1 minute ago, kschultz76 said:

I haven’t been able to fish Spruce Run since 2018 or 2019 and miss it loved fishing there. Round Valley was a blast last fall, all kinds of submerged trees and shrubs now. Want to get up to Merrill Creek this year too. 
 

Lazy was the name of the game for me with all these small things like the boat buckles. Less parts to lose and move around at the boat ramp while also keeping track of the kids. 

I plan to hit round valley this year. The freshly submerged vegetation is a lot more interesting than what it was 3 years ago. Did it fish well?

 

I struggle with Merrill. Plenty of big fish and great cover. But I love to fish the two hours before and after sunset/sunrise. And the gate times are not that. So I can’t be bothered to go fish it. 

Got a solid day on the water in today. New lake, awful conditions, and didn’t catch a bass (though I’ll go back to this lake again).  But did a lot of tweaking on the electronics, proved that a 10 pitch prop is too much for a 9.9 on a small aluminum bass boat, got 3 more hours of the break in done (4 to go), and caught the first fish out of the boat. I thought I had found some bass- outside swing of the creek channel in 12’ of water when most of the lake is far less, big brush pile close to spawning grounds.  Alas, not bass. After this one at it the others moved away from the pile and I knew it was a school of crappie before I even landed it. 
 

 

Got out for a couple hours this evening after work.  The air was 35 degrees and the water had dropped from 5 degrees from Sunday night (54 to 49) so again, this wasn’t much about catching fish as much as getting used to the boat, getting a few more things dialed in, and getting used to fishing out of a boat instead of a kayak.  

 

First, I have the prop dialed in now.  For anyone future searching on the web and finding this thread, the mercury pro kicker maybe isn’t the best choice.  I don’t know for sure what this boat would top out at with the regular 9.9 and lower ratio lower unit, but the pro kicker has the lower unit from a 15 hp with a 2.42 gear ratio. It is deigned for heavier boats and lower speeds with better control at lower speeds.  I can attest that the 5 pitch 4 blade prop that came with it had excellent maneuverability at low speed.  it just didn’t have a high speed.  It topped out at 5800 rpm and a bit over 6 mph.  At full throttle I could side image with crystal clarity!  I tested 4 different pitches of prop from a 7 to a 10, starting with the 10 and working down.   The 10 was too much and I could only hit 4000 RPM and 6.8 mph or so.  That day was spent in the idling range of RPMs (it was a small lake).  I put the 9 on and ran it for 30 minutes on Sunday.  It hit 4800 RPM and was in the mid 7’s mph but still not quite what I was looking for.  The operating range for this motor is 5000-6000 rpm.  I went tonight with the 8 and it was night and day compared to the 9.  I bumped up to around 5500 rpm and up over 10 mph quickly and eventually hitting 10.8 going into wind and chop.  I was surprised to be getting 800 rpm per inch of prop, but it’s true on this one.  I figured that was right, but since I had the 7 pitch in the truck I ran back to the ramp and changed it out.  The first run it reved up over 6000 rpm at full throttle and was only hitting mid 7’s mph again so i backed it down and went fishing.  All in, just under 11 mph isn’t bad for a ~1200 lb boat (that’s loaded weight plus me)with a 9.9. I don’t know if a different lower unit would add much more once you play with props- at the end of the day its still a 10 hp motor.  Either way, its almost 3x what I was running in the kayak and within the HP limits for the lakes around here.  The longest practical run i would make is 3 miles (longest theoretical would be 5) so 20 minutes or so. 

 

Spotlock is going to be so awesome.  I had it on the kayak and knew what it could do already.  But now Ive got it dialed in with a bigger platform.  Tonight’s temps and wind/rain were pretty awful, but not so bad with a hood up if it was at your back.  So, spotlock in and walk to the back of the boat to cast out the back instead of the front.  It keeps the wind at your back and having a 6x6’ platform is pretty nice to work from.  Also, on the kayak I loved having nav/heading lock and cruise control. I can’t set a speed since I only have the mini remote, but with the foot pedal you can set a heading, turn on continuous drive, and then roll the speed dial as you go.  And instead of using your hands to adjust direction you just use the pedal.  It’s pretty slick and I’m going to love it.  

