Trolling Buckets

[Bridog]

I have a 14-foot aluminum boat with a 25-hp outboard that can troll as slow as 2.0 mph according to my GPS. 

Anyone have a guess about my slowest trolling speed when I drag a couple 5-gallon buckets behind it?  I am hoping for 1mph (toque trolling).....but I think that is probably wishful thinking.

Let me know what your guess is...

I will post the answer after my next day on the water.

[Jim P]

I have a 16 1/2 foot aluminum with a 75 Yamaha 4 stroke. I go 2.3 MPH on the GPS when I just drop it in gear. With 2 buckets out I drop to 1.4 - 1.6. With 4 buckets I drop to .7 - .9.

Remember to drill some 1" holes in the buckets, it actually slows you down more than no holes as the water goes through the buckets vice around them.

Hope this helps.

Tight lines.

[Bridog]

Thanks for the info. 
I will let you know how it turns out.

Bridoy
Gray, Maine

[thompson]

will a bucket work for a drift sock?

[Skipper]

A drift sock will work for a bucket.

[eyedoktr]

You do not want to use a drift sock for trolling. They are not made to handle the pressure. Use a trolling bag. They are made from heavier material.

[Bridog]

Two Buckets only got my speed down to 1.5 mph.  Will have to try more buckets or use my electric trolling motor for Lake Trout.

Thanks to all.

Bridog

[gamefisher]

Two Buckets only got my speed down to 1.5 mph.  Will have to try more buckets or use my electric trolling motor for Lake Trout.

Thanks to all.

Bridog

Add two more buckets and you'll be down to where you want to be.

[Jim P]

Sounds like you are heading in the right direction. That's about what I got with 2. Try 4 and don't forget the holes... 

[Bridog]

I am running the buckets with about 2-feet of cable in back of the boat.   Is that far enough or should I extend to 4 feet?  I am a bit concerned about getting the cables caught in the propeller if I drop them back to 4-feet.

Bridog

[Jim P]

I run mine pretty close. I think about 2' of rope. Any farther and you risk getting caught up in your lines, rigger balls, etc...

I think you will be all set with a couple more.

Good luck

[walleygod]

I run mine pretty close. I think about 2' of rope. Any farther and you risk getting caught up in your lines, rigger balls, etc...

I think you will be all set with a couple more.

Good luck

how do you rig up the buckets so they stay horizontal

[Lake Raker]

We have used socks for years on a 19' I/O and only wore out one pair. The sun got them first. They are a lot easier to troll with than buckets, because if you tie one off from the front to each side with a 3-4' rope to the rear side cleat they stay right under the side of the boat and don't get in the way. Works good for us. Good luck.

[bugman1964]

I use drift sock for trolling but instead of hanging them off of the back I attach them to the cleat on the front of the boat, one on each side. It does make it a little harder to steer the boat when the wind comes up but I never have a problem with the socks getting caught in the prop of interfer with boating a fish.

[bugman1964]

I don't know how slow I get it to go but I can slow roll troll smelts and can go so slow that lures will not have any action at my slowest speed.