As I mentioned to you guys a couple weeks ago, I got a used 17’ Carolina Skiff (70 hp). But, it’s not really rigged out… So, I have a few questions…
What is a reasonably sized\price trolling motor? I’m guessing I definitely have to have a “Saltwater” version, and it seems they range from $600-$1200. Wow. I thought they were around $300. I don’t need the top of the line here, but something functional.
There is no polling platform, but would it be advantageous to me getting a push pole? If so, is there a reasonably priced one that I can get? Recommendations?
What is the go to chartplotter you guys are using? I was considering the Garmin 54DV. It has a feature where you can pop it in and out real quickly, plus the nav and sounder look good.
Anything else that I need to get for equipment? I really know nothing about inshore fishing… And when I say “nothing”, I mean “nothing”…
I’d get a Minnkota and that boat will need about 60lb thrust to do a good job. The remote control feature is well worth the money if you want to spend it.
Save the push pole and platform money for the trolling motor. Then go to Lowes or Home Depotand get the longest closet rod dowel they have. I’ve got a 12’, has worked great for 7 years.
/\X2. I have a 55# Motorguide on the front of my old 21ft boat, and it does a good job on the flats and anytime except the main river at mid-tide. I am gonna do an “experiment”. I found a freshwater 45# transom mount (black) trolling motor on sale the other day. I think the “take home” price was about $150. It is a varialbe speed, which means it will not kill the battery quickly.
I usually wind up just running the trolling motor while others fish anyway. My bow mount TM is a manual steer, which puts me right in everyone’s way. I cannot afford a remote control TM right now. So I am going to try running the boat from the rear with the transom mount TM, which will leave the bow clear for others to fish. Obviously, it will be more difficult to maneuver the boat, especially in wind, with a transom mount TM.
If this works, I will invest in a bigger, white, saltwater, transom mount TM. If it doesn’t work, I will hold out for a big bow mount remote control TM. I know the warranty will be no good on the black motor in the salt, but I have only $150 invested. A buddy used to use a freshwater motor in the salt, and it was quite old. He just gave it a thorough bath after every trip.
Don’t forget the buff and a yeti with some seadeck on it…
But seriously, a stick anchor is a must. You don’t need a power pole, but you need an 8’ stick anchor. I have an 8 and a 10’ and use both regularly inshore.
I have two 8’ Stickits. I keep them tied to cleats with a short piece of dock line. They hold my old 21ft OK on the flats. You just have to swish the mud off before putting them in the boat. They also can be used as a short pushpole. I think I might get some big hose clamps and clamp the 2 sharp ends together to make a “poor man’s” 14 ft or so pushpole.
As far as a poling platform, save weight and expense and pole the boat backwards from the bow when in calm water near low tide on the flats. Put the “fisherman” in the back of the boat. I like doing things “backazzwards”. If you have a bow mount TM, you can use it in reverse at slow speed for “back up bassing”.
Yes, I also carry 2 - 8’ stake out sticks and almost never anchor in water shallow enough to use them, instead of the noisy anchor. One on the transom in a Wang bracket, the other tied off where I need it to keep the boat positioned. Usually just one is enough, but 2 will keep you from spinning around if the current is against the wind.
Optiker nailed it, IMO on the Riptide. Had one on my 200 Bay Scout. 24 volt will be plenty of power, even with you in it, lol.
I just sent a text to Widlifesc (Jim Goller) on this site to be on the lookout. He is GREAT with this stuff and may be able to find and work out something for you.
I have a 55lb riptide on my 19’ skiff and it does fine for me. Once you go over 55 lbs, you are going to 2 batteries, so if you go that route you might as well max it out at 24v at 70(?). I mostly fish lake Murray and now have I-Pilot, which is really nice as often you may want to hold on a spot at 50 - 70 ft and not have to drop an anchor. But, when I fish inshore, I don’t find being able to hold in one spot with the TM to be so critical.
My 55 faced into a strong current is enough to slow me down enough to work some grass lines or docks and if I pick up a fish or 2 I will go a ways up current and drop an anchor.
If you don’t want to go with I-Pilot, I would definitely at least go with auto-pilot. If you just go with Co-Pilot, which is basically just having a remote to steer like you would a tiller, you will be correcting the steering so much it will be hard to fish.
I also carry 2 12’ anchor pins as well.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
Edit: I also have a closet dowel as Larry suggests along with a duck bill I picked up from Hadrell’s for about 10 bucks. For me, it’s only to get me out of a jam as my 198 DLX is not very push friendly. Your 17 may be better…especially if you have the one with the 6’ beam.
