HYDRO TROLL / Trolling Plates

[MK-M-GOBL]

Has anyone tried the Hydro Troll by Cabela's? If so what did think about it? Has it worked like they claim as far as slowing your boat down for trolling or smoothing out the ride? If you tried the other brands on the market like the Happy Troller or Trol-A-Matic? I'd like to hear about those as well.

I've got a 16 ft Deep-V Grumman boat with a Johnson 60 on it and am thinking of getting it. I'd like to use it on the lakes for salmon or lakers. I'm also hoping it will also help smooth out the ride on my boat. Sometimes while cruising the lake my bow will start bouncing or proposing on me and I've got to slow down and start again.

Any help on this product(s) will be greatly appreciated!

Thanks MK-M-GOBL

[rob-s]

try about 4 , 5 gallon plastic pails tyed off the back that should slow er down.



throw some wt in the front that should help the proposing

[Scout]

MK these plates do slow you down, but there are drawbacks. If you don't remember to disengage the plate and power up you will bend the plate or shear your pins. There are some that are made that use a spring so that when you throttle it they automatically release. I would be real careful in your decision. I have been researching this for about a month. I have not put one on yet, and at this point I'm thinking of a kicker motor. Still don't know which way to go. Just my two cents.

Scout

[soccerref]

Rob, have you had any issue with the plastic buckets not holding up to the stress on the handles?

[rob-s]

soccerref said:

Rob, have you had any issue with the plastic buckets not holding up to the stress on the handles?

that is a photo taken from another forum, it was used to show the tecnique.
its my understanding the buckets are used in lue of the plate
because of steering issues with the plate. difficult steering.

here is the link to the tread where the photo was taken from.
www.myfishfinder.com/fishing_forum/index.php?topic=10611.0

[MK-M-GOBL]

Thanks

I tried the buckets last year and they did help but I was hoping to slow it down even more. With the bucket I found you kinda got to play around with them to catch and if you have a fish on? they can get in the way. Now I had mine on a little farther away from the boat than the one's in the photo so maybe I should try that and with four instead of two.

I had no trouble with the handles holding up while drifting. Only trouble I had was with my Dad's knot tying so should I say lack of ;D We lost the buckets a few times before I put a loop in it and hooked it on the boat cleats. Getting the bucket in and out each time can be a big pain in the rear but is defiantly a alternative to spending for a kicker motor. I've got the kicker mount on my boat but just can't justify the money right now for a good motor.

[nhtroutnut]

What i have is drift shocks they work great got them out of cableas