Trolling for walleye using electric trolling motor real world experience?

[Capt Porkchop]

I have a boat similar in weight and size to the one your are referring to. I have a single 300 and a 9.9 kicker with a garmin autopilot that steers and controls speed, and while spring and winter fishing i still need a trolling bag on windy days to go .9 or 1.2 mph, the boat just catches too much wind with all the free board space. I am adding an electric motor on the bow for the spot lock feature for perch and for drift fishing and jigging. It will also keep me from crabbing to hold a line in a slight crosswind situation or strange currents. With just the kicker you are unable to do this. the bow mount by itself will not last on the batteries with a boat this size, you will want to push the boat with the kicker for speed and power and steer with the bow mount on low power. It is also very difficult to troll against the wind in a boat that size with just a kicker, the bow keeps wanting to get pushed one way or the other and you have to keep chasing it. I would get a kicker and the bow mount if I where you with this boat.

[MIKE_OMZIG]

Thanks for your input Capt., did not think about the impact of wind but that makes total sense. Gas kicker and electric up front would be the ultimate setup for sure. I think I will do the kicker first and later add an electric bow mount. I want to do I-troll or troll master as well.