Trolling Motor Bracket

Trolling motors have uses in bay

OCEAN CITY -- Even though we don't see too many of them shooting around local bay waters, most fishermen are well aware of what a bass boat is all about. Averaging 16-20 feet long, these are somewhat specialized boats designed primarily with the freshwater bass fisherman in mind. Sporting fast hulls and big outboard motors, modern bass boats can be considered a cross between race boat and high-tech fishing machine

Often bass boats are equipped with all kinds of livewells, bait tanks, rod lockers, built-in tackle boxes, fish finders, oxygen meters, temperature gauges and pedestal seats. Above all else, one accessory that is found on almost every bass boat is the electric trolling motor.

Electric trolling motors are typically mounted on the bow of the boat by way of a bracket that allows the motor to be tilted up and locked out of the water when the unit is not being used. When needed, the motor is easily pivoted into the water and is ready for service. The term "trolling motor" may be a bit misleading because most of the time the motor is used for positioning or moving the boat little bits at a time. Since they are usually mounted on the bow and may be rotated 360 degrees, these motors are extremely efficient at twisting and turning a boat in tight locations. At the same time, the electric motors produce very little sound, which allows anglers the opportunity to approach fish that might be spooked by a noisy outboard.

So what's all this got to do with local bay fishing? More and more every day. While electric trolling motors are still rare sights on bay fishing boats, they're showing up with greater frequency as anglers discover there's more to bay fishing than bottom bouncing for flounder. Many find themselves using techniques like plugging, jigging, or fly casting, which require precision casting and make boat positioning a critical component of success.

After watching how effectively a local angler was able to maneuver his own boat around the inlet jetty, a number of years ago when I was rigging a boat for bay fishing charters I knew a trolling motor was something I had to have. At that time I had never owned an electric motor, so I did a bit of research to determine the the best brand and model for my needs. It didn't take long to discover that, for saltwater use, either the Great White series made by Motor Guide or the Riptide series made by Minn Kota was the way to go. I chose the Great White -- imagine that. Since my 19-foot center console boat is higher out of the water and heavier than the average bass boat, I needed a motor with a lot of thrust and a long shaft. The model I chose produces 67 pounds of thrust and has a 60-inch shaft.

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