* See PIXS * Ridiculous or Brilliant… * How to slow troll without a trolling Motor * See PIXS *: Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph...

ncduck Loc: North Carolina

Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph kills the batteries in about 3 hours… trolling with the outboard even trimmed up loose is 2.4 to 2.6 mph… too fast. So we tried the “2 buckets on a rope” technique, one port side one starboard. The boat maintained 1.9 to 2.1 mph for the 7 hours. We had 3 holes in each bucket about 2” in diameter. The boat was easy to steer including make turns. Ridiculous Brilliant.

Jeremy Loc: America

ncduck wrote:

Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph kills the batteries in about 3 hours… trolling with the outboard even trimmed up loose is 2.4 to 2.6 mph… too fast. So we tried the “2 buckets on a rope” technique, one port side one starboard. The boat maintained 1.9 to 2.1 mph for the 7 hours. We had 3 holes in each bucket about 2” in diameter. The boat was easy to steer including make turns. Ridiculous Brilliant.

I have used this technique. If you do not have sea anchors buckets are good as long as there is holes in the buckets. How many batteries do you have. The title of topic states slow troll without a trolling motor. Were you rowing the boat somehow to put a load on the rope tied to the buckets?

When you had buckets deployed were you actually running the main Engine?

ncduck Loc: North Carolina

We were trolling for Stripers and Hybrids on LKN, yes the outboard was on, it’s a 200 HP Suzuki on a 2018 22’ Sea Pro Center Counsel with a T Top. Thank you for the tip on the sea anchor, I didn’t think of that.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

ncduck wrote:

Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph kills the batteries in about 3 hours… trolling with the outboard even trimmed up loose is 2.4 to 2.6 mph… too fast. So we tried the “2 buckets on a rope” technique, one port side one starboard. The boat maintained 1.9 to 2.1 mph for the 7 hours. We had 3 holes in each bucket about 2” in diameter. The boat was easy to steer including make turns. Ridiculous Brilliant.

Nice job Duck, when in doubt, improvise.

Blackdog Loc: Round Rock, TX

ncduck wrote:

Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph kills the batteries in about 3 hours… trolling with the outboard even trimmed up loose is 2.4 to 2.6 mph… too fast. So we tried the “2 buckets on a rope” technique, one port side one starboard. The boat maintained 1.9 to 2.1 mph for the 7 hours. We had 3 holes in each bucket about 2” in diameter. The boat was easy to steer including make turns. Ridiculous Brilliant.

Did you catch anything?

fishyaker Loc: NW Michigan (Lower Peninsula)

If you do a lot of "drag" styled fishing to slow the boat down, those sea bags, drift socks and other assorted contraptions work wonders and come in a variety of sizes. Typically you will want to tie them off fore and aft to keep them from ever getting beneath the boat.

I would recommend using as light a rig as possible and deploy them symmetrically just like you did with buckets. Too much drag, over a long period of time (multiple seasons) might have an impact on straining the motor a little bit...like always having something in tow.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

fishyaker wrote:

If you do a lot of "drag" styled fishing... (show quote)

They also have trolling plates that bolt to the cavitation plate on the motor. You drop them down to block the thrust from the prop to troll, and lift them up for normal operation.

Still above water Loc: San Francisco ca

Fredfish wrote:

They also have trolling plates that bolt to the cavitation plate on the motor. You drop them down to block the thrust from the prop to troll, and lift them up for normal operation.

I have a trolling shield on my 70hp Yamaha and when deployed I can troll at 1.5 to 2mph all day long. When raised it also helps when trimming out the motor at high speeds. Prior to installing the trolling shield, I too would use the bucket technique. What a difference, tight turns are not a problem and no more hassle deploying buckets. I highly recommend a trolling shield, and it’s a simple installation.

Fredfish Loc: Prospect CT.

Still above water wrote:

I have a trolling shield on my 70hp Yamaha and when deployed I can troll at 1.5 to 2mph all day long. When raised it also helps when trimming out the motor at high speeds. Prior to installing the trolling shield, I too would use the bucket technique. What a difference, tight turns are not a problem and no more hassle deploying buckets. I highly recommend a trolling shield, and it’s a simple installation.

Gordon Loc: Charleston South Carolina

Still above water wrote:

I have a trolling shield on my 70hp Yamaha and when deployed I can troll at 1.5 to 2mph all day long. When raised it also helps when trimming out the motor at high speeds. Prior to installing the trolling shield, I too would use the bucket technique. What a difference, tight turns are not a problem and no more hassle deploying buckets. I highly recommend a trolling shield, and it’s a simple installation.

That's good duck. We have done that on a deep sea rod while trolling offshore when someone fell asleep on the boat. Boy do they get mad after 30 minutes of fighting that bucket fish.

NJ219bands Loc: New Jersey

Nice 👍

Jeremy Loc: America

Gordon wrote:

That's good duck. We have done that on a deep sea rod while trolling offshore when someone fell asleep on the boat. Boy do they get mad after 30 minutes of fighting that bucket fish.

Jeremy Loc: America

ncduck wrote:

We were trolling for Stripers and Hybrids on LKN, yes the outboard was on, it’s a 200 HP Suzuki on a 2018 22’ Sea Pro Center Counsel with a T Top. Thank you for the tip on the sea anchor, I didn’t think of that.

Frank romero Loc: Clovis, NM

ncduck wrote:

Okay here’s the deal. Trolling with the trolling motor wide open to maintain 2 mph kills the batteries in about 3 hours… trolling with the outboard even trimmed up loose is 2.4 to 2.6 mph… too fast. So we tried the “2 buckets on a rope” technique, one port side one starboard. The boat maintained 1.9 to 2.1 mph for the 7 hours. We had 3 holes in each bucket about 2” in diameter. The boat was easy to steer including make turns. Ridiculous Brilliant.

I had a bass tracker with a 40 hp mercury. Used to be able to troll with it. Friend had a Johnson 40 hp used trolling plate on his.

ncduck Loc: North Carolina

Blackdog wrote:

Did you catch anything?

I kinda figured that question was coming… it’s pretty sad when the highlight of the day on LKN is posting pictures of a couple buckets on some ropes… we took a break and fished for some crappie with no luck, but I did catch this nice pan fish and a couple of spots that weren’t picture worthy… stay tuned… the leaves are on the trees and spring is here… we will find the fish.