Trolling with I/O questions

[crappieslayer]

My boat is just too big and heavy to troll all day with any wind with my electric trolling motor. I tried with my I/O into the wind and it was 3mph. Added an easytroller trolling plate and into a mild wind, I am down to 1.9 to 2.0. I want 1.5 to 1.6. I have heard of using a 5 gallon bucket, but I have no clue on how to do that. Do you need to drill holes in the bucket. If so, how many. Will one bucket slow me down enough. Would I be better off with a small sock (sea anchor).

 

[codybunco]

Buckets work

My boat is just too big and heavy to troll all day with any wind with my electric trolling motor. I tried with my I/O into the wind and it was 3mph. Added an easytroller trolling plate and into a mild wind, I am down to 1.9 to 2.0. I want 1.5 to 1.6. I have heard of using a 5 gallon bucket, but I have no clue on how to do that. Do you need to drill holes in the bucket. If so, how many. Will one bucket slow me down enough. Would I be better off with a small sock (sea anchor).

I use one or sometime two sea anchors. I had used buckets in the past. I did not find the need to drill holes in the buckets. When I use my sea anchors I use one off each corner of the stern so the boat will not keep wanting to turn. I try to get to .8 to 1.2 mph. On a wind free day I use an electric trolling motor. What a joy it is to have no motor noise. I found that just running the electric trolling motor and using the large motor to steer works great. My kicker has an EZSteer attached to the big motor.

I monitor my speed with a Luhr Jensen Troll‑Speed Indicator. The device is way over priced but I bought one form a junk dealer that had no idea what is was or how it worked.

Good luck on the water!