 

Perspective mode on Mega live 2 is a vast improvement from ML1 and I can see some uses for it.  The lake tonight already has grass growing within 1.5’ of the surface.  Electronics on this lake aren’t useful most of the time and that will definitely be true this year.  I cruised it a bunch and never really found the edge of it like in prior years.  But, perspective/landscape mode on mega live 2 was able to show the lanes in the grass really well that if I wanted to cast to the holes you could.  Think mega 360 in live imaging.  It’s very close to that.  

 

I’ve got a couple more little tweaks to the boat, but it’s close enough now that it’s time to start focusing on the fishing.  

25 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Think mega 360 in live imaging.  It’s very close to that.  

 

That's what I like to hear...I planned to forgo M360 and just go with ML2, and it seems like it's going to work out well for some waters I fish.

53 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

 I went tonight with the 8 and it was night and day compared to the 9.  I bumped up to around 5500 rpm and up over 10 mph quickly and eventually hitting 10.8 going into wind and chop.  

Could you share the info on the 8 pitch prop you had success with? My 9.9 is also the command thrust carbureted version. Same thing with my PT 175, with just me, 7 gallons in the tank, 3 batteries, and gear top out at 6.8-7.2 mph. 
 

Wouldn’t mind a little more speed as long as it’s not over stressing the engine or running out of its rpm range. 

10 hours ago, Junger said:

 

That's what I like to hear...I planned to forgo M360 and just go with ML2, and it seems like it's going to work out well for some waters I fish.

 

If I remember the next time I'm out I will snap a picture for you.  When I had ML1 I loved the idea of landscape mode as a live 360 but it didn't have the clarity to pull it off.  ML2 is a big jump.  This lake fills in with pondweed very early and then milfoil over the top of it.  They use a harvester every summer and spray also, but the lake is only 5-6' deep at the deepest and most of it is 4' and flat silt bottom.  Usually there are edges you can find which will be a couple hundred yards long that you can fish and where the fish set up.  But I motored all over the lake and couldn't find a good edge plus the pondweed was already within 18" of the surface.  It hasn't filled in fully full yet (it gets really thick) but its enough that you're not getting most baits through it yet by blind casting.  But with the landscape mode there was enough clarity that you could pick between them if you wanted.

 

10 hours ago, kschultz76 said:

Could you share the info on the 8 pitch prop you had success with? My 9.9 is also the command thrust carbureted version. Same thing with my PT 175, with just me, 7 gallons in the tank, 3 batteries, and gear top out at 6.8-7.2 mph. 
 

Wouldn’t mind a little more speed as long as it’s not over stressing the engine or running out of its rpm range. 

 

I went with the Solas Amita 3-blade.  You'll have to find the right one that fits your motor (10, 12, 14 spline) and the right pitch for your boat and load.  Mine is 9.25"x 8"pitch.  Your 175 is a bit bigger and heavier than my 1600 storm. I am guessing you're running lead batteries also?  I'm running 2 lithiums and a small group 24 lead.  My gas tank is a 6 gallon, but I was only running with 2.  If that was all lead and a full tank it would add another #120 or so.  My fully loaded weight including me is about 1200#.  I bet your boat alone weighs that much.  In that case a 7 might be the right pitch, but then again if you have a different lower unit (I don't know the CT models) you might or might not.  The only way to know is to try a couple and watch your RPMs.

I don't know how, but I missed all of your updates since you and I PM'd last.  Congrats man!  I like your choice of add-ons.  What did you end up doing for batteries?

 

I see you caught your first fish in it too.  Sweet!  My last boat, my first fish was a sunny.  I wasn't even a Bass chaser yet. LOL but then the addiction happened.....LOL

1 hour ago, Craig P said:

I don't know how, but I missed all of your updates since you and I PM'd last.  Congrats man!  I like your choice of add-ons.  What did you end up doing for batteries?

