texasfishingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
TraeMartin, Power-Pole CS, T-Rigger, JoeGoes, EcKo
119150 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
hopalong 120,580
TexDawg 119,524
Bigbob_FTW 94,902
Pilothawk 83,264
Bob Davis 81,500
Mark Perry 72,293
JDavis7873ฎ 67,416
Forum Statistics
Forums59
Topics1,037,853
Posts13,935,636
Members144,150
Most Online39,925
Dec 30th, 2023
Print Thread
Trolling motor shaft length #12594259 01/25/18 01:20 AM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
J
jroush Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
J
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
My buddy and I are talking about shaft length, haha. I have a 52” shaft on my Ultrex and I like it. I fish Texoma quite a bit and really like the way it handles big waves. My buddy is looking at buying a new trolling motor and is deciding between the 45” and 52”. He is concerned about hitting the trolling motor with his rod if he has the trolling motor shaft up. This has never bothered me before. Just curious if y’all have this problem? Any other thoughts on 45” vs 52”?

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594270 01/25/18 01:27 AM
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
fouzman Offline
Methuselah
Offline
Methuselah
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 50,006
You're friend should learn how to cast/pitch. 52", especially on a big lake like Texoma. Unless he fishes 10ft. or less. In that case, the 45" would be good 90% of the time. I've had both and found myself wishing for the 52 far more than the 45.


"Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out" - Zachary Troy Schrah - a young man with vision far beyond his years.
Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594377 01/25/18 02:12 AM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
B
Bobby Milam Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
B
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Tell him it's a mental thing. I also hated tall TMs when casting. Recently got an Ulterra and had 2 choices, short or long. I chose the long, 60". Now I keep it up higher than any other TM that I have ever had and thought that it would be an issue but so far I haven't had problems with it. The only thing that would cause me an issue would be skipping but I can just take a step further forward and no issue.

It really depends on the boat but I'd choose 52" and know that I have enough for rough days

Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: Bobby Milam] #12594470 01/25/18 03:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,566
Happykamper Online Content
TFF Guru
Online Content
TFF Guru
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 14,566
I have a 45 Ultrex on my 21 foot Triton and rarely have i wished i had a 52, as it is now the head of the ultrex hangs over the gunnel pretty good, if i fished a lot of open water maybe i would change my mind.


[Linked Image]
Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594499 01/25/18 03:17 AM
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
J
jroush Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
J
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 33
I don’t know if it makes a difference, but he has a 20ft aluminum boat

Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594574 01/25/18 03:58 AM
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
3
361V Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
3
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 7,610
You can always shorten one that is too long.....can’t make one that is too short longer!

Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594614 01/25/18 04:38 AM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
B
Bobby Milam Offline
TFF Team Angler
Offline
TFF Team Angler
B
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 4,340
Go to the Minn Kota site and they have a chart to tell you how to measure and which one you will need. My Champion, the bow sits high out of the water his boat might sit closer. It's as simple as measuring the waterline and the height where it will be mounted.

Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594736 01/25/18 01:18 PM
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,599
T
ToasterWEyes Offline
Extreme Angler
Offline
Extreme Angler
T
Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 1,599
^^^^^^^ Exactly.


It's only a good cast if you catch a fish...
Personal Best: 11.62 lbs
Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: jroush] #12594752 01/25/18 01:27 PM
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,347
J
Jpurdue Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
J
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 8,347
If you fish any sort of big water get the 52". As others have said you can always shorten them if need be relatively easily. That said, if you do shorten the shaft, make sure you also shorten the wires up top. If you leave them long they will loop in the head of the unit and your spot lock will have non-stop epileptic fits.


"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley." -A.L.

www.LunkerLore.com

Re: Trolling motor shaft length [Re: fouzman] #12594757 01/25/18 01:30 PM
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,177
Fishinfellow Offline
TFF Celebrity
Offline
TFF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 5,177
Originally Posted By: fouzman
You're friend should learn how to cast/pitch. 52", especially on a big lake like Texoma. Unless he fishes 10ft. or less. In that case, the 45" would be good 90% of the time. I've had both and found myself wishing for the 52 far more than the 45.


This. Really the only time it get's in the way of "casting" is if you're skipping docks or fishing shallow/close proximity. I'll stick with my 52.


Thats my money fish
[Linked Image]
Kris Winhold
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 1998-2022 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3