Fishing While Sitting at the Bow

[2tall79]

I'm to the point in my life (now 74) that if I want to continue to fish I need to do it sitting down. I've experimented a little with different poles and different seats but working the foot peddle is just extremely awkward.
I'm sure there are other old pharts on these boards who have faced similar issues. How did you manage?
I fish solo so back seat is not an option. Thanks

[Susky River Rat]

I do not use a full chair just one of those little pedastool seats. I have a terrova with one of the low  profile electric foot pedals and mount it right in the middle so I can turn from side to side and run it with either foot. It seems to work well. I do find myself more leaning against it most times than actually sitting on it. 

[looking45]

If you haven’t already tried, an adjustable pedestal might work for you. Switch to a trolling motor that has a remote

[jbmaine]

Our boat is a multi species style boat ,that for me, has very comfortable seats. Due to back and foot issues I mostly fish sitting down so comfort is top of my list.

  Our trolling motor is a MK Ulterra and I find using the remote works best.

[TOXIC]

Just watch any Bill Dance video on YouTube and you’ll see how he does it.  As a matter of fact when we see someone sitting up front, we call it the Dill Dance seat. 😎

[2tall79]

38 minutes ago, TOXIC said:

Just watch any Bill Dance video on YouTube and you’ll see how he does it.  As a matter of fact when we see someone sitting up front, we call it the Dill Dance seat. 😎

I actually went as far as buying one of those goose neck posts like he uses.  I'm just having a hard time getting in position to move the foot control (recessed) back and forth.  I think the remote idea may be the solution, however....my Fortrex is only a couple years old, so there's that.

[2tall79]

I'm reading about a voice activated control attachment for a Motorguide Lazer 2...hmmmm.

[Jig Man]

Check out the Millennium seats.  I have a bad back and bad knees.  I switched to them a couple of years ago and they are great.  Get the one with adjustable straps not the cables.

https://www.amazon.com/Millennium-Marine-B100-Boat-Seat/dp/B00JRHSMJS/ref=asc_df_B00JRHSMJS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241933247445&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15838784006872156653&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020569&hvtargid=pla-450938569625&psc=1

[GRiver]

My trolling motor is a foot pedal, not recessed, and not mounted to the deck. I move it around with my foot, to suit my needs while standing, leaning, or seated. My boat is only a 15ft, so not a lot of deck room on the bow. I didn’t mount it because I didn’t really know where I wanted it. I realized I didn’t want to mount it, I can slide it over to fish out of ether side of the boat, move it to use ether foot. I sit a more here lately, my right leg starts going numb if I stand alot anymore. It quickly goes away if I sit. 

[airshot]

Gotta agree with GRiver, my foot control has a long cable, can use it anywhere in my boat.  I am a lone fisherman myself, and at 73, standing is not something I prefer anymore. My MK has both remote and a long cable foot control, so I can use whatever I want. I do fish more in open water, more chop, so standing is a last resort, I even use hands and knees when deploying the bowmounted trolling motor.  At our ages, we can't be to carefull, so take what ever precautions needed to make sure you come back dry !

[Born 2 fish]

3 hours ago, 2tall79 said:

I actually went as far as buying one of those goose neck posts like he uses.  I'm just having a hard time getting in position to move the foot control (recessed) back and forth.  I think the remote idea may be the solution, however....my Fortrex is only a couple years old, so there's that.

You can sell your fortrex and then get something with a remote like the ultarra with power stow and deploy to make it easier for you. I use my remote much more than my pedal.

[gim]

I think the Fortrex has a big cable drive foot pedal.  So it naturally has to be in a recessed tray and cannot be moved around.  My Maxxum is very similar.

 

Going to a bow mount like an Ultrex or Ulterra that is remote-compatible would certainly help.  The Ultrex foot pedal would likely fit right into the recessed tray that the Fortrex currently has.  The Ulterra is an electric-steer model though, and the pedal is way different than a cable drive pedal.

[Alex from GA]

I fish several times a week and @ 83 with a cabled controlled trolling motor I almost always sit.  Getting in and out of the boat takes me longer than it used to.

[Scott F]

With a bad back, I have to sit most of the time as well. Without replacing the cable steer motor to a flat, electric steer motor, I don’t think there is any other good option for you

[DaubsNU1]

Old boat build, I moved the seat back a little so I could stand or sit. The cable steer pedal was not fixed, so I could move it around and position as needed. Found myself sitting a lot. 

 

 

New boat has Ulterra with remote. Most days I leave the seats in the back and fish standing up on the front deck. When I want to sit, I move to back and use the remote. 

 

 

 

[Catt]

On 11/9/2023 at 2:46 PM, 2tall79 said:

I actually went as far as buying one of those goose neck posts like he uses. 

 

Those things are useless 😕 

 

More out of position than your foot control.

 

I've always sat more than I stand. Absolutely can't stand the little "butt" seats.

 

I've learn how how to flip-n-pitch seating.

 

I'm old school, I still prefer a hand control.

 

Edited November 11, 2023 by Catt
Fingers faster than the brain

[MN Fisher]

9 minutes ago, Catt said:

I've always sat more than I stand.

I'm getting there myself...right now it's about 50/50

10 minutes ago, Catt said:

Absolutely can't still the little "butt" seats.

I may be changing mine out as my hip wasn't liking it this past year.

[Catt]

@MN Fisher I've always sat more than I stand.

 

I also forgot, get the tallest one piece pedestal you can find. Most are 11-13", mine is 14-16", it goes everywhere I go, even if in someone else boat.

[MN Fisher]

34 minutes ago, Catt said:

I also forgot, get the tallest one piece pedestal you can find. Most are 11-13", mine is 14-16", it goes everywhere I go, even if in someone else boat.

The one I got up front is a 16"

[Darth-Baiter]

I don't need the pedestal when fishing for domestic bass.  I can typically stand all day.

 

my friend doesn't even know where his pedestals are.  

[Team9nine]

David Fritts is another who has made a fine living sitting down while fishing out of the front of the boat.

 

 

 

I’m actually in a deep-V that is set up for backtrolling, myself, so I spend a lot of time sitting, too, using a hand control TM.

[WRB]

I prefer standing but setting is less tiring and safer in windy white capped wave conditions. What helps the most is today’s TM’s with spot lock and GPS map depth control ability to follow contour depth. This makes the TM a real asset when fishing from the front seat alone standing or setting.

Tom

[heavyduty]

On 11/9/2023 at 4:35 PM, Jig Man said:

Check out the Millennium seats.  I have a bad back and bad knees.  I switched to them a couple of years ago and they are great.  Get the one with adjustable straps not the cables.

https://www.amazon.com/Millennium-Marine-B100-Boat-Seat/dp/B00JRHSMJS/ref=asc_df_B00JRHSMJS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241933247445&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15838784006872156653&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1020569&hvtargid=pla-450938569625&psc=1

THIS!! I just got the millenium seats and love them. I'm a big guy with a big butt so I prefer the cables vs the straps. They come with the straps, so if you don't like them you can get the cables, easy swap.