 

I see you caught your first fish in it too.  Sweet!  My last boat, my first fish was a sunny.  I wasn't even a Bass chaser yet. LOL but then the addiction happened.....LOL

I went with a 24/50 lithium for the motor, 12/100 lithium for the electronics, and a group 24 lead for the starter and accessories. Onboard charger. So far I haven’t made a dent in the 24/50. I’ve run the 12/100 down halfway based on the charger lights and that was 5-6 hours with both on high brightness and all things pinging. The lead stays charged from the motor but I plug it all in when I get home anyway. 
 

final add on for now is coming this weekend. Since I can’t put the recessed tray in I am going to keep a seat up front. But there isn’t much space so I got an offset seat post to but back 4-5” and added a millennium palma horse which gets me 2 more. With the factory seat and offset post I had just enough room so the extra 2” from the Palma will be right. 

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

I went with a 24/50 lithium for the motor, 12/100 lithium for the electronics, and a group 24 lead for the starter and accessories. Onboard charger. So far I haven’t made a dent in the 24/50. I’ve run the 12/100 down halfway based on the charger lights and that was 5-6 hours with both on high brightness and all things pinging. The lead stays charged from the motor but I plug it all in when I get home anyway. 
 

final add on for now is coming this weekend. Since I can’t put the recessed tray in I am going to keep a seat up front. But there isn’t much space so I got an offset seat post to but back 4-5” and added a millennium palma horse which gets me 2 more. With the factory seat and offset post I had just enough room so the extra 2” from the Palma will be right. 

Sounds like a nice setup. I’m not a sitter but I have a butt rest from my last boat that I tried, not a lot of room so it just collects dust on a shelf now. 

2 hours ago, Craig P said:

Sounds like a nice setup. I’m not a sitter but I have a butt rest from my last boat that I tried, not a lot of room so it just collects dust on a shelf now. 

 

I’m not a sitter either.  In the kayak I stood the entire time unless I was landing fish or tying on a lure.  That was the plan here too- leave the seat in the back just in case, but not have it in the front ever.  But with the ultrex pedal being higher it’s a lot to balance on one foot with only half of my weight on the pedal foot.  Maybe on still days it will be just fine, but it’s been so windy lately that a leaning post is nice.  The second seat came home and went to the basement on the first day.  Now the second seat base and back will go after I transfer the mount to the new one.  

1 hour ago, casts_by_fly said:

 

I’m not a sitter either.  In the kayak I stood the entire time unless I was landing fish or tying on a lure.  That was the plan here too- leave the seat in the back just in case, but not have it in the front ever.  But with the ultrex pedal being higher it’s a lot to balance on one foot with only half of my weight on the pedal foot.  Maybe on still days it will be just fine, but it’s been so windy lately that a leaning post is nice.  The second seat came home and went to the basement on the first day.  Now the second seat base and back will go after I transfer the mount to the new one.  

Looking like captain Morgan with no recess.   You can recess with that boat.  You’ll cut into the support about 1/4” towards the seat base. Not enough to compromise it but you need to be calculated and start your rectangle tight to the front at the round access.

Just about dialed in.  The offset seat post and millennium seat are a huge change as exactly what I was looking for.  This boat doesn't have a ton of space between the seat post base and the end of the carpet.  The offset post is 3-4” of setback.  The millennium seat is another 2” compared to turning the factory seat around to its skinniest and lean against it.  That makes around 6” of extra space for my feet while leaning against the seat which makes a ton of difference.

 

Loaded with just the trolling motor for the first time on this boat.  I’ve done it before on my dad’s various boats (I was always the driver on-er and he did the truck) but learning all of it myself on a new boat is a learning process.  This was a shallower ramp in the first place (and probably the most common place I’ll launch) and I’ve been driving it on with the 9.9 so far.  On this ramp you have to back WAY back in to be far enough to get the boat up. At first I left the first foot of the bunks out of the water (I’d leave 2’ out for the 9.9) but the boat hung up 6’ from the front roller.  I tried getting more of a run at it but the same result.  After I backed it in to submerge the bunks entirely I got it up to about 2’ short which was enough to winch it up.  Of course the truck rear tires were in the water at that point but I thought ahead and dropped the tailgate and rear window so I could step onto the tire and then the running board to get in. 

