Mud Motor question.

[Daryk Campbell Sr]

I have been seeing people online who use mud motors in similar ways that I see others use jet motors.  I know they are technically engines as they are operating on gasoline, not electricity.  

What experience or thoughts do you have?  I have access to a few shallow creeks, my boat will draft them, but my prop on my 9.8 sits deeper than the boat, and I really dont want to get out and drag.  I know it comes with the territory.   Just would like to minimize it.   My fear, or worry woukd be turning around.   Pros, cons, thoughts?

[ollie]

I have seen a couple of people using them on the Elk down here. There is one brand out there and I can't think of the name right now, but you basically buy the frame and then sit your own motor in it. That way if the motor ever gives out you can just replace it and they have several options as far as what you can drop in them. The ones I have seen are fairly noisy though IMO.

[Terrierman]

7 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

I have been seeing people online who use mud motors in similar ways that I see others use jet motors.  I know they are technically engines as they are operating on gasoline, not electricity.  

What experience or thoughts do you have?  I have access to a few shallow creeks, my boat will draft them, but my prop on my 9.8 sits deeper than the boat, and I really dont want to get out and drag.  I know it comes with the territory.   Just would like to minimize it.   My fear, or worry woukd be turning around.   Pros, cons, thoughts?

Just run the prop and drag now and again.  You're tough enough.  And you got kids.

[slothman]

As I understand it, mud motors do better in the slop where as jet motors are better with a rocky bottom. 

[fishinwrench]

10 hours ago, Daryk Campbell Sr said:

but my prop on my 9.8 sits deeper than the boat, and I really dont want to get out and drag.

If the little outboard is hitting bottom it's only ankle deep. Step out and quit being a puss!  😄

[Gavin]

Doubt if you can do much damage with a 9.9, wont go fast enough to really break anything. Just grind that prop, drag it, and bring extra prop &  pins. Might bunjee the lock down pin so the skeg bounces if you hit bottom or a big object.

 

 

[Brian Jones]

Over the years I have seen a handful of guys (mainly trappers) on the middle Gasconade and middle to lower Meramec using mud motors or small prop outboards with those hand operated engine lifts (those things are pretty neat).  But the bottom line is if you are a river rat there is absolutely no substitution for a jet.  Period.  Sure you can walk riffles, etc. But on all of the rivers I fish there are good holes that are considerable distances between accesses.  And putting through long holes and wading riffles is really impractical most of the time on these waters.  

[top_dollar]

39 minutes ago, Brian Jones said:

Over the years I have seen a handful of guys (mainly trappers) on the middle Gasconade and middle to lower Meramec using mud motors or small prop outboards with those hand operated engine lifts (those things are pretty neat).  But the bottom line is if you are a river rat there is absolutely no substitution for a jet.  Period.  Sure you can walk riffles, etc. But on all of the rivers I fish there are good holes that are considerable distances between accesses.  And putting through long holes and wading riffles is really impractical most of the time on these waters.  

What is the farthest up the big river you would run a jet boat?  I'm pretty ignorant of the things, and their capabilities. 

[Brian Jones]

27 minutes ago, top_dollar said:

What is the farthest up the big river you would run a jet boat?  I'm pretty ignorant of the things, and their capabilities. 

I've never been above Blackwell bridge and have only done that a couple of times.  Both were early spring week days when the river was high and I was pretty confident I wouldn't encounter anyone else.  I know some local guys who run their jets around Cherokee Landing/St. Francois state park in the spring.  But that is something I don't feel comfortable doing in ours and personally don't think the river needs jet boats up that high.  As a general rule I won't run Big River when the gauge at Richwoods is below 3.2 and won't run above the hole at the old Big River Heights bridge once the river gets busy even if I can.

[fishinwrench]

With the smaller low torque jet outboards, like the little 25 that I have, you have to be careful not to idle slowly over fine gravel or sand because it will suck it up, seize the impeller, and kill the motor.   Most times you can grab the flywheel and force it counterclockwise to free it back up.....but occasionally it will lock up so tight that removal of the impeller is the only way to unstick it.