Small outboard or Trolling motor?

Hey guys — I have a weekend trip coming up at a friend’s cabin just south of Minocqua, WI. The lake is private access only so I don’t bring the boat, but they do have a classic old aluminum 12-footer, 2 canoes, and 2 kayaks. Last year was our first trip up. It was a lot of fun paddling around and getting to know the lake, etc, but this year we’d like to cover more ground and hopefully catch a few fish.

The lake is 175 acres. I’m trying to decide whether to bring a 8hp motor or a 50lb thrust TM for the 12-footer.

On one hand, you can never have too much power and it’d be great to be able to quickly run across the lake and get home if a storm cooks up, my kid gets hurt, or whatever. On the other, we’re big into trolling and this is a lake that doesn’t see a ton of pressure, so I’m not sure if trolling with an outboard is the wisest choice.

Hoping someone with some experience with both can chime in. I don’t want to bring both, it’s a small boat and I don’t want the weight of both gas and a deep cycle battery.

8hp. Wouldn’t be a thought to bring the electric imo

nhamm wrote:

8hp. Wouldn’t be a thought to bring the electric imo

Thanks nhamm. Anyone else wanna weigh in?

Is it a no wake lake? I’d also vote for the small outboard. The electric while quiet won’t get you anywhere very fast.

Small outboard for sure, can do everything+ that the TM can.

You’re over thinking it. The lakes 175acres, big enough to make cruising around with a TM PIA. All weekend to, better bring another battery, those 12v systems use it pretty quick for a regular 27group battery if on high cruising around.

Fish can be motor shy, not as much as one thinks, but when they’re feeding and aggressive they won’t care and that’s the fish you should target.

I’ll leave it for others now.

Thanks guys.

@superdave1959 — that is a good question that I hadn’t thought of. I checked the WI DNR page and thankfully the only restrictions on this particular lake apply to jet skis.

Definitely leaning toward the little outboard. We usually long-line it when trolling, so hopefully that gives the fish a chance to settle down before the baits find them.

nhamm wrote:

You’re over thinking it. The lakes 175acres, big enough to make cruising around with a TM PIA. All weekend to, better bring another battery, those 12v systems use it pretty quick for a regular 27group battery if on high cruising around.

Fish can be motor shy, not as much as one thinks, but when they’re feeding and aggressive they won’t care and that’s the fish you should target.

I’ll leave it for others now.

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It might seem like I’m over-thinking. Really, I’m just coming from a place of almost total ignorance on this topic. I spend most of my time on the river and I know those fish definitely don’t care if I’m running the 50hp or the TM.

FWIW, I’d bring the charger for the deep cycle if I was going to go with the TM.

Outboard, might surprise you how many fish you will catch right in the prop wash, another tool fish use to target stunned prey.

I think I read once that a trolling motor makes more noise than an outboard at trolling speed underwater. Makes sense, the prop on the electric will be turning very very fast while the outboard will not. Either way, if it was me I’d take the outboard if I had to choose.

I used to own a cabin in Northern Wisconsin on a small lake just about that same size, less than 200 acres. First off, I would not suggest trolling unless you just like to troll. There’s just not all that much water to cover. Lakes that size make it easy to find likely hot spots…weed and cabbage areas and coontail. Cast your favorite offering, because it’s more exciting to have fish strike while you retrieve rather than trolling. Bring the OB though. You may not need it all that much but that is what I used along with an electric TM. There were times though when I’d leave the dock running just the electric and circle half the lake casting over weed beds and come back without ever firing up the gas motor.
I assume you’d have oars. Motor to an area, start casting and then oar yourself along periodically as you work over various structures.
Good luck…love those small N WI lakes!

Thanks everyone for all the feedback! Good stuff, exactly what I hoped for.

Walleyestudent Andy Cox wrote:

First off, I would not suggest trolling unless you just like to troll. There’s just not all that much water to cover. Lakes that size make it easy to find likely hot spots…weed and cabbage areas and coontail. Cast your favorite offering, because it’s more exciting to have fish strike while you retrieve rather than trolling.

I probably over-rely on trolling; I think it stems from all the time I’ve spent on the river in significant current, in a boat without the technology to spot-lock. I will admit I need to work on diversifying my tactics and this is a good opportunity to do so on a smaller lake.

I should note that I also will not have a depth finder or locator on this boat. I do have Navionics on my phone and a couple of older maps. This trip is going to be a fun challenge!

unless you have a 24 volt trolling motor you will not be able to troll rapalas etc. IF all you do is drag lindys etc TM may work . That size lake can still get windy enough to be an adventure in a small boat. It really sucks rowing to supplement the trolling motor. I would take outboard and oars IMHO

Mwal

mwal wrote:

unless you have a 24 volt trolling motor you will not be able to troll rapalas etc. IF all you do is drag lindys etc TM may work . That size lake can still get windy enough to be an adventure in a small boat. It really sucks rowing to supplement the trolling motor. I would take outboard and oars IMHO

Mwal

Well I’m bringing the outboard so that part is set.