18 minutes ago, casts_by_fly said:

Loaded with just the trolling motor for the first time on this boat.  I’ve done it before on my dad’s various boats (I was always the driver on-er and he did the truck) but learning all of it myself on a new boat is a learning process.  This was a shallower ramp in the first place (and probably the most common place I’ll launch) and I’ve been driving it on with the 9.9 so far.  On this ramp you have to back WAY back in to be far enough to get the boat up. At first I left the first foot of the bunks out of the water (I’d leave 2’ out for the 9.9) but the boat hung up 6’ from the front roller.  I tried getting more of a run at it but the same result.  After I backed it in to submerge the bunks entirely I got it up to about 2’ short which was enough to winch it up.  Of course the truck rear tires were in the water at that point but I thought ahead and dropped the tailgate and rear window so I could step onto the tire and then the running board to get in. 

 

From your photos it looks like you’ve got enough room to the left of you 9.9 to mount a transom mount electric trolling motor. Get yourself one of these for those electric only lakes, easier loading and unloading. And also easier for longer distant cruising then standing upfront.  It’s also better than possibly damaging your very expensive Ultrex banging it into the trailer. 
 

https://www.boemarine.com/minn-kota-traxxis-80-freshwater-trolling-motor-transom-mount-24v-80lb-42-variable-speed.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3deClfHdjAMVFmFHAR00YxtuEAQYByABEgKM_vD_BwE
 

My Dad’s old 15’ boat had a 9.9 tiller steer on it so for electric only lakes we (me) would take the gas motor off to put an electric troller on the transom. I like not hefting that 75lbs or so off the transom. 

13 minutes ago, kschultz76 said:

From your photos it looks like you’ve got enough room to the left of you 9.9 to mount a transom mount electric trolling motor. Get yourself one of these for those electric only lakes, easier loading and unloading. And also easier for longer distant cruising then standing upfront.  It’s also better than possibly damaging your very expensive Ultrex banging it into the trailer. 
 

https://www.boemarine.com/minn-kota-traxxis-80-freshwater-trolling-motor-transom-mount-24v-80lb-42-variable-speed.html?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3deClfHdjAMVFmFHAR00YxtuEAQYByABEgKM_vD_BwE
 

My Dad’s old 15’ boat had a 9.9 tiller steer on it so for electric only lakes we (me) would take the gas motor off to put an electric troller on the transom. I like not hefting that 75lbs or so off the transom. 

 

I’ve considered a transom mount but i don’t really have the need.  The lake today was 110 acres.  Another nearby is 50.  I’m not fishing bigger water and I am literally launching and starting to fish.  When I do make a ‘longer’ run I just sit in the drivers seat and steer with the remote.  I set a navigation heading and go sit down.

On 4/10/2025 at 10:58 PM, Junger said:

 

That's what I like to hear...I planned to forgo M360 and just go with ML2, and it seems like it's going to work out well for some waters I fish.

 

 

I grabbed a couple screen grabs tonight while things were slow.  It was windy so these had a little motion in them.  On top, these are iPhone pictures of the screen while in my garage which were then compressed to fit the forum.  These are good but seeing it on the screen while you are panning and your brain puts the picture together- impressive.  

 

There are 3 trees in this lake (a new one fell last summer).  These two have given me a few fish over the years now.  This is above water:

 

 

This is below water in forward mode.  yes, that’s probably a bass on the bottom and some bluegills a little higher up. 

 

 

Here is the other tree:

 

 

Forward and landscape.

 

 

 

 

Then a shallow water shot in landscape of a couple chunk rocks that are about 10-12” for perspective.

