on bring the trolling motor because I figured it would get in the way somehow but I guess its not really an issue?
This is my first year shrimp baiting. Everything I’ve seen has said go into the harbor but I’d prefer not to be in a parking lot if I can avoid it. Are there good shrimp up the ICW on the SI/IOP side of things? Maybe up towards Dewees/Capers? Or just go all the way up to Bulls Bay? (that’s a haul)
2002 Key West 1900CC
We always keep the wind to our back. It is easier to control a boat than a cast net in the wind. No trolling motor. Our KW1720 is newer with a Yamaha 90 pretty much automatic. Again I am just barely putting. But we used the old boat the same way.
Yes the driver does have to adjust for current. I just try to stay at least 8 feet off the pole and kick the back end around using the current to help you. Bump up just a bit and head to the next pole. The driver and the thrower work together for the first few poles to figure it out. I feel safer on the deck going the same speed with my a cast net necklace wrapped around my neck.
Creek Girl
www.Heather-Jordan.com
Vibrant Coastal Artist