Slowing down Trolling Speed?

[cwright]

Got a new boat this year with a 90 hp mercury on it. I use my trolling motor for trolling for crappie, but love to troll for stripers as well. It trolls at about 4.1 mph. I would love to be between 2.7 and 3.0 mph. How can I do this without drift bags. I checked on lower pitch prop, but they said it is almost maxed out in rpms so I can only go down maybe 2 degrees in pitch which will not get me there. My brother put a trolling plate on his 150 and it got it down to 1.0 mph which is much too slow. Anyone file a notch at about 45 degrees in the trolling plate? Have heard of people doing that. Open to any suggestions.

[M R Dux]

I've used one of these for years on my 75 Yamaha.
http://www.cabelas.com/product/boati..._SEQ_104655780

It does a good job and is easy to use as long as you are going forward. Reverse is a pain in the butt.

My new 140 Suzuki 4 stroke will have a trolling mode switch on the dash where the engine rpms can be raised or lowered 50rpm per click. I rarely troll over 2mph.

[cwright]

What is the speed when idling?

[bfish]

Hang your trolling motor down will slow you down some. As well as tilting your main motor. Hanging a bucket or trolling bag/drift sock works too. Of course, a plate works too.

Might also try switching from a 3-blade to a 4 or 5-blade prop (along with changing pitch), especially if top end speed is not a concern.

[monkscrappie]

Get a "Happy Troller"

Happy Trolller by Davis

Monk

[cwright]

Hi Monk,
My only concern is it slowing me down too slow. Put one on my brothers 150 and it is down to about 1 mph. Every hear of notching to put plate at angle or cutting off part of the plate to get speed up some?

[blueball]

[QUOTE=cwright;3077309]Hi Monk,
My only concern is it slowing me down too slow. Put one on my brothers 150 and it is down to about 1 mph. Every hear of notching to put plate at angle or cutting off part of the plate to get speed up some?[/QUOTE
i use the troll a matic plate,cant your go alittle faster than idle and get the speed faster ,thats what i do when using the trolling plate

[bfish]

... Every hear of notching to put plate at angle or cutting off part of the plate to get speed up some?

Yes... I bought a used boat with the lower half of the plate cut off. Never used that way (it was off the motor when purchased). I gave it to a friend who uses it, but I have not been on his boat (large pontoon) with the plate.

[skeetbum]

What about drilling til the desired speed is achieved?

[cwright]

Ordered a trolling plate today. Figured if I start trolling with live bait and planer boards I will need to really slow it down so went ahead and ordered it.