Dave Scroppo

Outboard Engine

fieldandstream-editor — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 05:45:00 -0400

Mercury Verado
After $100 million in R&D to develop the ultimate in R&R, Mercury's new Verado four-stroke outboards are now supercharged. Translation: Power is boosted by forcing a higher air volume into the combustion chamber. One advantage is a split-second hole shot. The big block sounds a lot like a jet engine when it takes off, capable of pushing a 1-ton walleye boat in excess of 60 mph. Before, a minimum of 3 liters of displacement was needed to produce a 250-horse outboard, but the six-cylinder Verado has a displacement of 2.6 liters for 200, 225, 250, and 275 horses. Furthermore, power steering is incredibly smooth, and troublesome accelerator cables are a thing of the past-the controls are entirely digital. Naturally, with a four-stroke, emissions and noise are reduced as well. $15,895Â¿Â¿Â¿$19,787; 920-929-5000; www.mercurymarine.com

Gear Review: New Trolling Motors

fieldandstream-editor — Tue, 30 May 2006 16:00:00 -0400

In the domain of trolling motors, where brands have come and gone, only Minn Kota and MotorGuide remain. They've prevailed with more powerful motors that maneuver large boats with multiple batteries and run longer because of greater electric efficiency. Features are smarter than ever, including hands- and foot-free navigation based on compass headings or depth-reading technology. We tested four units that stand above the others; one of these should be right for the fishing you do.

Click on an image to enlarge

Minn Kota Engine-Mount
FEATURES Quiet oomph from the back of the boat-that's the ticket with these new motors that bolt to the main engine's cavitation plate and ride out of the water when on plane. They're excellent for trolling shallow water or pulling spinner rigs below 1 mph. They provide power from the stern to augment the thrust when you maneuver with a bow-mount in current, and have strength to spare.
MODELS Available in 12-, 24-, and 36-volt models, with single or dual props, for a range of thrust from 55 to 202 pounds. $550Â¿Â¿Â¿$1,450 for freshwater units; $600Â¿Â¿Â¿$1,500 for salt; www.minnkotamotors.com
HITS You adjust trolling speed with a rheostat, so it's possible to dial in increments of .1 mph.
MISSES Don't expect to go backward, as pulling water past the shaft of the big engine saps strength.

Minn Kota PowerDrive Bow-Mount
FEATURES AutoPilot automatically steers your craft in the direction you select, adjusting for wind, waves, and current. (A wireless remote is optional.) Combine a PowerDrive with a gas motor on the transom and you can control speed to tenths of a mile per hour.
MODELS Includes 12- and 24-volt versions, with shaft lengths of 48 to 60 inches. Power levels range from 40 to 80 pounds of thrust. $340Â¿Â¿Â¿$1,050; www.minnkotamotors.com
HITS Set the AutoPilot and you can fish without attention to the foot pedal.
MISSES Electronic steering is somewhat slow to respond when a river rips.

MotorGuide Transom-Mount
FEATURES This freshwater series is ideal for moderate watercraft. These electrics are more reliable than ever and have better seals to protect against moisture. Internal communication is digital, to monitor amp draw and heat.
MODELS A collection of 12- and 24-volt motors provides a range of thrust from 30 to 82 pounds. The bigger electric has variable speeds and an extension handle. $100Â¿Â¿Â¿$400; motorguide.com
HITS To back-troll, you can turn the motor around so it operates in forward mode when it's pointed in reverse.
MISSES It's trickier to steer when you're pushing a boat from the transom.

MotorGuide PTSv Bow-Mount
FEATURES Set a PTSv to follow a contour, or steer it manually with a foot pedal. When you want to navigate a precise depth, this motor lets you do it hands-free, using five transducers in the lower unit. Catch something? Return to the scene by punching the 180 feature, which allows you to backtrack.
MODELS There are models that can power bass boats measuring up to 22 feet. $1,600Â¿Â¿Â¿$1,800; motorguide.com
HITS The 36-volt model has a power curve, so it can blast a 20-foot boat at 5 mph or just creep along.
MISSES The Bottom Track mode has some difficulty over flat lake bottoms.

Outboard Review: The Little Engines That Could

fieldandstream-editor — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 05:05:00 -0400

Yamaha T8
Features: Yamaha's 8-hp auxiliary motors are marvels in ergonomics. The electric tilt and trim is built into the tiller handle along with forward-and-reverse gear. Smart features include tensioning on the tiller elbow, which holds it in place where you tilt it, and a bracket in the steering mechanism that will keep the boat on track even if you take your hand off the tiller. A sensitive throttle control lets you goose or decrease the speed at a slow idle.
Hits: The tiller, shifter, and speed control are all in close proximity.
Misses: In very rough seas, the tensioning that should keep the T8 pointed forward when the big motor is under power is not strong enough to stop it from flopping to one side or the other.
Price: $3,100
Weight: 116 lb.
Contact: yamaha-motor.com

