Trolling with larger 4 stroke?

I’m thinking of upgrading my 16ft Sylvan with 40hp motor. Looking at 17ft range with @90hp. Wondering if a 4 stroke motor that size is suitable to troll with? Would like to not add a smaller kicker. Would do a bit of salmon and lake trout fishing as well as General rec boating.

I have a 16.5 lowe with a 60 and just above idle, usually doing 2-2.5 mph. Tried the trolling plates, which slow you down, but have way less control of the boat. Usually have to troll into the head wind to get it slow enough for pickeral.

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Originally Posted by terrym

I’m thinking of upgrading my 16ft Sylvan with 40hp motor. Looking at 17ft range with @90hp. Wondering if a 4 stroke motor that size is suitable to troll with? Would like to not add a smaller kicker. Would do a bit of salmon and lake trout fishing as well as General rec boating.

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When I upgraded, I checked out 4 stroke engines. The extra weight was a concern to me, as well as the maintenance. I went with a 75 etec, and love it. It sips gas and oil, is very quiet and trolls all day with not a bit of smoke. It has a button that allows you to lower the RPM, without using the throttle. I have a 17.6 PolarKraft tiller. I can troll down to 1.6 with no problem on dead calm seas.
There is no maintenance required for three years. It virtually winterized itself fogging the engine. I originally thought of a 90, but it was a couple grand more, and the dealer said I might get 5 mph more.
The 75 pushes the boat with two big guys aboard, 38 mph... not many days on Erie allow for that kind of speed anyhow..

I to have a 75 etec on my Lund, I also troll with it all day long with no problem, no need for a kicker.

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Originally Posted by fishermccann

I to have a 75 etec on my Lund, I also troll with it all day long with no problem, no need for a kicker.

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Is it slow enough for lakers & salmon? I usually bottom bounce with electric for pickerel.

I have a good friend who has 2 Mercury 115hp 4 strokes.
They both troll perfectly fine on his 16.5 Lund and on his Lund tri-toon also.

I have a LUND Impact 1850 with a 115H.P.
I troll for Lake trout and Salmon without any problems.
I also use my I-Pilot electric for walleye and Bass.

Thanks guys. That’s what I was hoping to hear.

On a related topic, what speed does everyone troll for pickerel at ?

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On a related topic, what speed does everyone troll for pickerel at ?

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For me on Erie, the sweet spot is around 2.8mph.