Bowmount Electric Motors

[Hooky.]

G'day Raiders, I've recently purchased a 54lb MG Bowmount for the old tinnie (it's worth more than the boat itself) and I reckon after I learn how to balance and hop around on one leg I will need to know the finer points of fishing with a leccy. :ohyeh:

I know it's easy enough to motor around and toss out the lure but what is the best way to go about it? :confusuion:

Basically what does everyone do when fishing the estuaries as far as the tide/current goes? Do you motor into the current, across it, with it or all of the above or does it just come down to the conditions at the time?

If anyone has any further hints/tips on fishing with electric motors, please feel free to add them. Even your first hand experiences concerning the do's and don'ts that might spring up unexpectedly whilst motoring around would be great.

Maybe like most things, it all falls in to place with experience. :confusuion:

Thanks and cheers :grogon:

hooky

[Rick T]

spent many a day fishing with a cable steer MG on Micks little rack basher and the best advice I can give u is get a comfortable lean seat. U will get a sore back and find it very frustrating to control if u try to balance on one foot all the time. I usually work with the current unless hamering a single area. It is alot easier to control, uses less power and u move with your lure instead of against it. Even more so with a MG as the movement is more direct. I have never got out of the habit of using the lean seat even though I use a MK now and balancing is not an issue.

[Hooky.]

Thanks for the replies fella's.

You'll get the hang of it very quickly, it aint rocket science.

I'm sure I will swoffa, Sunday will be the first big day out with the leccy which should test me out. :happy: Looking forward to it actually. :ohyeh:

As for the current/tide, I would have thought going in to the current would be the way to go when it comes to holding your ground but can also see a plus as far as going with it. Obviously saving battery charge and also getting some extra speed when trolling. :confusuion:

Rick, I take it when you say lean seat, you mean the one that I noticed in your latest fishy pic?

I had this in mind but my old tinnie may just limit me as far as this goes, although I will pursue it further. The old worn out hockey back will be left wanting at the end of the day I'm sure. :ohyeh:

Thanks again.

cheers

hooky

[The Iceman]

If Im fishing snags or pontoons I like to motor into the current because it allows you to hold in one position allowing several casts at the structure for flats banks and reef edges I like to drift with the current using the leccie to adjust the drift

[Rick T]

As for the current/tide, I would have thought going in to the current would be the way to go when it comes to holding your ground

Thats correct mate if u wish to hold your ground like fishing pilons etc. if r fishing banks covering ground may be more important until u find a patch of fish and so going with the current is easier. Also in narrow rivers where current is strong u will find u can wear out your battery going against it and not covering much ground. The main thing that u will find difficult at first is controlling the pedal and fishing at the same time but once the motor becomes second nature it is alot easier. Have a serious think about finding a way to get a lean seat in (like in my pic). U will find yourself losing balance all the time as u can't really rest on the MG pedal without changing direction. It is worse with a bit of chop. U will know what I mean when u get it out on the weekend.

[DaveW]

Something else to think about is fishing into the wind, just having the 'lecky ticking over enough to hold station, irrelevent of what the current is doing.

This is where the MK Auto Pilot function comes into it's own, either in current or wind I believe there is no better way to hold still in the same spot.

Another point, it's damn near impossible to fish with the wind or current through oyster racks, unless you have a good sea anchor or the famous 'brick on a rope'.

Then you just use the 'lecky to drag the brick along

[Hooky.]

Thanks again for the info guy's.

I'm sure it's an easy task which will make fishing snags and the like a much more enjoyable task. :happy:

I likened my first outing with the leccy, all be it a couple of hours, to rubbing your belly and patting your head at the same time. I was all over the shop like a madman, but hey, that's life. :thumbsup:

cheers :grogon:

hooky

[Ken A]

It is a bit easier to steer if you leave the main engine down also. It acts like a rudder

[Hooky.]

Point taken Ken.

Another thing that I have notice is weight distribution.

The old tinnie is a side console steer just forward of halfway in the boat and with the crank battery on the same side as myself but at the rear, the boat leant awkwardly to one side. This was rectified when I put my livewell in the rear thwart on the opposite side to the battery and myself and the same side as the 25l fuel tank.

Now that I've got the MG mounted and a 105amp battery up front, I've noticed a difference to the characteristics of the boat when underway with the nose of the boat been lower.

This was rectified by trimming the motor up, which in turn lifted the nose up when underway.

To me, weight distribution is just commonsense, but it is just as important, if not the same as, general safety on any boat. :ohyeh:

cheers :grogon:

hooky