Suzuki DF2.5, DF4, DF6
Features: Portability is plausible with the new DF2.5; its weight rivals that of a full tackle box. Pull this little 2.5-hp four-stroke out of a car trunk and let it push a canoe or johnboat into places where paddles or oars can't cut it. The water-cooled DF2.5, like the 4- and 6-hp models, uses a 1.5-liter fuel tank enclosed under the hood. The DF4 and DF6 add a remote fuel connector for use with an external tank. Each has a tiller handle for steering, and a grip for transport. And unlike other little outboards, these go in forward, neutral, and reverse.
Hits: Thirty pounds is less than half the weight of a battery for an electric trolling motor.
Misses: At full throttle, the DF2.5 burns through its internal gas supply in 45 minutes.
Price: $875Â¿Â¿Â¿$1,760
Weight: 30Â¿Â¿Â¿57 lb.
Contact: suzuki.com

Mercury 9.9 & 15 BigFoot
Features: These small but sturdy four-stroke outboards are built in 9.9- and 15-hp models with the gear case of a 25 for greater durability along with a reduced gear ratio (2.42:1 instead of a standard 2:1) for better cornering. BigFoots have electric start with manual backup, and an aftermarket Mercury lift kit will tilt and trim the motors in shallow water-or stow and deploy them entirely. Best of all, the power in this package reminds me of a truck with low gear for hauling loads.
Hits: BigFoots have the torque to provide a burst of speed to steer away from hazards.
Misses: The slightest turn of the throttle moves the boat up to .5 mph faster instead of increasing the speed incrementally.
Price: $2,160Â¿Â¿Â¿$3,170
Weight: 96Â¿Â¿Â¿128 lb.
Contact: mercurymarine.com

Get the Point

fieldandstream-editor — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 07:15:00 -0500

You're going to do more harm than good attempting to improve the new generation of chemically sharpened hooks, but less expensive versions normally need touchups. Here's how:

Hold the hook by the shank between your thumb and forefinger so that the bend faces inward and the point is away from you. Grasp the file in your other hand.
Brush the left side of the point away from you down the file in one long stroke. Give it another stroke if you desire, but file any further and you'll weaken the point.
Repeat for the right side and the outside of the point.

TIP: Use a 4Â¿Â¿-inch inexpensive metal file for hooks up to size 4. A 5Â¿Â¿-inch model works for larger ones.

Ice Fishing Tip: The Flash Rig

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 01 Feb 2006 04:20:00 -0500

This bastardization of an open-water stalwart, the crawler harness, adds fish-catching color and flash to tip-up rigs and can be appropriated for jigging below a bobber.

To catch walleyes or magnum perch, start with a 2-foot length of 6-pound fluorocarbon or monofilament. At its end, tie a No. 10 treble hook, and above it slide on a neoprene bobber stop until it's anywhere from 6 to 10 inches above the treble. Add six 4mm chartreuse or orange plastic beads and a clevis with a No. 2 silver spinner blade. Tie the end of the leader to a swivel. Tip the treble with a 2- to 4-inch shiner.

To arm yourself for pike, use a 6-inch sucker or shiner, beef up your treble to a No. 4 and your leader to 20-pound-test fluorocarbon, and use six No. 6 to No. 8 red beads with a No. 4 red-and-white spinner blade.

Used beneath a tip-up or with a slip bobber on a short, ice-style spinning rod, this rig outfishes a plain minnow.

How to Extend the Life of your Superline

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:00:00 -0500

Get an extra season out of that expensive superline by stripping it off neatly in a large open space, spooling some mono backing onto your reel, then tying what was the front end to the backing. Make sure you use the mono. Without it, the age-slickened line may slip on your spool.

Use a Jig to Catch Walleyes

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:00:00 -0500

When walleyes are fussy in calm, clear water or after an Arctic front, a crappie-style tube jig accented with live bait can be a magic "open sesame." The best sneaky snack I've found is a 1½-inch black tube with chartreuse tentacles threaded over a 1/16-ounce jighead and fished on 4-pound line with a wandlike, 7-foot spinning rod.

For bait, the streamlined shape of a leech or half a nightcrawler are my favorites, although a fathead minnow is a smart choice when the water is cold.

Everything You Need to Know to Start Ice Fishing

fieldandstream-editor — Wed, 30 Nov 2005 19:00:00 -0500

Maybe you've seen them sitting on buckets in the middle of a frozen lake, and you wonder: Is that any fun? Maybe you're the one sitting on a bucket, in which case you know the answer: Hell, yeah, it's fun! Why else would anyone fish when the water is frozen?

You might also know that being an ice fisherman means belonging to a subculture in the angling world, and like any group, it has its own rules, jokes, and customs. Learning them is as important as being able to put fish on the ice. The good news is that you couldn't pick a better time to join the club.

Three Trolling Tactics for Walleye, Pike, and Lake Trout (and How to Rig Them)

fieldandstream-editor — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:00:00 -0400

When it comes to putting lures in the strike zone—and walleyes, northern pike, and lake trout into the fish box—few late-summer methods are as effective as trolling. But if you don't pay close attention to details like speed, depth, and lure choice, you'll just be going for a slow boat ride. Here's how to target each species with the right combination of flash, dash, and dive

TARGET 1: PIKE

How to Make a Wiffle Bat Handle for your Outboard Trolling Motor

fieldandstream-editor — Sun, 31 Jul 2005 20:00:00 -0400

A Wiffle bat makes a good extension handle for a trolling motor. Cut the grip from the plastic bat and slide the barrel over the motor's handle, securing it with a hose clamp and electrical tape. Now steer to your heart's content without having to sit or stand right beside the outboard. —DAVE SCROPPO