 

 

These are all basically full auto for sensitivity and contrast.  I played with settings and you can do different things depending on your preferences.  I am liking Doppler mode for down imaging.  You don’t see it in these shots, but on a very hard return or turning up the sensitivity it highlights good returns in yellow/orange/red incrementally.  On landscape I think I like this one best (blue craw maybe?) but i need to play a little more.  I think sunlike conditions might change my mind.  

 

Got the first bass out of the boat. Only a small one but they all count 

On 4/11/2025 at 10:09 AM, casts_by_fly said:

I went with the Solas Amita 3-blade.  You'll have to find the right one that fits your motor (10, 12, 14 spline) and the right pitch for your boat and load.  Mine is 9.25"x 8"pitch.  Your 175 is a bit bigger and heavier than my 1600 storm. I am guessing you're running lead batteries also?  I'm running 2 lithiums and a small group 24 lead.  My gas tank is a 6 gallon, but I was only running with 2.  If that was all lead and a full tank it would add another #120 or so.  My fully loaded weight including me is about 1200#.  I bet your boat alone weighs that much.  In that case a 7 might be the right pitch, but then again if you have a different lower unit (I don't know the CT models) you might or might not.  The only way to know is to try a couple and watch your RPMs.

Am I right in assuming you’ve got the 9.9 ProKicker CommandThrust carb version and not the EFI? And a 14 tooth spline?  Have you liked how it maneuvers at lower speed loading onto the trailer with the new prop?

I’m probably around 1350 lbs loaded including me and 10 gallons of gas to start the season. 
 

If so that’s the same motor mine came with from Tracker, with a 4 blade 10x7 silver prop. Looking at Solas they have the same 3 props you mention in 14 spline to fit my motor. Mercury has a few 3 blades as well for 14 spline, but looks like from older Bigfoot versions maybe. A 9.5x8 and a 9.25x9.

 

Right I don’t know what RPM I’m hitting bc Tracker went from analog gauges to a digital touchscreen thing that only works for most motor info if your motor is VesselView capable, which the 9.9 is not. I’m getting a TinyTach to try so I can see where I am. 

This is my model serial tag. 

I really would like to get a few more mph, but don’t want to over stress the engine or make it a lot harder to maneuver, the cable steering is already so slow to respond. 

 

  

23 minutes ago, kschultz76 said:

Am I right in assuming you’ve got the 9.9 ProKicker CommandThrust carb version and not the EFI? And a 14 tooth spline?  Have you liked how it maneuvers at lower speed loading onto the trailer with the new prop?

I’m probably around 1350 lbs loaded including me and 10 gallons of gas to start the season. 
 

If so that’s the same motor mine came with from Tracker, with a 4 blade 10x7 silver prop. Looking at Solas they have the same 3 props you mention in 14 spline to fit my motor. Mercury has a few 3 blades as well for 14 spline, but looks like from older Bigfoot versions maybe. A 9.5x8 and a 9.25x9.

 

Right I don’t know what RPM I’m hitting bc Tracker went from analog gauges to a digital touchscreen thing that only works for most motor info if your motor is VesselView capable, which the 9.9 is not. I’m getting a TinyTach to try so I can see where I am. 

This is my model serial tag. 

I really would like to get a few more mph, but don’t want to over stress the engine or make it a lot harder to maneuver, the cable steering is already so slow to respond. 

 

  

 

Yes, it is the pro kicker. I needed a long shaft and wanted electric tilt which for merc (what my dealer sold) is the pro kicker only.  14 spline, 2.38:1 gear ratio, the same as on the 15 and 20 hp I believe.  The 8 pitch was the right one for me.  But when I had my father in law in the boat 2 weeks ago I dropped from nearly 11 mph to just over 7 mph.  So I think with just me in the boat the 8 is right but the extra 250 lb of a person adds a lot to the weight.  I think your boat is probably 250 lb heavier than mine to start from so a 7 is probably the right pitch for you with this motor.  I’m not sure what prop came with yours.  Mine was a 10x5 4 blade from merc.  A 3 blade 9.25x7 is probably the most that will turn for you.