Rick and Tom y'all are both control drifting like big 10 then? This your preferred way to do it or would you rather have wind? Suspend drifting or just dragging?

Really thinking about a trolling motor now...

Blues, wind is always a good thing. IMO the fish bite better when there's more wind. In a perfect world, I would have a 10 mph wind and still be able to control drift. When I control drift I suspend some baits and drag some as well.

Alright what's the price tag on a good wireless trolling motor?

I will set up a drift according to the wind, as to how it will push me over structure etc that we are fishing. Use the tm if the fish are on a particular structure, ridge,channel etc. They are also handy when getting bait or pulling anchors.

You do any suspended drifting or just drag them Tom?

A little suspended especially this time of year with the thermocline

You know what's better than owning a boat with a wireless trolling motor? Having a friend with a boat who has just about been talked into getting a wireless trolling motor! Thanks Tom and Rick and big10! Blues looks like he's getting a trolling motor... Best part is, it isn't going to cost me anything more than gas money!

I like how your thread has me looking at replacing a good foot control tm for a $700-$1000 remote control...well by "good" I mean it only has one speed forward Fast. Mainly just keep it for emergencies because I hate paddling.

Paddling a pontoon from the dam to holiday on twok, when it's 35�, with a frying pan and a cooler lid, tends to make a guy want a plan B.....just sayin.

I finally saved enough to get an i-pilot ( arm & leg) but man it is worth every penny i can power drift control drift anchor cath shad etc..

The frying pan worked great until it broke and sunk to the bottom. I like your plan B better though. I'll help you install it and test it!

I never drift fish and I do pretty good

You always anchor, all year?

Well if'n ya just is bent on driftin with no wind...this is how we do it. Put out three drifts socks out rear of boat. Crank up engine and put in gear. Socks will hold boat to about o.5 mph on our rig. We have a 50 hp yamaha 4 stroke. It will idle all day long. Works for us. Can fish 4 staggered line directly out back of boat and one on each side. Six rods total.

Usually with no wind we prefer to hit da crappie!

Lol!

Tommy, Good Ole Tom pretty much summed it up perfectly and I use it for everything he mentioned. Now, outta everything he mentioned I have to say that for me, the wireless trolling motor or WTM has become the most useful and extremely appreciated tool when I am out hunting for BIG bait especially in the winter time so I am going to talk about this. To become the best most consistent trophy bluecat hunter we can be we have to become the best most consistent trophy bait hunter we can be right??? Some people want the monster gizzards only, while others want thread-fin, perch, carp, smallmouth buffalo, and even frozen skipjack. So whatever bait we prefer to use, we have to learn how to find it, recognize it and catch it. I will fish with and use almost any kind of legal bait fish and sometimes I do feel that different bait is better, but 90 % of the time I would just prefer big gizzards and a nice pretty pile of fresh ones on hand before each fishing trip. In the winter, I almost always have to catch all of my bait down deep. And the deeper the water is the harder it can be to get on em, get your net down there to em and cinch em up tight without INTERFERENCE. Interference can be wind, boat, current, waves etc... basically anything that can ruin and alter your concentration on the hand line as your net is sinking.

Now, I have found that when I go out in the winter time bait hunting, at any given time I could run into 1 of 3 different bait hunting scenarios and wind is always a likely factor.

Scenario 1.)
every thing is so scattered out, you can't hardly find a decent size bait group of anything to throw your net on. ( this is when honey holes or general honey areas can pay off big time, if they don't you could be in for a terrible trip that embarrasses you, rips you apart or even rips your body, net and hardware or everything else apart...). I hate those trips!!!!! In fact, I usually just drive around and look at stuff when my honey areas don't pay off and I find that. Lol!

Scenario 2.)
everything is pre-grouped meaning everything is in their own little same-species same-size pile. ( this is the easiest time to target and catch your preferred bait and learn what certain things look like on your graph )

Or Scenario 3.)
Everything is grouped so tightly together you can't see a single gap on your graph meaning you can't hardly identify what the heck anything is and they are sandwiched together for just about as far as the eye can see. ( my favorite time to chunk a net... can be hilarious too )

Out of all of these scenarios, the most important thing no matter what is to throw your net and stay right on top of it so you can feel and watch the hand-line smoothly sink. This is when the WTM is by far the MOST important to me. Since it's mounted at the front of my boat, I have unbelievable control and using my wireless controller, I can make quick and precise movements from anywhere on the boat to make sure I stay right on top of my net as it sinks and easily concentrate on my hand-line regardless if there is 20 mile an hour winds and monstrous whitcaps. When your catching BIG bait, you have to recognize your handline slowing or stopping as soon as possible and when you notice it cinch it down as quick as you can no matter how deep it is because it's your best shot at gettin em and at times it might be the only shot you get to tie em up. So If I am in 50 ft of water, I will throw my net out, get on top of it and stay on top of it with the WTM, count each second as my net sinks and concentrate as my hand-line smoothly comes out of my hand. When it slows or stops any little bit, I cinch it up immediately no matter if it slows or stops at 10 feet or 40 feet and after I cinch it up I can quickly and easily reposition the boat as needed with the WTM before I bring the net aboard. Hope this helps pardner and if anybody else wants to chime in on anything else feel free.