My wife and I went fishing at Mineral lake Friday. We rented one of the resorts aluminum boats with no motor. Yes, I rowed most of the day, even at 49 years old. Something we noticed that we got zero strikes trolling wedding rings tipped with worm. When we anchored down, and casted lures, and used a fly rod, we got strikes. As we trolled, the oar locks made alot of noise. When we got back in, another two gentlemen had their limits still fishing. They mentioned they never catch fish there trolling with a 5hp motor in their boat. I am wondering if an electic trolling motor would be better, being less noisy. And thoughts on this?

I troll for bass with my 90 hp at 2 1/2 to 3 mph and use crank baits that run from 5 to 15 feet deep. I used to troll for trout but only had a small boat and an electric motor then. We did alright when we made the lure go down 5 or 6 feet. It was on Ohop and Clear. This was 15 years ago but fishing hasn't changed that much.
It mostly depends on how agressive the fish are I think.
Then again opinions are like elbows everyone has a couple.
Bill

Aluminum boats are the worst for reflecting noise into the water. I have a job boat and I try as hard as I can not to drop anything or make hard steps in the boat. A 5hp motor could also be a problem depending on the size of your boat and depth you are fishing. One thing that you can do next time is set up your pole with a bobber and fish 4 to 6 ft under it, use a small hook with one power egg and half a nightcrawler. Then just let the wind push you around. I did that back when I had an inflatable when I fished for trout and it works well. Since wedding rings are so small and dont need much to start spinning a 30lb thrust at speed 2 or 3 would be perfect. Good luck.

Thanks for the tips guys. I am thinking about getting an aluminum boat I can slide into the back of my truck. An electric trolling motor should work for my needs. If anyone fishes Black Lake in Olympia, here are a few tricks this time of year.
In the evening, troll in front of Evergreen shores with a dry fly. Just use a spin cast, no swivel etc. Let it create a V on the surface about 40' back. It's a riot to see the trout fly out of the water at it. When it starts to get dark, head on over to that little cove just North of there and anchor down bow and stearn in about 15' of water. Fish a worm on a Naked hook (Term Rob at Offut Lake Resort calls it), that is no weight, swivel etc. Cast out about 10' - if your lucky, and let it float down an settle on top of the weedbed. Soon good size trout, and catfish start feeding and find your offering.

This pic was from Offut lake resort a week ago doing the same thing off their dock.

Joe

Electic motors are not quiet under water, some are even loud, when someone trolls past you with one, you can hear it clearly through your hull.

Thanks for the tips Joe!

Better then a gas motor.... What kind of boat are you in that rattles/rumbles your hull? And i don't know what electric trolling mottors are considered loud. Most are whisper quiet.