Trolling motor shaft length

[motocross269]

What is the optimum trolling motor shaft length for fishing most Michigan waters??? I have to buy a new TM this winter.
I know some of the big water specialist run 60 inch shafts, but I have seen them struggle with them in shallow water situations.
I am thinking 52 inches...

[Cheetam]

Buy what works for your style of fishing...if you spend 80% or more of your time on the big waters, go big (62 in).  If you're like me and fish 80% of the time in shallow water, inland lakes, get yourself a 42 in shaft.  50/50 and I'd get myself a 52 in...

[Skip Johnson]

I run a 52" and Id recomend a 52".
I can adjust it high enough for the shallows yet it drops down very deep for rough water.

[Skulley]

I have two Minn Kota motors for my boat.  They both have 45 inch shafts.  They are actually the same motor.  I bought them both at the same time as they were close-outs a few years back.  One is on the boat and the other is the back-up.  They are 24 volt motors and comparable to the new Edge motor.  I paid $362 each from Cabela's Bargain Cave about 2 years ago.  They are Minn Kota all Terrain Motors.  Because I fish a combination of big water and inland lakes, the 45 inch shaft was sufficient.  They can be adjusted up and down and are sufficient for deep and shallow waters.  Good luck in your quest.  Don't make any hasty decisions when buying one.  You want to buy a dependable one.  I have owned Motorguides and Minn Kotas.  Either motor is good although I lean more toward Minn Kotas.  Like I said, I own two of them and know my extra is not for sale.     I like to have a spare just in case.  I don't want trolling motor failure be the cause of not being able to fish. 


BD             

[yukonjack2]

I run a MK 52" 101.   Seems to be a great all around balance on LSC and the big water without losing bite in the big waves.  Only issues I have had is fishing shallow, you can pull it up, but the head does get in the way if you do alot of dock skipping type fishing.  With the wind, you can't always go the direction you want to. 

My new back up is a MK 45", for small water applications.  Touch choice if you are only gonna have 1, figue what fishing you are going to do most of the time.

[Mark Modrak]

Motocross.... You didn't say what kind of boat that you have.  If you are running a bass boat I would suggest the 52" shaft length if you fish mostly big water or the 45" if you fish the smaller inland lakes, but if you have a walleye or multispecies boat I would go with the 60" shaft length.

[motocross269]

Sorry about that Mark. I should have included that info..I Have a Bass Cat Jag...20 ft boat..That I am getting set up for tourney fishing..I will fish 85 percent open water out of this boat...Except in the spring when the smallies are in shallow water...Two TMs are not in the budget this year...I still have to get a GPS/Sonar combo for the bow and a couple of props to play with..(4 Blade).
This Jag from what I can tell has never been used for tourney fishing.  It is pretty clean, but It needs the electronics updated..So far I have put on a Lowrance 28c HD at the console and am looking for a good bow unit that is nmea capable..(probably a 520 series).
The trolling motor that came on the boat is an OMC..It is way under
powered for the type of fishing that I do.  Right now I am leaning towards a 80lb Minn kota maxxum pro.....

[Cheetam]

Hey Motocross...if that OMC is in good condition (is it the one with the square white control housing?), there is a pretty big market among the "go fast" crowd for those.  You might want to list it on ebay or something (if you haven't already)...

[smbassman]

Get the 52"!  That is what I am getting as soon as my MG burns up.

One thing to check is the stored length on the TM to make sure it doesn't end up right over the rod locker.  I don't really think that could be an issue, but it probably would if you went with a 62".

The last time I was at Cabela's, they had a two 52" Maxxum Pro's in the bargain cave.  A 82 and a 101.  That was in October though.

[Dan]

I have a Basscat Jag and it use to have a 36 volt system in it. I sure wish it still did. It is a lot of boat to push and I would recommend the 101 lb. and 36 volt if you want to have plenty of all day power.

[motocross269]

This boat has a 24 volt system in it right now...I haven't really considered upgrading..I will have to take a look at how much room I have under the deck for another battery.  Will a 36V TM run on 24V?
I am thinking I could buy a 36V motor and be able to run while I work on upgrading my boat to a 36V.
Thanks alot for all of the help so far..
B

[bshaner]

My 36v will not run on 24v.  I will have to echo the sentiment of getting a 36v TM.  I dont think a 24v would pull my boat through the water and if it did I doubt the batteries would hold up all day.  I got a sweet deal on a 60in 101 maxpro Minn Kota that I couldnt turn down.  It worked awesome on the big water but it really killed me on the Grand and shallower water.   If I had it to do over again I wouldnt have bought over 52in even with the sweet deal.  Unless you are fishing the big water 100% of the time I'd stick to no more than 52in.  In fact I'm going to sell my 60in over the winter to down size.  36v is a must though.  I wont downgrade that.

Not to mention if you jump to 60 in shaft like I did and you have a custom cover like I do, your cover will no longer fit, like mine doesnt.    On my Triton the bigger motor doesnt fit on the bow either, the mount hangs over the bow.  It gets in the way alot when loading/unloading the trailer.  I've torn up the rubber on the roller liner upper thingy mabobber.    The length of the mount is something you need to consider in all this, not just the shaft length.  Be sure to measure your bow space and compare it to the mount length.

B

[Mark Modrak]

I have a friend with a MinnKota 101 52" shaft slightly used for sale. By all means if you can go with a 36 volt system thats the only way to go.

[motocross269]

Thanks Mark, but I will probably have to wait awhile to commit to changing over to 36V. 
Dan, did you run a Minn Kota?? If so how did the larger foot pedal work in the recessed bow???  Also with the 36V system was the 4th battery mounted with the cranking battery on the driver's side.
Thanks for the help..

[TCook]

Mark,  That is the exact trolling motor I am looking for. I doubt whatever boat I end up buying will have that TM on it so if its still available in March I might be interested. PM me the price and condition if you get a chance.

Tim Cook

[Dan]

My BassCat Jag came with a 36 volt motorguide without a foot pedal. It had the handle steer. There are a number of anglers in the Traverse area that prefer this to a foot control. I didn't have the trolling motor though long enough to really use it much. When I replaced it I went with a Minn Kota. I have one of each on a previous boat and like the Minn Kota better. The size of the foot pedal is a non issue, fits fine and is the only way to fly. Far less fatiguing with the recessed foot pedal.
I have had fits though since owning the boat in terms of having enough power to finish an eight hour tournament with enough umph. I have to either find some batteries that will run longer or go back to the 36 volt. Guys I know with the 36 volt run hard all day and still run after that.
My friend Don has a BassCat Cougar with a 24 volt system which runs his cat very well. He has one of those onboard chargers that charge the trolling motor batteries whenever the big engine runs. I have fished with him on big water where you make longer runs and we have gone two days and fished from sun up to sun down and never put the batteries on a charger. He has the Stealth system.
I have another system, Stay-n-Charge. I again went with the cheaper Stay-n-Charge, but you know the adage... The Stay-n-Charge also has a lead that plugs into the truck and then into a plug in the back that charges your trolling motor batteries while you are driving. In a 45 mile drive my trolling motor batteries will almost be back to full charge!
I know when I went to 24 volts it was because I had to spend $800 for a trolling motor and I really couldn't afford that. I wish I could have had the little bit extra to go 101 36volt, but my kids also like to eat and although I like to fish tournaments, I am not counting on making a living at it.
Here are a couple of websites with a little info.

http://www.hunting-fishing-gear.com/article-display/559.html

http://www.bwbmag.com/output.cfm?id=942589

[motocross269]

Dan,,Great info, thanks,.