BUT, I trolled cranks with a 12v/50lb powerdrive on a 1,000 pound glass boat all summer long and caught plenty of fish. So I don’t know why I’d struggle with the same thrust motor on a little aluminum boat?

If it was me Id bring both and have one sitting at the cabin for back-up.. But Id start with the 8 hp

Both-wind is out of the north, gas up to the north side tweek your drift south with your TM. If you get hard wind you will regret not having gas-you should buy my Suzuki 4hp!

I like that thinking, but bringing both isn’t an option, unfortunately. I’ll be driving the Camry up since it’s more than 3x as fuel efficient as my truck. More money for bait, beer, and pizza

What shape is the lake. Is it round, long and narrow, Look like a turkey baster.

Since the people you are visiting have two kayaks, two canoes and no small outboard/TM for their row boat. I am guessing that they enjoy the quiet of the lake. I would bring the trolling motor, keeping with your friend’s lead.

I live on an 188 acre long narrow lake with 25 and 40 ft holes. If I have friend visiting that want to fish we take out my 17 ft pontoon. If it is me alone, I love my 11 ft classic paddle boat. It can be any place on the lake in short order.

For me, at your friend’s cabin, if I were fishing with someone I would take a canoe. If I were fishing alone I would take a Kayak. It is a different type of fishing but it is very enjoyable to glide up close to the shore. Drop a small jig over the side and fight a slab sunny into the boat.

Try a new VMC tungsten fly jig and have a good time. Have fun.

djshannon wrote:

What shape is the lake. Is it round, long and narrow, Look like a turkey baster.

Since the people you are visiting have two kayaks, two canoes and no small outboard/TM for their row boat. I am guessing that they enjoy the quiet of the lake. I would bring the trolling motor, keeping with your friend’s lead.

I live on an 188 acre long narrow lake with 25 and 40 ft holes. If I have friend visiting that want to fish we take out my 17 ft pontoon. If it is me alone, I love my 11 ft classic paddle boat. It can be any place on the lake in short order.

For me, at your friend’s cabin, if I were fishing with someone I would take a canoe. If I were fishing alone I would take a Kayak. It is a different type of fishing but it is very enjoyable to glide up close to the shore. Drop a small jig over the side and fight a slab sunny into the boat.

Try a new VMC tungsten fly jig and have a good time. Have fun.

Thanks for the thoughts DJ. I love to paddle but my 10 year old kid is not the strongest paddler and I would like to be able to focus more on fishing and less on paddling or rowing.

The lake is quiet but not THAT quiet. Lots of homeowners with nice deep V’s, pontoons, and runabouts at their docks. I’ll obviously be very courteous when running the outboard.

Attaching an (old) lake map for shape. Some decent deep holes there.

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No locator you’ll want to stick to the weed/shorelines especially with the kiddo, and depending on water clarity, sun, and wind conditions seeing what weeds are still green and up might be problematic. SLOW trolling might be boring but will cover alot of area to find the fish. Once found then can sit still and cast around. Longlining a 1/16oz with a crappie minnow/crawler and a jig with fathead can be effective. Snagging weeds is a good thing nowadays to help determine what’s going on under the water.

Good luck up there, looks like a fun lake to figure out.

Ok that 50lb thrust on a 12′ would be pretty stronge-the electric would be more versitile, big battery keep her charged and you should be good. Good Luck!

After thinking about it I’d say leave both those motors at home. Go get yourself some drones like that Canadian dude.

targaman wrote:

After thinking about it I’d say leave both those motors at home. Go get yourself some drones like that Canadian dude.

hey, he still had a yammie to get him out on top of those spawning gills.

P2F what did you end up using?

I would have pointed you towards the outboard as well mostly for wind reasons.

Brian Klawitter wrote:

P2F what did you end up using?

I would have pointed you towards the outboard as well mostly for wind reasons.

I brought my 1966 Kiekhaefer Merc 6hp. It should have made that little boat scoot, but the motor has some issues. Gonna be my winter project, I received it free just this fall and had only barrel-tested it. It’s a good starter and idles alright even, but it won’t run anywhere near WOT right now. It’ll rev up nice and high in neutral, but not once it’s in gear. If I can get it running well I’m going to start looking around for a an old junker tin boat to fix up. Shhh don’t tell the wife.

Anyway, it got us all around the lake and then some at about 5mph. Probably a hair better than if I’d brought an electric.