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Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind #13331837 11/04/19 04:08 PM
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iFloat Offline OP
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New to us bass tracker 175. 1st boat. Me and my 9 year old tried fishing saturday at Lake Lavon. Winds were 10-15 from the north.

We just want to catch anything that bites. I ended up with 2 white bass and he caught 1 8 inch bass. We fished from 11:00am - 3:00pm.

How in the heck do you keep the boat in a fishable position with the wind like that. For us it required constant trolling. I couldn't step away from the motor for long enough to even change his lure or we would have blown in to the rocks. Very frustrating. After awhile we just went back in a little corner, wind protected. The water was only a few feet deep so we didn't catch anything, he jumped out and went exploring the bank and enjoyed that.

We have the stock motor guide trolling motor. But that dang thing, on 1 or 2 speed, in constant mode, if you take your foot off the pedal, it will turn itself and go a different direction. Won't stay pointed how you set it.

I tried to get him setup where he could throw down wind from the back of the boat, but it was all I could do to keep us nose in to the wind, ended up be the best way was to turn sideways and let the wind slowly push us sideways across where we wanted to fish.

We tried to drop an anchor, but the 5lb mushroom we have won't stop us at all.

Thought about investing in power pole, but the only spot we've caught fish in this lake is along the rock wall, and the depth there is 16ft or so.

Will a better Trolling motor help? Will it just take more experience? Bigger anchor?

I'm assuming that 10-15mph winds are fairly common for us around here, so gotta figure this out.

Moritz Chevrolet - 9101 Camp Bowie W Blvd, Fort Worth, TX - Monte Coon (817) 696-2003
Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331844 11/04/19 04:11 PM
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bassmanrudy Offline
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Hi. If you have the stock 12V (40lbs thrust?) trolling motor it's not much help at all in the wind. I have the PT190 version and was the same deal. Upgraded to a 24V (75lbs) system and WAY better! That being said the aluminum boats are super light and I get pushed around in the wind way worse than my buddies in the same size but fiberglass boats do. Sorry not much help especially in winds above 10mph.

Last edited by bassmanrudy; 11/04/19 04:12 PM.

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Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331847 11/04/19 04:14 PM
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ToasterWEyes Offline
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Buy an ultrex w spot lock. It’ll be expensive, but worth every penny and it’ll hold you in place. I fish from an aluminum Xpress I bought for $2200. Ultrex cost just about that and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!!


It's only a good cast if you catch a fish...
Personal Best: 11.62 lbs
Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: bassmanrudy] #13331850 11/04/19 04:17 PM
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iFloat Offline OP
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Originally Posted by bassmanrudy
Hi. If you have the stock 12V (40lbs thrust?) trolling motor it's not much help at all in the wind. I have the PT190 version and was the same deal. Upgraded to a 24V (75lbs) system and WAY better! That being said the aluminum boats are super light and I get pushed around in the wind way worse than my buddies in the same size but fiberglass boats do. Sorry not much help especially in winds above 10mph.


Yes, stock trolling motor. It's not the strength of it I feel though, it's that I can't control the direction. Dang thing will spin in a circle if I'm not controlling the foot pedal. Is it possible to put it on 1, constant, point it in general direction (safely away from rocks) and look away to change a lure? Or can't do that with any motor?

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331859 11/04/19 04:29 PM
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Los Lagos Offline
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I run a 19ft G3 and the problem is the dame, I put an ultrex on this boat and it is a total game changer, not cheap but it will hold ya where ya want to be for sure.
Prior to this I tan 175 G3 with a 70 and we used a micro pole which did a good job shallow. If you want to go that route send me a pm as I still have the unit and put power poles on my new boat so I have no need for it.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331876 11/04/19 04:45 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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Any of the trolling motors with spotlock are worth every penny once you try one. MK has 3 different types, and there are other brands out there now offering their version. Pick one and you'll never go back to a trolling motor without it. You can find used ones for sale pretty often on here.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331898 11/04/19 05:01 PM
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JacksonBean Offline
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Ultrex


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Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13331900 11/04/19 05:02 PM
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NELA Bassguy Offline
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I had a similar issue on my 17.5' aluminum boat and for a cheap quick fix I bought a used 65# 24V trolling motor. With 3 people and ice chests, I was able to get up to 3.2 mph Friday. As for the spinning, make sure you have your motor in the water and pointed straight. I found that the little bit of extra drag will help keep the back end from whipping around as bad if the wind gusts from a different direction.

As for the being able to look away to change a lure, you have three options. 1.) Spotlock 2.) Drop a good digging anchor/tie up to structure 3.) (My dad's personal favorite) teach your kid to tie knots and get him to do it, lol.

I'm currently saving up for a terrova with Spotlock and iPilot Link, but at $2k+ it may be a while.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332051 11/04/19 07:47 PM
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My 2 cents. Best thing to do is (said above) upgrade trolling motor to one with spot lock. A few years ago I bought a used 55lb (maybe 50lb) power drive V2 with ipilot ($600) and put it on my 18ft tin center console. This worked very well and I was really impressed with it. Ultrex is in the top class of trolling motors but anyone of them that has spot lock will work and help you a ton.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332068 11/04/19 08:11 PM
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Squirrely Dan Offline
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You don’t control a bass tracker in the wind.


Fully sponsored by my mom
Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: ToasterWEyes] #13332090 11/04/19 08:37 PM
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EastTexasBassin Offline
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Originally Posted by ToasterWEyes
Buy an ultrex w spot lock. It’ll be expensive, but worth every penny and it’ll hold you in place. I fish from an aluminum Xpress I bought for $2200. Ultrex cost just about that and I’d do it again in a heartbeat!!


This. You can either upgrade to a trolling motor with spot lock or you can stay out of the wind.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332107 11/04/19 09:00 PM
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Bobby Milam Offline
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Other than spotlock you can try a big drift sock. Will help somewhat but will be in the way also and takes room to store it and the rope,

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332455 11/05/19 02:22 AM
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katjim Offline
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Wind and trackers suck. When I had mine I put on a 70lb thrust TM and that helped when the wind was pushing it backwards. I used 2 drift socks to slow it's roll and used the trolling motor to steer. Spot lock TM will help hold you without using an anchor. Trackers are like kites in the wind...just they way it goes.

Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332666 11/05/19 04:44 AM
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I fish out of 17.5 Pro Crappie at Lavon all the time. Say hi if you see me out there. I have the same stock 40lb trolling motor and it does just fine you just have to stay on it. To your point you can't just take your foot off and walk around, you get blown in a hurry when the wind is up. Ultrex sounds like the way to go for sure, but if you're not spending the $ for one just point what you've got into the wind and get it moving forward into the waves, it'll stay straight much longer than just being caught still.


There are no fish in sonic pond EDIT: Except 1 20lb catfish
Re: Newb - Controlling Basstracker to Fish in Wind [Re: iFloat] #13332770 11/05/19 01:07 PM
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tx_basser Online Content
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Cheapest is heavier anchor and more rope. On a mushroom you need allot of line to slip out to let the dig in and keep you stationary.

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