FISHING
BASS SKILLS
3 TIPS FOR BIG-WATER
BOAT CONTROL
HOW TO HIT YOUR BEST SMALLIE SPOT
IN THE WIND AND WAVES
B
ig-water boat control has gotten a major shot in
the arm from today’s high-tech bass-boat acces-
sories. thanks to powerful batteries, the Minn kota
ultrex trolling motor and incredibly precise electronics,
the days of dragging drift socks and tubes across large
swaths of water are basically gone. It’s now a precision
affair, even when the waves are rolling.
still, that doesn’t mean just anyone can show up at
lake erie with an ultrex and hit a rock pile with a drop-
shot in 4-footers. It takes proper technique, even if the
techniques have changed in the last decade or so.
1. the trolling motor
like most flw tour pros, great lakes fanatic Matt
becker rigged his tournament boat with an ultrex. If you
have one and the waves are about 3 feet tall or less, just
point the bow into the breeze, punch the spot-lock but-
ton and you’re locked in place. with other motors, the
same concept applies, but you’ll have to control the
trolling motor.
regardless of the trolling motor you choose, get the
longest shaft that will fit your boat. the more you can keep
the head in the water, the more efficient you’ll be. becker
has the 52-inch model.
starting
waypoint
win
rec
d di
tion
By Curtis Niedermier
2. mini-drifts
when the waves are too big to hold the boat in place
with a trolling motor, becker performs short, accurate
“mini-drifts” over his waypointed spots.
a drift starts upwind of the spot by lining up parallel
with the waves using the big motor. once in place, becker
shuts down the outboard, then cranks it toward the
upwind side of the boat as far as it’ll go. during the drift,
as waves push against the canted motor, the force of the
water helps direct the bow back toward the waves. this
Control path
with trolling
motor.
Turn motor
upwind.
drift
Return on an
angled path.
rocky shoal
30
FlWFIshInG.com I Fall 2019