TOPIC:

I haven't trolled for coho for a while but would like to get out this Spring. I last used my Lund with a 9.8 hp kicker. Since then, I now have a new Lund 1775 with a 115 hp 4-stroke but no kicker. I do have a 24 V MinnKota bow mounted trolling motor with remote control and I-Pilot, so was planning to use that for trolling. I can set a precise speed. Does this sound like it will work? Hopefully the batteries will last. I also have a drift sock I could use with the big motor.

I have a 115 Etec and I bought a couple of small drift socks @ 15 inches made for a kayak. I use these to help slow my 17.5 Princecraft. I also have larger socks for the rougher days. I have never had an issue with this setup. Electric trolling motors won't cut it except on a flat calm day, and steering from the front end is a challenge on the big lake.

Thanks very much for the tips!

I use my Minn Kota for it all the time! I do have the I Pilot Link so steering happens from around my neck and you just set it and forget it! That being said, I have a 17.5 foot tiller boat and a 110# terrova, your 80# will pull the boat 2 mph, it's just a question of how long! It is awesome because you will always track straight and a must if your fishing alone (which i do quite often).

That sounds great! Thanks for an alternative view - I was hoping I could use my MinnKota Ulterra with the remote control.

See my post from yesterday - my 9.8 Kicker wouldn't get me down slow enough so was using my MinnKota Power V2 with the i-pilot for about 90 minutes. It works fine in the Spring on a calm day but as soon as the winds picked up yesterday I had to go back to the kicker. Also you will be running the trolling motor on almost max speed to get the speed you need so the batteries will be getting a work out as well. I generally keep a 5 gal bucket with holes drilled in the bottom and a rope connected to use as a "drift sock" for the few spring days I need it and run the kicker (I didn't have the bucket with me yesterday).

Also a note on trolling with the big motor - if you are going to be doing a lot of Salmon fishing through the year, do yourself a favor and get a kicker. in 2 years I put roughly 400 hours on my new 115 Yamaha trolling and I was told by multiple mechanics and others that I was going to kill the big motor if I didn't stop. Also if you are out during the late spring/summer its nice knowing you have a backup up motor when you are 10 to 20 miles out.

Never done the coho thing yet but on Erie i used my Xi5( 105 lb thrust 36v ) to troll all day- got 9hrs doing 1.5 mph on my 18 ft Tyee. Now with my new rig i will use the kicker locked straight for about 2/3rds of my propulsion with the remaining 1/3rd being used by my gps bow mount trolling motor for steering. Great system, less draw on the batteries with the majority of propulsion being provided by gas kicker. Also have a Controllking on the kicker for incremental throttle increases ( .1 mph ) .