thanks for the advice I usually do fish alone....my outboard is designed for trolling it has rpm adjustments to dial in the speed and it also has a co pilot feature that allows me to lock motor in place, I learned last time out that if I keep my trolling motor in the water i can use it to steer with. my trolling motor will steer the boat without even turning the it on all i have to do is turn it left or right with my co pilot remote....if Im sitting in the boat driving I have been running my shortest poles in rod holder closest to me and then 12' in the next hold and 16' in the last holder....I just wondering if it would be better if i put my 16 footers out first closest to me and then get short going towards the front of the boat