Deerhunter2

Thank you. That is the type of opinions I was hoping for. My boat is a 1984 Skeeter SF-150 with a 1985 Evinrude 150 XP. The boat itself is 16.75' long, 86" beam, 1040 lbs dry weight. Old rig, but looks and runs like new. I usually never use to trolling motor more than about 3 hours at a time and was thinking of using the 12 volt one with more thrust than keep up with two batteries for the lower thrust 24 volt motor.

My Minn Kota 55AT is 12 volt only. I was asking if you all would prefer a 24 volt - 41 lb thrust motor or a 12 volt - 55 lb thrust motor. Which one would be best?

I have a 17' long by 56" wide welded flat bottom boat (Alweld brand) with a 90 hp Merc. with a jet on it. Has stick steering set up about 7 feet ahead of the motor. I can run the boat fully loaded in water down to 4 inches deep, which is great for the small rivers here around my home. I also run it in the tail water below bagnell dam some. Also run the Missouri river around Herman, Mo. and Washington, Mo. So in short the set up works great for me from supper shallow water to deep muddy water, although it is not worth a crap in a big lake with waves over 1 1/2 feet. In waves the jet comes out of the water alot. A riveted boat will start seeping around the rivets after just a little use with a jet on it no matter what size the motor is, (personal experience). Tiller steering is fine with a jet motor no bigger than a 40 hp, jet motors bigger than that (prop motors also for that matter) will wear you out with tiller steering. I personally would not run a prop motor if I plan on running any shallow water, unless the motor is 15 hp or less. Never a good thing when a prop motor touches the bottom, (something will and has to break). All of this is just my personal opinion from my experiences with several different boats that I have owned. Others my disagree with some of my opinions, but I hope it helps you out somehow. Oh, I don't know where you live but around here (Central Mo.) you could find a decent older 16 foot welded boat with a running 40 hp jet motor for around 3,000, if you wasn't afraid to buy one that might need a little tlc. And, I totally agree with Old MFU, the thicker the aluminum the better the boat. My Alweld brand boat is 0.100 thick and it has taken a beating without much problems.

Dusky, I know the Min Kota is only 12 volt. I am wondering why the motorguide has less thrust when it WILL run on 24 volt. LogPerch, I understand the 24 volt Motorguide will last longer but how would it be stronger when it only says 41 lbs on it and the Minn Kota says 55 lbs? My confusion is: Why would the 24 volt motor be rated at a smaller thrust than the 12 volt one.

I have a Minn Kota 55AT - it is 12 volt and 55 lbs thrust. I also have a Motorguide model 750 - it is 12/24 volt and says 41 lbs thrust. Why does the one that will run on 24 volt list a smaller thrust and wouldn't it be stronger on 24v than it would be on 12v? Any input will be appreciated.

Thanks for the advice folks! I always seem to get great advice from this forum.

Was wondering what time of year would be best to plan a week long stay at LOZ. When Crappie fishing would be best and weather temps. would make for comfortable fishing (not real cold or hot). Possibly around the Hwy 5 bridge on the Niangua arm. Or am I asking too much for super Crappie fishing and decent weather at the same time?

I'm staying at a resort right by the Hwy 5 bridge from Monday the 6th until the 12th. Hoping to catch some catfish and wondering if anyone has any idea's as to if the current conditions are favorable or not. Also, anyone got any advice to give me?

Thank you Seth.

Needing to try out an older bass boat that I just bought. Is the water at the Mari-Osa ramp suitable to run a 16 foot fiberglass bass boat with a 115 hp prop motor? I am wondering because it is closer for me than the Lake of the Ozarks and I just need a mile or so of water deep enough that I can run without having to be concerned about hitting something. Thanks in advance for anyone's input.

Well, snagging just isn't my thing I guess. I haven't given up on the spot, I've heard great things about it from lots of people I know. I figure that I just haven't hit it at the right time, and the water is still cold, so maybe after it warms up I will learn to love fishing it like I do the Missouri river.

Well we got there at 7:45am, My buddies went on down river to snag, My son and I fished several spots from the dam down to the bridge. We managed to catch an 10" white bass and a 12" channel cat on worms, and a 13" large mouth on a crappie jig. We tried jigging spoons as well as every thing else in the tackle box with no luck. So far I'm not overly impressed with the place, but I've only been there 3 times so far and the water is still cold. I will try it again after water temps warm up some. My buddies in the other boat snagged 5 keeper sized spoonbill.

My weekend plans got changed, so I'm going to try it again Sunday morning. Should arrive there around 7:30 am. Plan on trying to catch a cat or two with the new advice you guys have given me. A guy I work with is also going to snag again, He went last sunday and they came home with 2- 40 pounders and 1-30 pounder, I might try my luck at snagging if the cats don't bite. I'll be in a Silver F-250 with black fender flares and a silver Alweld brand boat with a Mercury 65 hp Jet (90 hp motor/ 65 hp out the jet). I'll let you all know how we did afterwards.

This is not official, but what I have been told by some others is that people fishing off the bank are not to fish above the orange line. People in boats are not to take their boat above the yellow line. From what I can tell, the yellow line is in line with the 75 yard arrow on the other side of the river. But again, I did not get this info from any official source.

I won't be able to make it this weekend or the next one either, but I will be going somewhere the last weekend of this month. Haven't made up my mind as to go to the Missouri River or below the dam again, might depend on what the other guys want to do. I am leaning toward the dam again, because I would like to try some of the advice you guys have given me. When it gets closer to time, I'll make a post as to where I'm going. If I end up going to the Missouri river, I'm not sure where to post on this forum because I don't see a section for the Missouri?