The new trolling motor models with the feature to “anchor” you in a spot via your GPS unit are pretty great. It’s something I never thought ins use, until I used it and really like the feature.
With that being said… They’re not cheap.
I like having some sort of push pole because you never know when you’ll want it to push off of something. When you do, you’ll be glad you have it. The long versions of the shallow water stick anchors could work well for this. Long (20+ ft) push poles are handy when you’re standing on top of an aft poling platform but can be unwieldy when poling from your front casting deck. I don’t foresee this boat being the best skinny water poling skiff but if that’s the type of fishing you find yourself gravitating towards, a nice quality push pole would be something to look at.
if you have a few extra bucks and extra room (I’m not familiar with layout of the CS 17), a 24V TM with remote and anchor lock is a game changer. Can move you, or keep you in place, in stronger wind and current. And you know there’s substantial current around here. I’ve gotten by with a 12V 55 on a 17 ft boat, but I LOVE my 24V IPilot on my 16’7" boat now.
Skinneej, just a dumb question. How is it that someone with 15,612 posts on here is a rookie? Seems like anyone with that much interest in saltwater fishing would be an “old salt”!
Skinneej, just a dumb question. How is it that someone with 15,612 posts on here is a rookie? Seems like anyone with that much interest in saltwater fishing would be an “old salt”!
His first time on the water was when he got his boat last week. He really took the 6Ps to heart.
But I suspect he could kick most of our butts in a grouper or snapper fish off. Or a basketball game
What Rapchizzle said. The GPS anchor feature is the cat’s azz and makes anchors and stake out sticks almost obsolete. I’ve fished on several boats with the built in GPS and a remote control. Sit on the poling platform, fish, drive the boat, tell it to anchor and it stays put, move it a little if you need to, dang, it’s almost like cheating.
The boat I recently finished is 18’ and we put an 80 lb Minn Kota Ipilot on it, with both remote control and interfaced with the Humminbird plotter. You can control the trolling motor directly from the GPS, give it way points to follow, give it a depth line to follow…tell it to follow a 6’ depth contour and it will run down the bank and keep the boat in 6’ of water all day long, without you having to do much of anything except chunk and wind, and catch fish. Sure beats a paddle and a push pole I’d still keep a pole to push with if I need to, just in case. Sometimes you need to push. Don’t need a $400 pole to push with though.
Skinneej, just a dumb question. How is it that someone with 15,612 posts on here is a rookie? Seems like anyone with that much interest in saltwater fishing would be an “old salt”!
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
INSHORE rookie!!! 100% of my experience is offshore! Trolling, spearing, bottom fishing has been my thing. Heck, I've even caught a redfish before, but it was out in 60' of water. Even when I was younger, my dad had a 19' Bayliner CC with a Force 125 on it and we were king fishing and headed out to the ledge with Loran and a bottom finder that took rolls of paper! Caught my first sailfish at 9 years old. Back then, nobody released them. Dried that sucker out and weighed him in the trident!
Thanks for the advice fellas! Ended up getting a Garmin 74DV and I DID get the Minn Kota riptide 55, but I just got the basic one for $599. Those sucker are expensive!!!
But I suspect he could kick most of our butts in a grouper or snapper fish off. Or a basketball game
What Rapchizzle said. The GPS anchor feature is the cat’s azz and makes anchors and stake out sticks almost obsolete. I’ve fished on several boats with the built in GPS and a remote control. Sit on the poling platform, fish, drive the boat, tell it to anchor and it stays put, move it a little if you need to, dang, it’s almost like cheating.
The boat I recently finished is 18’ and we put an 80 lb Minn Kota Ipilot on it, with both remote control and interfaced with the Humminbird plotter. You can control the trolling motor directly from the GPS, give it way points to follow, give it a depth line to follow…tell it to follow a 6’ depth contour and it will run down the bank and keep the boat in 6’ of water all day long, without you having to do much of anything except chunk and wind, and catch fish. Sure beats a paddle and a push pole I’d still keep a pole to push with if I need to, just in case. Sometimes you need to push. Don’t need a $400 pole to push with though.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Swamp Worshiper
Larry, it's my goal to get you on an epic bottom trip soon, maybe this fall. We will grab Black Bart and one of two others for an all star crew and post some fish kill pictures that will break the internet.
I’d still keep a pole to push with if I need to, just in case. Sometimes you need to push. Don’t need a $400 pole to push with though.